HPP Episode 33 - Explore, Discover and Transform Work with Gary Adamson

Charting a new path for your business is not just about making a few improvements - it’s about the transformation of individuals and institutional culture. Today, Kevin talks to Gary Adamson of Starizon about how to create real transformations in business and in oneself.Listen to the full episode:

• Sometimes when we try to change the way a business works, we focus on isolated improvements, but find that the result has limited impact. If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you will continue to get what you’ve always gotten out of it.
• The people who made big changes in the past were explorers, whether geographical, artistic or technological. Transformation is achieved through exploration and doing things differently. Kevin and Gary talk about how to use exploration and creativity as the basis for business transformation.
• Studies show 2/3 of people are disengaged from their work. But work is where most people spend the majority of their time! If you’re disengaged from your work, you’re disengaged from your life. Gary Adamson discusses how to focus on the future to create a vibrant, engaging and inspired culture.
• Change is guided by leaders. One of the most important roles of leaders is to be able to imagine and define the future, and bring it closer to the present. What happens when we act as if that future were already here? Can we shift our perception of our current reality to bring our goals closer to fruition?
• Gary discusses five futures that you need to focus on to achieve organizational transformation. The surprising result might change more than just your business.
• Leaders need to learn new things about themselves in order to lead. Gary discusses self-development, and how the culture of learning inside organizations needs to change to facilitate growth.

Want to watch that great video Kevin mentioned in the podcast? Find the episode here.Interested in designing the future of your business, increasing your profitability and employee inspiration, and becoming purpose-powered? Let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.If you've been struggling with something at work, or feel stuck, or just like something should be *different* then you're invited to a completely free 15-minute coaching call with Kevin to dig into the problem, and chart a path forward. Sign up for your complimentary call here. 

HPP Episode 32 - Love is the Foundation for Effective Leadership

Mentioning love in the workplace is corporate heresy. We pretend like it doesn’t exist inside cubicles. Today, Kevin explores why love is the foundation for effective leadership, and how eliminating fear from the workplace is an incredible way to empower your employees.Listen to the full episode:

• In an interview with Jeff Harmon, he and Kevin had the audacity to discuss love in the workplace. They asked a very simple question. If you don’t have love in the workplace, what do you have in the place of love? Something is filling that void, and it’s often the opposite of love.
• What is the opposite of love? Hate is the first thing that comes to mind, but it’s something very different than that. Kevin explains what is on the other end of the spectrum from love, and how it can turn a workplace into something very toxic.
• Kevin shares the story of the worst boss he ever had. You think you’ve had it bad? Have you ever had a boss who hired people just so he can fire them in a few months? Kevin explains how this ‘loveless’ boss enjoyed creating a toxic culture, one in which people lived in fear for their livelihoods.
• What’s different about businesses when they’re grounded and founded in purpose? Look at profitability, attracting great talent and keeping them, and how these employees stay engaged with the company’s purpose. Look at how these companies outperform their peers. The difference is clear: companies with purpose-powered leadership outpace their competition in almost every way.
• So how do you tap into the power of purpose? Is it something you harness, like a draft horse? Or is it something you tap into, like the power of a waterfall. Kevin gives his surprising answer. Find out how you can apply purpose in your workplace and life.
• Kevin shares one of his favorite quotes on conversation – something you need to have if you’re going to welcome love into the workplace. They aren’t always easy to have, but like purpose, love dies in isolation. And ultimately, if you’re going to replace fear with love in the workplace, start your conversation by asking questions.
• If you or someone you know is interested in adding love into your workplace, increasing your profitability and employee happiness, and becoming purpose-powered, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowReady to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us in the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin.

HPP Episode 31 - The Primary Colors of Servant Leadership

Our past few episodes have focused on servant leadership and how to make your business better with the principles Kevin espouses in his own business and life. It can seem very overwhelming. Today, Kevin brings the discussion full circle with a simple, visual way to understand servant leadership and how to implement it in your business.Listen to the full episode:

• Kevin shares his experience giving a keynote talk for PMI Norway and the meeting he had with a mentor prior to it. The meeting sparked off an idea that Kevin should look at servant leadership through the lens of art. What does that mean and how does it work?
• There have been many ideas about servant leadership, each with its own principles and pillars, but Kevin wanted a simplified, practical, day-to-day version that was accessible. So, just as there are three primary colors, there are three simplified, core principles to servant leadership. Kevin discusses the core idea for each of the primary colors.
• Red is empathy. It lies at the heart of all leadership, and especially so in servant leadership. Kevin shares the different types of empathy and goes into detail about what each means.
• Yellow is listening. It’s a bright color, used in yield and caution signs, and it should serve as a reminder that no matter how open-minded or intelligent you think you are, you can always be a better listener. Fortunately, listening is a skill you can learn, and it begins with the intent to understand. Don’t ‘fub’ people!
• Blue is authenticity and everything hinges on this. We live in a ‘Photoshop’ society. News is sometimes fabricated or given spin that takes it beyond the nature of what it is. Social media allows us to create personas that don’t represent who we truly are. Kevin shares why authenticity is so very important in servant leadership.
• What color is your company? What will it take to shift your palette and focus your company around servant leadership?

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowClick here to see the three photos Kevin mentioned by artist Libby Beaty, titled Primary Colors Abound in Norway.Ready to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us in the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin.

HPP Episode 30 - Interview with Chris Patton

Business owners and entrepreneurs, especially the purpose-powered ones, tell about a time in their careers and lives when they made a pivot. And most of the time, they talk in past tense. What’s done is done, so you don’t always get a real-time sense of what it’s like to initiate and experience it for yourself. Today Kevin talks with Chris Patton about the major purpose pivot he’s undertaking, and what it’s like to make the change. Are you right to want to pivot toward purpose?Listen to the full episode:

• Have you ever stopped and wondered what the heck you’re doing with your life, and whether or not it’s authentic to who you are? Chris shares the breaking point in his own life that precipitated the change he’s going through now.
• What does it mean to live an integrated, authentic life? Especially in a world that expects you to put neat dividers between the different facets of who you are: faith, politics, family, and work.
• When people talk about their own pivots, they don’t often talk about the struggles of making them happen. You hear their stories and it was like the heavens opened up and a new path was paved. That’s not always the case. Chris shares how he designed his day to keep some sort of balance for all the things in his life.
• Have you ever heard of increasing your impact by going from a mentality of addition to one of multiplication? Chris talks about the idea that his own shift was focused on increasing what he was able to do for others around him, and the addition to multiplication shift was integral.
• Chris is making a life-changing shift and he’s come across some great advice that he’s found to be true. He shares several of the things that began his pivot and some of what he’s using now to make that pivot a success. He also shares how you can sabotage yourself when looking for advice.

