Sunday, March 25, 2007

What is your "Mission"?

Why do you do what you do? We spend the best of who we are and what we are, fulfilling the work we do daily. As time is our greatest commodity, are we spending that time wisely? I recently completed a book entitled "Before you quit your Job" by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter. There is some excellent material in this book about the basics of building a business and becoming an "entrepreneur". I read 1 or 2 books a week and I find that each has nuggets of information that are particularly meaningful for me. I use this blog to capture these nuggets and in the process I share these with others in the event that they provide some value to others as well as for me.

In the book “Before you quit you Job”, there is a chapter entitled: “The best answers are found in your heart, not your head”. For some time now I have felt compelled to devote my time, and my efforts toward a cause that will better serve my family and humanity. This compulsion has driven me to read, study, ponder and pray in ways I have not done previously in my life. The process is proving to be very rewarding, and at times difficult as I am more strongly convinced everyday that my stewardship upon this earth includes identifying and pursuing with great earnest my personal “mission” or cause. I encountered in this book a quote that really articulated a thought that has been formulating on the periphery of my mind. It is the following: “One's true mission is about who you love. It is not about YOU. A mission is about who you do your work for. It's not about working for yourself.” “...Because building a business is not about you. It's about other people. It's about your team, your customers, your teachers and how well you can serve them.” Now I don't mean to confuse this with the socialist philosophy of “altruism”. I do believe that we do what we do because it is in our own self interest. It is in my own self interest to serve better. Socialists would have you loath yourself and subjugate your interests to the “security” of the collective. It is a subtle but dangerous philosophy. It was the Master that said, “Love your neighbor as yourself”. You must first have love for yourself, or there would remain no love or basis for concern for our neighbors.

I would add that what we do and how we spend our time, is our CHOICE. If it is our choice, then it our responsibility to ensure that we are engaged in a work, and a cause that best utilize the unique talents and abilities the good Lord has given to each of us. It is a natural law that we will “reap what we sow” such that we will most likely sow with the greatest passion those deeds that are aligned with our individual interests, abilities, and love.

What do you love? How would you spend your time if money was not an option? What cause would be important and meaningful enough to drive you to devote the best of who you are, day in and day out? Would a higher power come to your aid? Perhaps the greatest freedom of all is pursuing that cause for which you were intended...that you might wear out your life in that cause and look back with great satisfaction at how you served.

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