3 Steps to Doing What Counts

We are busier now than ever before, absorbing more information, producing more, achieving more… but achieving more of what?

We have become so distracted by our human experience going round and round the hamster wheel, that we have become disconnected from ourselves. From our innate wisdom. For our purpose. From what we’re here to do.

I see it every day. Coaches so busy in the ‘doing’ of their business like leaves blowing in the wind. Lost. Aim-less. Exhausted. Sound familiar?

Like my client, Pete. He is a born-coach and has a passion for helping people. He’s been a successful leader in large corporations all his career. He’s smart and business savvy. But struggled getting started in his business as a coach. He was busy ‘achieving’ the tasks on his endless list but didn’t seem to be getting any traction. He felt underwhelmed by the very work that once excited him. He’d lost his mojo.

As George Harrison once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road’ll take you there.”

For Pete, his business felt like an endless sea of tasks, seemingly disconnected from one another. Ones that brought little joy. He had reached ‘rust-out’, exhausted by the myriad of challenges running his business and ready to give up (and get a job!). He had lost sight of his reasons for starting his business and the broader purpose for which his business served.

If you’ve read the thought-provoking book, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor Frankl, you will recall the extraordinary circumstances Viktor endured and survived through the holocaust because he had clarity of purpose for his being there. He is a true testament to what the human spirit is capable of. Given a big enough purpose, we can endure the most mundane tasks when they form part of a greater whole.

The world is full of information, but wisdom is in short supply. I believe everyone’s looking for something they already have. The quiet whispers of our soul’s truth. The reason we are here. And while we’re busy on the hamster wheel of life, we often miss the gentle guidance of our internal compass leading us in the direction of our purpose.

We can seek refuge in the busy-ness of activity. Many wear ‘busy-ness’ as a badge of honor mistaking it for success or worthiness. But in doing so, we may never attain the satisfaction of productivity connected with purpose.

From where I sit, there’s a significant distinction between ‘doing’ coaching and ‘being’ a coach. ‘Doing’ coaching is the act of coaching. It’s busy-ness. It’s transactional. It’s short-term.

On the other hand, ‘being’ a coach is the act of coaching while in alignment with your soul’s purpose. It’s authentic. Satisfying. It’s nirvana.

 “The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of your life is to give it away.” Picasso

That’s all you have to figure out.

Once my client Pete took the time to discover his purpose, everything changed for him. And you can too. Here are three things you can do to get started:

3 Steps to Doing What Counts

1  Connect With Your Passion – You are more powerful and more capable than you know. You can be whatever you want to be or do whatever you want to do.

What is your dream? What are you passionate about? What do you love to do? What do you want to be remembered for? Do that.

2  Clarify Your Purpose – The impact you have on others is your most valuable currency. How will you serve the world? What do people need that your talent can provide? Try summarising it in a sentence or two. Bounce it off your sounding board or clients and see if it resonates. Does it feel authentic to you?

3  Practice The ‘Being’ of Coaching – Align yourself with your passion and purpose. Build your business with that aim. Our soul wants to live its truth. Take time to be quiet and listen to the whispers of your soul’s truth and do everything you can to honor it.

You are ready to do beautiful things in the world. Go forth and succeed!