Network, Share Ideas, and GrowReady to connect to other purpose powered people like yourself, so you can network, share ideas, and grow together? Join us in the Higher Purpose Community on Facebook for conversation, extra content, and access to Kevin.

HPP Episode 29 - Interview with Jeff Harmon

Jeff Harmon has a unique way of viewing the world. He was diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening condition that put his mortality right in front of his eyes. That played a big part in Jeff’s mission to change the world through servant leadership, and his thoughts on it are refreshing and inspiring. He and Kevin dispel some common misconceptions in Servant Leadership.Listen to the episode:

• Jeff talks about how his perception of time affects how he handles his clients. They share the story of two meetings between them. For the first, Jeff was walking. For the second, he was in a wheelchair.
• Kevin shares his definition of Servant Leadership, a people-centered approach, and Jeff shares some beautiful outcomes of practicing it. First, people willingly follow. Second, people involved in Servant Leadership are all working to a common goal.
• Is Servant Leadership really transformative? Kevin and Jeff both agree that it is, but Jeff takes it a few steps further when he looks at the outcomes of servant leadership. From company performance to employee retentions, it’s more than just mentality that is changed.
• Do you believe that servant leadership is ‘soft?’ Think again. The word ‘servant’ doesn’t mean that you’re catering to your employees wants and demands. You aren’t walking around with a big smile patting people on the backs and handing out raises.
• What’s the challenge of using the word ‘love’ in the workplace? Kevin shares some instances where companies have outright refused to use it, and Jeff shares why the aversion exists. He goes back to the Greek’s multiple concepts of love and explains what kind of love is involved in Servant Leadership.
• What is the connection between Servant Leadership and purpose? Jeff shares an innovative breakdown of how they relate. There’s a what (coaching, teaching, being a dad and husband, etc.). Next, there’s a how (servant leadership). Finally, there’s a why (to change the world). Jeff explains what all this means and how it comes together in his life.
• Jeff shares a very simple way to start servant leadership, and you don’t need a single book, a journal, a mindshift, or anything else. Listen more.

If you've connected this message today, and you want to learn more about Servant Leadership, and practice the skills you need to serve your team, company and community, go to ServantLeadershipYear.com, and join the community.

HPP Episode 28 -The 10 Signs of Servant Leadership

For the last 8 years, Kevin Monroe has introduced servant leadership to all types of leaders from over 50 different countries. Kevin has found, to his delight, that while these leaders might not know what servant leadership is, when they learn about it, they realize it fit them like a glove. Are you engaging in servant leadership without realizing it?Find out in today’s podcast:The 10 Signs of Servant Leadership:

1. You set out to change the world, and you ended up leading the charge.
2. You think and talk ‘we’ more than ‘me.’
3. You believe and invest in the development of others.
4. You feel joy when people you’ve led in the past pass you in the leadership journey.
5. You measure success not by how many people you lead, but by how many of them go on to become leaders themselves.
6. You take a little less credit and a little more blame than you actually deserve.
7. You value what others have to say more than what you have to say.
8. You listen first and talk later.
9. You prioritize the practice of presence.
10. You savor the significance of small acts.

If you've connected this message today, and you want to learn more about servant leadership, and practice the skills you need to serve your team, company and community, go to ServantLeadershipYear.com, and join the community.

HPP Episode 27 - The Transformative Power of Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership? The simple answer is that you lead through serving. The real answer is much deeper than that, and today, Kevin talks about some of his bold claims about how it can work. His ideas have even been called unrealistic, but they aren’t. If you’re looking for ways to transform your work environment through the power of servant leadership, this episode is for you.

• What does it mean to transform something? A dramatic change in which someone or something is improved. When you practice servant leadership, it’s not just about the way you lead. It’s in the way you live, the way you see the world. Worldviews are transformative.
• Kevin shares three examples of transformation through servant leadership. First, legendary basketball coach John Wooden of UCLA, who had the ability to take superstars who were amazing in their own rights and turn them into powerful, cohesive teams. He had an 80% win rate and 10 national championships. How did he do it?
• Second is Captain David Marquet, who took the USS Santa Fe from the worst to the first ship in the Pacific Fleet of the US Navy. The captain wasn’t prepared for a submarine, so he taught his followers, his subordinates, to be leaders. Marquet had a gift of seeing worth in potential in others, and inspiring them to see it themselves.
• Superior results are huge for corporations, so the third example comes from Cheryl Bachelder, CEO of Popeye’s. When she took over the helm of the restaurant chain, they were sinking fast. Within 10 years, they became best in category and a Wall Street darling. How did she do it? Among other things, she led the thought transformation from putting shareholders first. They didn’t focus on customers, either. Who did they focus on serving? Franchise owners.
• One of Kevin’s colleagues, Ari Weinzweig, says “if you really live it, servant leadership changes everything.” It’s a quote Kevin shares often, and he was even accused of sensationalizing in a talk overseas. But when he says everything, he means it. Kevin talks about what this looks like in day to day practice.
• To remove all ambiguity, Kevin gives his definition of servant leadership, and it might just transform how you think about it. Purpose, meaning, something bigger than yourself. And it’s not a zero-sum game.

If you've connected with this story, and you want to learn more about servant leadership, and practice the skills you need to serve your team, company and community, go to ServantLeadershipYear.com, and join the community.

HPP Episode 26- Interview with Michael Hudson

On our paths to purpose, we all meet with barriers that make us wonder if we'll ever find what we are meant to do or how we will do it. Today, Kevin talks with his good friend, Dr. Michael Hudson, about many types of barriers and how they both have overcome them. They also share the things they learned and how you can apply it in your everyday life.

