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Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 68: Experience, Innovation, and Transformation with Chris Holt
Our guest today is Chris Holt. She is the Chief Experience Designer at Holy Redeemer in Pennsylvania, a faith-based institution that offers diverse healthcare services to families and patients. In this episode, she tells the story of her organization’s innovative transformation that centers on purpose and service. What she did differently - looking at experience as a way to innovate, will inspire you.
- About ten years ago, Holy Redeemer began an initiative to become more innovative as an organization. In their research, the team found a book called The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine and James Gilmore, which led to the idea of looking at experience as a way to innovate. Experience that is uniquely grounded in who they are and who they want to be as an organization is a way to not only differentiate themselves, but transform themselves.
- The team then worked with Gary Adamson of Starizon to apply the concepts of an experience economy to a healthcare organization. They took these concepts and molded them to fit their culture and their beliefs. It has become a way to provide better service AND to brand the experience as being unique to Holy Redeemer.
- The healthcare system has been under a lot of pressure to do more with less, not to mention that technology has raised people’s expectations for service. So the question was: how can we, as an organization, learn to be more innovative and stay ahead?
- Experience design was one of the ways Chris and her team discovered they could innovate. When providing an experience to someone, it should be a representation of who you are as an organization and how you want to be seen in the eyes of your customer. It’s the definition of your brand. By doing this you can transform the organization at the grassroots level while improving the experience people have with it. In short, you ‘activate’ your brand.
- Transforming the organization was not about trying to be something they’re not. It was about becoming clear on who they are and what makes them unique. They had to own that and turn it into an experience, no matter where a customer is experiencing the brand, from before entering the hospital to becoming a patient. Chris shares that in the transformation process, the organization’s values and mission remain unchanged.
- Pushing the envelope from incremental improvement to transformation meant losing the baggage and allowing yourself to dream and imagine, then working backwards without putting barriers in your way.
- It’s important to give people a context with which to dream. It needs to be a dream that’s aligned with who you are as an organization. Chris shares the guiding questions they asked themselves throughout the process, and how they boiled down their mission to an emotional connection.
- What does it mean to do your job with an emotional connection? Think purple icing. If the job description is “blue” and the experience is “red,” Chris doesn’t want people to do blue with something red on top as something extra. She wants people to live in purple, and explains more about what that means.
- My. Life. Story. is a declaration video and statement based on Holy Redeemer’s mission and values that states what the organization knows, what they’ve learned, what they believe, and therefore how they behave. Kevin invites you to watch the declaration — it’s powerful how it comes to life.
- There’s a line in the declaration that says, “Every day, we’ve received the gift of a blank page.” Chris shares that it means we’re all reading our story together. Every day you can make choices that help us as an organization, live out our brand, help you personally live out your personal purpose.
- The declaration, which is used in training, is also sent out when engaging in new partnerships and is used in recruitment efforts. This gives everyone involved a better understanding of the organization, who they are, and whether values align. Kevin gives suggestions on how you can implement something similar, even if you don’t have a formal video.
- What is happening in Spark now? Plenty. They have a talent agency, a marketing arm, consultants that help people in the health system apply the concepts in their own areas, a team of producers that helps elevate normal meetings and events into experiences, life coaching services, and the Experience U team that delivers all the non-clinical education and leadership development training. Their goal is to model the future of the health system, as they also serve communities beyond Holy Redeemer.
- Chris shares how this entire process has changed how she sees the people she works with, and how it’s work that’s both energy giving and energy fulfilling. When people who are aligned move forward in a new direction and see things differently — it’s that spirit. It’s that spark.
