A slow puncture in the purpose region

This model was posted a while ago on

Facebook. I love the simplicity and the elegance. I wonder how many of us feel that they are spending our careers on purpose?

Reflect on the following questions:

• Do you love your work?

• Are you great at it?

• Does the world need it?

• Are you paid (well) for it?

If any of the questions elicited a hesitation, a no or an explitive, rest assured that you are not alone. Before thinking about a change in career, or workplace or even team, do the brave thing and look inward:

How well are you looking after yourself?

Most of us have a slow puncture in the purpose region. The puncture is created by our training, enlarged by our successes and ignored by most managers. We were not trained in good self-care. Many of us will not even know what that means apart from more sleep, less coffee and trying yoga. If you make a sales target by "burning the midnight oil' it means you're dedicated, correct?

Here's the thing though: if self-care is not prioritised, purpose will not re-emerge. You can have your dream job with dream hours and in a dream setting making millions, without investment in your health, your happiness (and this doesn't mean a purifying yoga retreat in Bali with the partner of your dreams), you will come up empty in a few years time again. And purpose will be as elusive as ever. Something to think about at the start of the work week.

#selfcare #purpose #professionalwellbeing