• Permission, clarity, and self-doubt are some of the most common factors that affect people. Do we feel we need to have permission to follow our purpose? How clear do we need to be on our purpose before we move forward? And finally, the self-critic, asking 'who am I' to do this. Ever thought any of those yourself?
• One of the other most common barriers on the list is the financial ability to follow one's purpose. How will you finance your dream? Michael shares his own take on the money aspect, asking: Is that just an excuse? How do you feel about your own transition on the path of purpose?
• Michael explains how people create barriers for themselves, specifically the bar they set. When you think about where you want to be, figuring out how to get there can be scary. It's much more comfortable to stay where you are. Living in our comfort zone is one of the most disastrous things we can do to ourselves, just like setting a high bar without knowing it is achievable with a series of (mis)steps.
• The inner critic can stop you dead in your tracks on your path to purpose. What is it? That little voice inside constantly telling you that you aren't good enough to do something. The one that says you'll never make it. Michael and Kevin talk about their own inner critics. They'll never go away, but they can be managed, pushed aside. Take out the 'head trash.'
• Michael shares some practical steps to get rid of your own head trash and push aside the inner critic. Maybe you journal, but if you're a verbal processor, maybe you should dictate. If you're social, do you have someone to talk with? There's a way for everyone to work through their 'stuff' even if it's just writing thoughts down on a note and burning them.

Remember: purpose thrives in community and dies in isolation. If you're ready to jumpstart your journey to purpose, now might be the time to join our program. Spend time with others who are navigating north toward their purpose, and together, make 2018 a year to remember.

HPP Episode 25 - The Clarity Conundrum

What's the Clarity Conundrum? You've probably felt it. You know you have a purpose. It aches in your chest to be fulfilled, but you can't put your finger on exactly what it is. That's the conundrum part: trying to find clarity. Are you creating your own Clarity Conundrum? If so, how can you solve it? Kevin shares 4 ways to cut through the conundrum.Listen to the Full Episode:

• Write through to clarity. This is one of Kevin's favorites, but what might YOU write about? You can journal, of course, but Kevin shares one of the most important things you need to do when you journal. He shares a few other writing exercises, like writing out you want to be celebrating about a year from now, or 'imagine if' games.
• Talk your way to clarity. We aren't all writers. Some of us process information verbally, especially when we are discussing and explaining our thoughts to others. Saying a thing out loud can be very different than thinking it in your head. Maybe you need to process things from your past with another set of ears.
• Convene a clarity council. The Quakers had it right when they got together to help figure out each other's problems. Like the Quakers, you can gather people around you and form a supportive and honest support group as you search for clarity. There's only one rule. They can ask questions that help you find clarity, but are forbidden from giving advice. It's the ultimate sounding board.
• Prayer, meditation, and reflection. You don't have to be religious or spiritual to do this. It can be as simple as getting out into nature and taking a walk, removing yourself from normal activity and surroundings. The result can often be an epiphany of clarity for yourself. Don't forget that while you might find clarity through contemplation, it is confirmed in action.
• So how much clarity does it take to get started? Not nearly as much as you think. What you truly need is trust. There's no GPS for purpose. But there is faith that you'll find your way.

Remember: purpose thrives in community and dies in isolation. If you're ready to jumpstart your journey to purpose, now might be the time to join our program. Spend time with others who are navigating north toward their purpose, and together, make 2018 a year to remember.

HPP Episode 24 - Insights About the Journey to Purpose

It's the beginning of a new year, and if you're like millions of other people, you've made aresolution to do better this year than last. Or maybe you're looking back at the past year andyou realize that you didn't achieve all you set out to, and it's disheartening. We've ALL beenthere. Don't despair; you might not be able to see it right away, you're closer than you've everbeen to your purpose. Today, Kevin shares his top 8 insights on your journey to purpose.Listen to the Full Episode:

1. Listen to your life. Are you attentive to what your life has to say rather than telling yourlife what you have to say? Map out your life and your journey with this free download. (And the instructions!)
2. Reconnect to your core. Your values, what matters most to you at your core, areuniquely yours, and you must live them uniquely.
3. Embrace your gifts, talents, and abilities. Yes, you have all three of those, and if you'rehaving trouble identifying them, check out this episode with Thom Winninger.
4. Who are the people, what is the place, or what is the issue that touches you mostdeeply and pulls on your heart strings?
5. Where do these things intersect? Where the previous four things come together, that'syour sweet spot.
6. Define, or redefine, success and failure. The ones you have now – did they belong tosomeone else? Are they in step with your new clarity?
7. Be careful who you let speak into your life. This is a touchy subject, but Kevin explainswhat he means.
8. Hold your understanding of your purpose loosely. It will change. There will be newiterations, and that is reason to celebrate.

Remember: purpose thrives in community and dies in isolation. If you're ready to jumpstartyour journey to purpose, now is the time to join our program. Spend time with otherswho are navigating north toward their purpose, and together, make 2018 a year to remember.

HPP Episode 23 - Living, Working and Serving on Purpose

At some point in our path of purpose, we've been guilty of navel-gazing. Of finding what we think is our purpose, perfecting the statement, then hanging it on the wall as if we were done with it. That's not how it's supposed to be. Today, Kevin talks about how you can live, work, and serve on purpose. You'll take a deep dive into how your purpose is expressed in each.Listen to the full episode now:[eliteaccordion][elitetoggle title="Click for Transcript"][00:00:00] All around the world people are floundering. There's something missing something more that they just can't grasp. Do you feel it? Welcome to the higher purpose podcast every week host Kevin Monroe will help you navigate to your true north and flourish in faith business, and life.[00:00:20] You found us for a reason. Stay tuned to find out why[00:00:28] You're listening to the Higher Purpose Podcast and I want you to know that the fact that you're listening makes me smile. Truly it does. Hey I'm your host Kevin Monroe and I'm looking forward to spending this time with you right now whenever it is. And wherever you are that you've invited me into your day. I just think that's cool, so thank you. I'm grateful.[00:00:53] Before diving into the podcast let me explain why the act of you listening specifically to this episode matters and makes me happy. I truly believe that the world, specifically your world and everybody you encounter, is better off when you and me are passionately pursuing purpose and I believe we, the great big collective world, need more people passionately and intentionally pursuing purpose. Well why do I believe that? For starters when you're pursuing purpose -- I mean living, working, and serving on and with purpose. Now here's the caveat. Living, working, and serving on and with purpose is certainly not to be confused with being stuck navel gazing, inwardly focused on the perpetual endless quest of trying to figure out what's my purpose. And then once you do figure it out. Putting that purpose into perfectly phrased prose with flawless calligraphy decorating your wall with it. That's not what I'm talking about! Don't sell purpose short like that don't believe for a moment that defining your purpose is the destination. Purpose is not a box to be checked. Done, got that. It's a life to be lived![00:02:23] Let me say that again. Purpose is not a box to be checked. It's a life to be lived, a difference to be made. Identifying your purpose is the doorway. It's not the destination. So back to why living working and serving on purpose matters because when you're doing that guess what's happening? You and me when we're doing that we're transcending self. You, me we're breaking free of the cultural norms and the commercial messaging that seeks to enshrine self at the center of life and the universe and make life all about you are all about me.[00:03:03] It's not about you it's not about me. It's about others. So purpose invites you to live for something bigger than you. When you say yes to purpose you're saying yes to that bigger, better life and that matters not only to me not only to you but to everyone you impact even if your impact on them is never known to you. Let me say that again, let me rephrase it. The life of purpose has an impact on others and it matters even if you're never privy to know the impact you've made on others. You know I've come to realize that often we're not. It's kind of a mystery. As we go through life, we have these short encounters and they have an impact on others. Sometimes they're strangers. It never finds its way back to you in this life. The difference you made but the fact that you made a difference matters. So that's why I'm happy that you're listening because the very act of listening to a conversation on purpose shows me illustrates to you that you are awakened and aware that your life matters and you're a fellow traveler on this amazing journey. So that's what makes me smile. Hey, BAM! that's just the welcome we're on a roll. Let's get going let's continue this conversation. If you're listening to this episode on or near its original release date that means it's the beginning of the New Year -- 2018 to be exact.[00:04:39] This is the first episode of 2018 released on January 2nd 2018. If you're listening later, welcome. Perhaps now is the beginning of a new season of life for you or the new phase of your purpose journey. What follows is relevant whenever you happen to be listening. I want to share a development with you that will shape this episode as well as all of those that follow. I've adopted a purpose statement for the Higher Purpose Podcast. I'd love to say that I've adopted a new purpose statement for the podcast. But have you heard the very opening episodes 1, 2, or 3 somewhere in there. I made the commitment to keep it real and so at this point I've been doing the Higher Purpose Podcast for more than 5 months. And this is my first pass at a purpose statement. Trust me. I began the podcast with a vision and with a plan but I had not ever bothered to distill it down to a purpose statement last month as I was planning for my monthly strategy session with Megan, my producer. It hit me that having a purpose statement would be a great idea. A North Star if you will for the podcast to keep me keep us navigating north and prevent me us from wandering off the path or going around in circles. So it was funny as our meeting began.[00:06:04] Megan, actually brought up the topic of strategy and I said, "Oh I was just playing with a purpose statement." Here's what I wrote. Inspire, equip, and encourage you to live, work, and serve on purpose. We did not spend hours refining it or word smithing the statement as I've done that in the past. Trust me, this statement will evolve as we move forward. Actually, it already has because originally I wrote people and not you. So in the broader sense the purpose for this podcast is to encourage people but I like to think in a very specific sense and in this moment my goal is to encourage YOU because right now it is you and me talking. Well, actually I'm doing all of the talking but I'd love for us to engage in a conversation and I hope you're talking back even if you're just doing it internally, you know rhetorically in your head. So what does th is purpose statement mean? Well it keeps me focused both on the topics to discuss and the guests to feature. And if you knew me well, you'd know that focus is both a strength and also a weakness. Now what do I mean. And you may be thinking how can having focus be a strength and a weakness? Well perhaps you can relate to this, when I'm focused. I have a tendency to hyper-focus. You know like zero in on one thing and only one thing and cannot focus on another thing until I finish one thing it's like my mind just kind of locks in on that.[00:07:36] Some of you understand that, if you don't just ask Gwen Josh, or Lindsey. Gwen is, my wife Josh our son, and Lindsey is our daughter. They have their fill of stories to share about me when I'm hyper-focused. However when there's not that hyper-focus any and everything seems to fit then I can chase squirrels with the best of them. I assure you that and just go round and round in circles and I have other friends that can attest to that as well. So here's one way this purpose statement works and was at work even before we had verbalized it as the purpose statement for the podcast. Last month we introduced a new feature in Episode 21 we're calling it Profiles of Purpose. These are episodes where we do a deep dive on someone who is living a life of purpose. Whatever that looks like to them it may be very different from you and then we dip into their story and their backstory so that their journey to purpose not only inspires you but it also informs you, equipping so you can learn from their experience and at the same time realize that they are just like me and you -- they're ordinary people. They just happen to be doing extraordinary things and somehow by doing so I hope it encourages you to find and follow your pathway to a purpose. Episode 21 by the way was with Jackie Brewton.[00:09:10] I've known Jackie for about 15 or 16 years. I assure you Jackie is one of the most on-purpose people I know. If you've not yet heard that podcast I encourage you to go back and listen to that episode. What a great way to start the Profiles of Purpose series. So the second part acted the statement the second part of the person purpose statement is equally important. Inspire, equip, and encourage you to live work and serve on purpose when you live work and serve on purpose. You are living such a rich life and at the same time you're being enriched by the living of your life and that is my earnest desire for you live, work, and serve on purpose. Let's talk about each portion of this statement and then we're going to focus the rest of our conversation here and specifically how it relates to you and where you are on your journey. So when I look at you I see a diamond a multifaceted diamond in some stage of transformation and refinement but nonetheless a diamond life work surface. Those are various facets of you and your one life if you're pursuing purpose I believe that purpose manifests or it's expressed if you like that word better in all the facets of our life your life the essence of who you are shows up wherever you are whatever you're doing. So every part of your life is an expression of you all of you.[00:10:50] I hope it's the authentic you. You see I reject the idea of work-life balance because of the word balance. I like work-life integration because I believe we have only one life. So you're not trying to balance different parts of your life you're trying to integrate them into make sure each facet of your life is shining to its full brilliance living on purpose that encompasses so many areas of life your life your relationships with family and friends. And this doesn't matter whether you're a son or a daughter, a brother, sister, mom, dad, grandmother, grandfather, uncle,aunt, or in-law. Purpose permeates all of those relationships. And as my friend Mark Timm from Zigler Family realized and shared with us on an earlier podcast -- if you're a parent you have a purpose and parenting is certainly part of your purpose. So you know all of these family relationships so those are all dimensions of living as also living includes faith, fitness, finance, fun, and a whole bunch of other things that don't start with the letter F if you know me well if you've been listening long you know I love alliteration but you know sometimes alliteration. You can't pack everything into the same letter. So we'll have plenty of conversations in the episodes ahead about living on purpose and what that looks like for you. And something I'm really passionate about is how you do that how you and me do that authentically so that's living on purpose -- not to working on purpose.[00:12:27] Not only do I want you to live on in with purpose every single day of your life. I want you to have purpose in and through the work. Whatever your work is. I believe that most of you listening have some sort of employment whether you work for a company whether you're the leader of that company whether you own your own business. Some of you are are are working full time as a stay at home mom or dad or caregiver for someone you know that's unable to currently care for themselves. You're still working your compensation just doesn't come in the form of monetary reward returns all the time. Others of you are students or perhaps you're between a job in a moment but that's working. I believe that you can find or create meaning will have its purpose. Is it something you create or make? You can find create meaning in work. Whatever the work is. I love the work Mike Rowe has proven with his interest in Dirty Jobs in his shows and segments on Dirty Jobs. Maybe we'll get Mike on the show one day -- that would be fun. Finally, serving on or with purpose so live, work, and serve. I've said it before I've written it before a life of significance -- a life of purpose is a life of service. So whenever you're pursuing purpose and that purpose is bigger than you then part of your contribution that you offer to the world is serving others.[00:14:04] The avenues of that service are endless. So serving may be something you do very focused through volunteer efforts or in partnership with nonprofit or nongovernment organizations or you may have a project that is your passion project. That is your opportunity to give back. Pay it forward or however you frame it. All of that is part of the serving, living, working and serving. These are not always separate and distinct expressions of your life. Your life is integrated and intertwined in so often are living working and serving. You can't always just separate and say well this is my living part this is working but it's all integrated. But this is kind of the theme are the thematic expression that we're following to help structure and advance the Higher Purpose Podcast and you can expect to hear these types of conversations that inspire encourage and equip you to live work and serve on purpose. Now back to you and your journey at this moment in time. You didn't think I forgot you did you?. Hey as you noodle on this idea of living, working, and serving on or with purpose.  In what area or areas do you feel the greatest alignment or connection to purpose or with purpose in what areas do you want to increase your connection to purpose this year or in this next phase or season of life if you're listening sometime later? So what action can you take? And I really want you to zero in on that word action.[00:15:52] It's a it's a powerful word. What action can you take to live work and serve on purpose if you really want to embrace a life of purpose? I believe living, working, and serving are certainly parts of that intention setting. The intention is an excellent place to start but it must result in action. And it must prove out in habits or intentionally to nowhere or may be intentioned just lead somewhere further south. If you know what I mean and if your mom told you what my mom told me now you've been you've set an intention. I want to applaud you for action already investing time to listen to this podcast or other ones like it is another step in the right direction. Engaging in conversation with family, friends, or co-workers that's another keen idea. All of those are actions you may not think of it as you might not think of listening to this podcast as an action but it is you chose to listen to this podcast. This podcast is encouraging you to pursue a life of purpose living, working, and serving. That's an action. So here's what I've learned not been learning this probably maybe all my life but it's really come to bear in the last seven to 10 years that I've really seen this through my consulting and coaching more. There are wrong ways to approach any goal, task,or quest but rarely is there just one right way and that one right way become the universal recommendation -- the end all, be all for everyone.[00:17:31] So a lot of people are saying asking you know what is the way to find and fulfil purpose. And I say Well there's actually more than one so much and much of that depends on you. Your learning style your personality where you're at in the journey so just remember you're already on the journey. Just keep going keep taking steps maybe starting with a personal inventories where you need to begin at this moment and if that you I want to encourage you don't overthink it or overcomplicated two things that I do quite well at some moments in life just grab a piece of paper draw a line down the middle. You don't even need a ruler. It doesn't have to be perfectly straight. It's okay if it's squiggly. Some of you that will drive you crazy. And I also recommend you do this the old fashioned way of pen and paper because there's something about the kinesthetic connection that's more profound and therapeutic than just doing this exercise on a keyboard and a screen. On one side make a list of where you feel closely connected and you know a next step to take to live work or serve with more intention and greater purpose in life. On the other side, list those areas that are currently more cloudy and where you'd like more purpose and more intentionality. Then consider this question on either side.[00:18:52] What's one thing and I encourage you to keep it simple. What's one thing I can do? The word can is very important here. What's one thing I can do to a live, work, or serve with more purpose and intention? I just want to affirm the importance of starting with very small steps in simple task. If you were to invest just five or 10 minutes a day to the tasks that are most important to you it is amazing what can happen. And as I was thinking about this I started remembering how many routines in my life are done with just 10 or 15 minutes of focused time every day. Is it okay if I share a couple of examples? I mean these are intensely personal. I'm not doing it to impress you I'm just doing it to impress upon you the impact of compound effect. So as of the day I'm recording this it was six hundred and thirty five days ago actually 636 because I think I started the next day a mentor a guy I had known 15 years ago challenged me. I reconnected with him. He challenged me and invited me to invest 15 minutes a day praying. You've probably figured out I'm a person of faith. I don't force my faith on others but faith is important to me. So folks, I'm embarrassed to say this but I'm not even sure that I had spent 15 minutes of focused prayer in the preceding year maybe even two years.[00:20:33] So I just did the math of what I have done in 635 days of praying 15 minutes a day and, Doug Small, if you're listening man I got to say thank you for that challenge. It has been profound and you can do the math. It's amazing. So, about four months ago I wondered what would happen if I spent just ten minutes a day thinking actually thinking bigger acting bolder. Today was day 116. Now I have missed a day or two here or there over the last several months four months of doing this. But that is a an exercise that I do record in and Evernote file. Open it up everyday just add the next day. Day 116 and I put the date there and then I set a timer for actually I set for 11 to make sure I actually get ten in and by the time I get my tracking done. I take the same approach to daily meditation using an app calm just 10 minutes each morning. You get the idea. Inch by inch life's a cinch, but by the yard. It's hard. So just look at these little things you can do he can do it just one of them and then maybe sometime later you add another yet another that's been this process for me. I didn't start all of these at once but I've just seen the need and I incorporate another action another daily habit.[00:22:02] What's the one thing you commit to doing to live, work, and serve on purpose? I really want to know what it is. And I'd also like to know how I can help you on your journey. You are on an amazing journey. What lies ahead of you is far better than you can ask, think, or imagine at this very moment. So I want to see you passionately pursuing your purpose as you live, work, and serve on purpose this year. Until next time remember You are meant for more. Don't settle for less[00:22:46] Once you've set your intention and decided on the action you're going to take. Go to kevindmonroe.com/purpose and download The Purpose Manifesto to learn more strategies that you can use to live, work, and serve on purpose.[/elitetoggle][/eliteaccordion]

• Kevin shares his purpose statement for the Higher Purpose Podcast, going all the way back to the first few episodes. He discusses how he didn’t wordsmith it to death; changing one word was enough to make all the difference. More importantly, rather than continuing to develop the statement, Kevin is putting it to work so it can grow organically with the true purpose behind it.
• So what does it mean to live, work, and serve on purpose? Kevin discusses how each of these three parts of your life can live in harmony. It's not about balance; it's about integration. It's about careful attention so that each of these facets of your life shines brilliantly.
• Back to you and your purpose integration. There are some areas of your life where you already feel a strong connection to your purpose. What are the areas where you feel out of harmony, held back, or even hopeless? Kevin talks through setting your intentions and following them with actions. Actions can be as simple as listening to a podcast – this podcast, even.
• There are wrong ways to approach any goal or quest, but there is rarely only one way to do it right. You're already on that journey, so keep taking steps forward. Your way might not be like someone else's, but that's not what matters. It's you, your purpose, and always navigating toward it. Missteps happen. It's okay. That's what the next step is for.

Once you've set your intention and decided on the action you're going to take, download the Purpose Manifesto to learn more strategies that you can use to live, work and serve on purpose.

HPP Episode 22 - Life Lessons From My Favorite Movie

With Christmas behind us, it's all too easy to slip back into the old ways of doing things, kind of like when a movie ends and real life goes on. It shouldn't be this way. Today, Kevin talks about life lesson you can take from a beautiful Christmas movie, It's a Wonderful Life, and how you can enter into 2018 living your life on purpose.Listen to the full episode:

• This isn't just a typical laundry list of predictable musings on this Christmas classic. Kevin actually has read the book the movie was based on, read the script, written a paper on the movie in grad school, and yes, of course, he watches the movie every year. So many different mediums, but it all comes back to one thing: servant leadership.
• Do you understand what discouragement actually means? How it's different than disappointment and where it takes root? Do you know why it's even worse than being sick? Kevin digs into the life of George Bailey and his discouragement that was so deep, he was ready to throw away his life.
• Don't let dreams get in the way of your destiny. That might turn what you think you know on your ear. George experienced this; he was an explorer who became bound to a small town.
• The ordinary you seek to escape is actually your pathway to purpose if you will embrace it and transform it. It's so easy to be blind to the truth right in front of you, especially when you shut your eyes to purpose. Wouldn't it be wiser to keep them open on purpose?
• A life of significance is a life of service. Significance takes any life, either in the spotlight or in obscurity, and makes it matter forever. Success, on the other hand, is fickle. A life lived for success can be lonely and selfish, and when it's gone, what are you left with?
• None of us are immune to discouragement. It's going to happen, and when it does, we need people around us to help lift us up. If you've lived life for yourself, who will be there to help when you need it most?
• A life of purpose is a relationally rich life. Think about the final scene of the movie when George Bailey was surrounded by his friends and family, and the parting words from the guardian angel.
• Kevin shares the trials and tribulations that almost prevented the book from being written. Even writing the script from a $50,000 Christmas card was a test of rising above discouragement, into the making of the movie. It's the power of perseverance.
• A life of purpose doesn't take rejection personally. Kevin shares a personal reflection and asks you to apply it to your own life.

If you'd like to hear in-depth conversations about purpose, you can go to NavigatingNorthSummit.com to hear a new featured conversation each month, with experts like Dr Rick Rigbsy, Mark Timm, Zach Mercurio and Thom Winninger.

HPP Episode 21 - Interview with Jackie Brewton

This is the first in our Profiles of Purpose series where we talk to people who are doing an amazing job of living, working, and serving on purpose. Jackie Brewton was one of the first people that popped into Kevin's mind. She has made her purpose serving children and teens to dream bigger, bring them hope, and empower them to do more. And she realized that it all started with parents.Listen to the full episode:

• Jackie shares how she realized that the best place to start in changing kids' lives is with the parents. Her mission, her purpose has evolved especially in the last year.
• Jackie worked for a large corporation for many years, and she even knew that that wasn't her purpose. She shares the story of when she told her boss that exact thing, and that she never intended to stay at the corporation. Even after 18 years.
• The Path was a book that began to change Jackie's life. It challenged her to write a vision of what her perfect life looked like. When she did, it became a light that got her through the next 3 years until she could begin work to make it a reality. Jackie shares what she wrote.
• How often do you accidentally say something that makes you realize you're waiting for some outside force to make a change before you take hold of your life and your destiny? Jackie shares her own version of realizing she was holding out for no good reason.
• You know how failure feels when it happens? Jackie's reason for leaving her job, one she enjoyed, failed. The non-profit never was funded. But she stayed true to the mission, and her purpose manifested elsewhere. Jackie and Kevin discuss how that has played out in her life.
• Success is when you add value to your own life. Significance is when you add value to all the lives around you. Write that down somewhere. Live it!

This episode was the first in our Profile of Purpose series, where we’re talking to people who are doing an amazing job of living, working or serving on purpose - if you know someone who would make a great profile of purpose, I’d love for you to email me at Kevin@Kevindmonroe.com.

HPP Episode 20 - Interview with Dr Rick Rigsby

We have a very special guest today, Dr. Rick Rigsby. He recently had the video of a talk he gave go viral, and unlike many of the internet's viral videos, Rick's message is one of purpose. He and Kevin talk about the hope crisis that is threatening the spirits of people around the world and what we can do to combat it and bring true, fulfilling hope back.

• What's it like trying ot keep on your path of purpose when your dream of your message being heard finally comes true? Rick knows first-hand, and he shares what it was like and how he's being mindful of staying focused on what matters.
• There is a 'hope crisis' going on, whether you realize it or not. Kevin and Rick talk about the hopelessness that is killing the world. What can you do about it? Do you know the sinister word that creeps into your everyday conversations that can twist your thinking?
• Why are people afraid to hope? Hope is something the fuels us in our purpose, so what happens to you when having hope is too frightening? It's time to take a look at your feelings and see if you suffer from a lack of trust that leads to fear of hope.
• Sure, it sounds cliché to say that every struggle is a gift. But it's true, and it's a truth you need to be reminded of, and Rick does so in a unique way.
• What's your definition of hope? Rick shares his, and it's a beautiful thing indeed. Can you take his words and truly embrace them? Can you live up to the challenge of hope? Do you realize that you've been conditioned not to hope for the right things?
• If you believe there is such a thing as a hopeless situation, then you need to stop what you're doing, sit down right now, and listen to some words from a dying woman. That woman was Rick's wife, and if you take nothing else from this interview, take this.

If you'd like to hear the full featured conversation from Dr Rick Rigsby, you can go to NavigatingNorthSummit.com to watch the whole thing! We'll be making a different featured conversation available each month.

Best of The Navigating North Summit

This year marked the very first Navigating North Summit, and what an amazing experience it was! Today's episode takes some of the very best clips from our speakers and threads them together in a powerful lesson on finding your own path to purpose. There's something for everyone in this power collection of clips.At 1:28 Thom Winninger talks about the truth of our gifts.At 5:04 Todd Henry shares what our 'body of work' throughout our lives is, and a surprising fact about retirement.At 9:51 Craig Juntunen explores that idea as well with how dramatically his life changes after retiring and growing his family.At 11:36 Jevonnah Ellison speaks to the times it isn't so simple to understand your purpose.At 12:42 Mark Timm points out that while we can learn from others - they can't make our decisions for us.At 16:51 Dima Ghawi talks about how our purpose can change, grow and become more refined.At 18:39 Jeremy Courtney shares how he took a huge risk on his path to purpose - but not everyone needs to be so extreme.At 22:12 Zach Mercurio reminds us that what seems ordinary isn't ordinary at all, andat 23:16 Dr. Rick Rigsby gives us insight into how to move forward even when we feel shipwrecked, and how there is always exceptional value in encouraging others.These were some of the moments that really showed me how important it is to live with purpose, and to do it together as a community. To help us help you live 2018 on purpose, I would love for you to answer a short, two question survey about what YOU need in your life to Navigate North.

Lessons Learned From the Navigating North Summit

Putting on a summit is a challenge. Putting on a summit that eschews trends to an audience who isn't familiar with summits is an even better challenge. But that's exactly what Kevin Monroe and his team did for the Navigating North Summit. There were bumps, bruises, and victories along the way, and today, Kevin shares them all.

• Christy and Kevin address a difficult question: Was the Summit a success? That is the wrong question, according to Kevin. Instead, he used words of inspiration from Mother Theresa: faithfulness, not success.
• Kevin talks about what a summit is and why he eschewed the typical format, promotion, and feel of a summit. There's a dirty secret, and he shares exactly what the goal of a typical summit is, and how we did it differently.
• We made one big mistake with the summit – assuming everyone knows what a summit actually is. Truth is, many don't, and Kevin shares the experience of teaching what a summit is while doing a summit. But more importantly, he hopes that others will be inspired.
• Getting conversation guests was another study of the unknown. There seemed to be some easy yes's and some longshots we never thought we'd land. It was a learning process for sure.
• If you've even thought about a summit, Kevin and Christy share what helped them succeed in putting one on. A tight deadline, not worrying about being perfect, and getting the big things right: that's what you really need.
• Kevin and Christy go heart to heart with what it really takes to put on a summit that you can be proud of, one that sees you being a faithful steward to an idea and seeing it through to a reality.

What will it take for you to live more on purpose in 2018? How can we help make it a reality? Feedback is a gift, and we would appreciate yours so we can better serve you. Take 2 minutes and complete this 3-question survey. Let's work together to live 2018 on purpose.

HPP Episode 17 - Interview with Clay Scroggins

Clay (short for Claytonious) Scroggins is the author of the best-selling book, How to Lead When You're Not in Charge: Leveraging Influence When You Lack Authority. It's a long title and a powerful message. Today, Kevin and Clay dig into what it means to lead when you aren't seen as the leader.Listen to the full episode now:

• Clay is driven by purpose; he might be a pastor, but he considers himself regular. He explains what he has learned by not being a head pastor but still being in a position of leadership. It's not as simple as being in charge of something. Authority isn't what makes you a leader.
• Have you heard the concept, 'the gun of authority?' Clay explains what it is. It took him hearing a governor yelling at people to listen to him. You shouldn't have to tell a person you're in charge, and Clay talks about what makes a real leader.
• His book started with a 30-minute talk before Clay did the research and really dug into the topic. He talks about the fascinating interviews, including one with the former CEO of Home Depot, and how he found his first executive memo in the trash.
• It's not positional authority, it's not power, that makes leadership. What is the real currency? Clay likens it to a cream-filled donut. Really – you'll get it when you hear his explanation. It's the secret to cultivating a life of influence.
• There is a point of leadership – a moment in time where you can make a difference no matter whether you're in a position of authority or not. Want to know what it is? Is the moment when you have the opportunity to sway a room.
• Are you interested in receiving feedback to grow? Most people are, but they are missing one huge thing in getting it. Clay reveals what you can do to be better and grow every day, every project, every conversation.

If you feel like you don't have purpose at work, or you want to clarify your purpose at work, we have a free 5-day email course you can take with daily challenges and action steps to help bring the meaning you are meant to have into your everyday.

HPP Episode 16 - Interview with Zach Mercurio

Zach Mercurio has had four other 'major careers' before he landed where he is. Zach sees his overarching experience as the best teacher of how we all have a purpose, no matter what we do. It can be a zigzag between careers to figure it out, and Zach talks to those who aspire to leadership, and who The Invisible Leader truly is.Listen to the full episode now:

• Zach talks about the book he wrote, The Invisible Leader, and the common misunderstanding that title causes. What kind of invisible leader are you? Chances are, you'd be wrong, but not for the reason you'd think.
• You've heard of authentic purpose. Do you know what default purpose is? Plastic purpose? It's hard to stand against the constant pressure of embracing someone else's purpose, especially with the emergence of purpose at work.
• 'Why-washing' is a dangerous thing. Kevin and Zach talk about what it is, and why it's the opposite of what we need, whether we're leaders or not. Pride and enthusiasm in your work will never be achieved if you're being why-washed.
• We will all hopefully have an awakening of purpose, and Zach shares his unique experience. He credits it to ordinary people with extraordinary vision. His awakener was a cab driver who had a very specific idea of what his job actually was.
• Next, Zach talks about Mary. She was a janitor for college dorms who worked her way up to a management position then retired. Believe it or not, she came out of retirement to work at the bottom again, and her reason will touch your heart.
• Imagine the impact. When you go about your day, do this exercise, and it will change your day every single time. What impact will you have on the people you come across today? How can you make it purposeful? And do you believe in the butterfly effect? You should.
• Many purpose-driven people are accused of being 'fluffy.' Zach has been, too, and he responds with a simple psychological test that proves that we are all searching for purpose. And he asks, 'tell me one time when you felt like your job really mattered.'

If you feel like you don't have purpose at work, or you want to clarify your purpose at work, we have a free 5 day email course you can take with daily challenges and action steps to help bring the meaning you are meant to have into your everyday. Go to kevindmonroe.com/workpurpose.

HPP Episode15 - Interview with Kari Enge

Kari is editor-in-chief of Rank and File magazine, a digital publication for purpose driven entrepreneurs and a value-based magazine. She loves talking to people about her mission, one to which she has devoted her life, and today, she and Kevin talk about the value of entrepreneurial leadership that serves others in all life.Listen to the episode now:

• Kari was  the founder of the digital magazine, and she shares the path that led her from being an intern to being a change maker and purpose driven person who believed in the power of purposeful leadership. She shares the two truths she discovered that revolutionized her own view of business models.
• Kari was asked to give a TED Talk-like speech, and in that process, she uncovered the deeper lessons she learned in creating Rank and File, and how she was surprised to find her values embedded in her struggles and successes in growing the publication.
• Experts have an incredible chance to elevate others with their knowledge, and Kari talks about how her publication is a platform for purpose in that way. Because of that, her perception of purpose is still changing and growing as Rank and File grows and changes.
• People might find themselves placed on a pedestal even though they never had any of intention of being there. Kari talks about how that can affect them, but also, how she seeks to use her media influence to put the right people on a pedestal.
• While Rank and File is meant to help others, Kari finds that, every day, it's challenging her as well. There's a balance Kari must strike to keep doing what she's doing, and she asserts that being able to serve other begins with self-care. She shares a profound observation: if people are worth serving in business, they are worth serving in her personal life as well.
• We need rules in our business lives, and Kari shares some of her simple, practical rules for each day, which include eating a good lunch and spending the second half of her lunch hour focusing on relationships.
• Kari shares the three symbols in her story of Rank and File: laying napkins on laps, the love letters, and the big red bus. The stories behind the symbols are powerful and fascinating.

If you feel like you don't have purpose at work, or you want to clarify your purpose at work, we have a free 5 day email course you can take with daily challenges and action steps to help bring the meaning you are meant to have into your everyday. Go to kevindmonroe.com/workpurpose.

HPP Episode 14 - Interview with Kevin Monroe and Amy Robles

Today is a special episode. The tables are turned and Kevin is the one being interviewed by the talented and lovely Amy Robles. The talk through the ins and outs of the Navigating North Summit, and what makes it so very special. The all-star lineup, the involvement of charity, and the opportunity to find your purpose.Listen to the full episode now:

• Kevin and Amy talk about the origin of the Navigating North Summit, and Kevin reveals the belief he held for a long time that he now considers a myth. He also talks about how he landed on the name.
• Have you ever heard about those people who are wired for purpose? So are you. Kevin explains why you aren't an accident, how you're designed for purpose. It's up to you to figure it out what it is.
• Kevin shares some of the common misconceptions in finding your purpose. He explains what he learned growing up that has changed over time, even after spending his formative years steeped in the purpose of living in a church community.
• Some people aren't aware of a Summit, and others aren't familiar with the type of summit Navigating North will be. Kevin explains what it is and what makes it different from other, similar events.
• The Navigating North Summit has an all-star lineup, and Kevin talks about the speakers, how he formed relationships with them, and how they stay connected.
• Kevin talks about the seven people you will likely meet along your path to purpose, and what effect they have on you, starting with the Awakener. He shares the types of people who he believes you'll find during the Summit.

Are you ready for more purpose in work and in life? What if you could learn from personal, intimate conversations with people who are living their lives passionately and purposefully, and making a massive impact? For 5 days, you can. Get more information - and your free ticket at NavigatingNorthSummit.com