Ready to make your OWN transformation?We all feel the need to transform our lives, whether personally, in business, or in the way we lead others. Join Kevin for a 28 day sprint to transform your life!Resources:Chris Holt (LinkedIn)Spark! Transformation CenterHoly Redeemer The Holy Redeemer Declaration The Experience Economy by Joseph Pine on Amazon Higher Purpose Podcast interview with Joseph Pine: Purpose at Work Higher Purpose Podcast Interview with Gary Adamson: Explore, Discover, and Transform WorkStarizon Studio
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 67: Bringing Your Business Culture to Life with Hagen Kern
What’s different about a business when it’s grounded in purpose? Everything. Your business’s culture is your only real competitive advantage: people can attempt to copy your products and positioning, but no one can copy your culture. When companies don’t design their culture in a specific way, they allow it to be 'by default.' But purpose-powered businesses have a unique culture, because they recognize the power and privilege of designing one that is an expression of their purpose to the world. In this episode, we discuss culture; specifically values as the bedrock of culture. The wrong approachMany companies create a list of words and hang them on the wall. That doesn’t tap into the real value of values. This doesn’t work because:
- If you’re just using words, you’re using words most other companies are already using.
- Words’ meanings can vary from person to person.
- Many times, these values exist only on the wall and are not personified anywhere else.
Values personifiedKevin shares a few stories about his stay at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver and their exceptional customer service — unlike many other hotels he has visited in the past. He recounts the story of the room switch, the story of the green button, the unexpected cappuccino machine, and meeting with the lodge’s VP of Revenue Development.Why was the Heathman Lodge so different?
- They have the Heathman Lodge Treaty, a list of all their values and examples. For example, “Whose job is it?” will never happen at the lodge. It’s everyone’s job to make the customer happy.
- When hiring, people get a copy of the treaty first, and only get an application form if they agree to the treaty and sign it.
How do you bring values to life in your organization?Personalize the values into expressions of who you are and what’s different in your organization or business. And then:
- Use this as your criteria for hiring
- Rank-order them, so people know what’s important when making a decision.
- Use your values as your compass to make things right when things go wrong.
- Operationalize your values: put them into action. Get them off the wall and into hearts.
Unless and until values translate into behaviors and beliefs, the benefit of values will either be marginalized or minimized.Meet HagenHagen Kern is the owner of Junk King Chicago Downtown, a full-service junk removal business in their early stages of formalizing their company’s values.Purpose according to Hagen is having clear, defined objectives on what they want to achieve with the business.
- “It’s not just about making money. It’s, what do we bring to the table? What are we actually solving? What are we for? What do we stand for? It’s important that we can relate this to our employees, and employees can relate this to customers.”
Why have a purpose statement?
- Hagen talks about having issues with high turnover rates. That’s when they realized it was time to find theright people for the business, those who can stand behind their purpose and values and identify with them — so they can represent them.
- Vision and mission statements can be too vague and too far removed from employees’ and customers’ everyday experiences. He wanted a purpose statement that everybody in the company could be involved in, see their part in, connect with, and make come to life on a daily basis.
- Everybody is a stakeholder for that purpose.
The purpose statement in actionHagen’s company’s purpose statement has a list of 7 values they live by.
- For example: Honesty. As a hauling company, sometimes things get damaged or scratched up. Living by the value of honesty means owning up to it, and never leaving it for the customer to find out. The customer must hear it from them.
- These are basic, relatable values, and Hagen shares the process behind coming up with them.
What do they do with this list?
- Integrate it into the hiring application, because they want to hire by character
- Relate to them when situations come up, or when there are miscommunications. (e.g. “Yeah, we probably didn’t go the extra mile this one time.”
- Bring it up during team meetings, and on occasion, have a team member pick a value and articulate what it means to them in their own words.
- Keep it on display all over the office, to keep them top of mind.
Hagen wants to inspire and encourage others to incorporate purpose and values into their work. If you can make what you want to achieve relatable, then you’ll keep your employees motivated, and they, in turn, will do their day-to-day work in a superior and excellent manner.Parting words and next stepsIt’s not too early or too late to bring purpose into fruition through your work. If this resonated with you and you want to take the next step, check out Kevin’s free resource: go to 28daysprint.com and download the free Value of Values worksheet.Resources mentioned in this episode:Kevin Monroe’s LinkedIn profileThe Construction Leading Edge Podcast by Todd DewaltDownload the Value of Values checklistHagen KernLinkedInJunk King WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 66: The 10 Characteristics of Purpose-Powered People
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 65: Faith at Work with Bob Hasson
How do entrepreneurs balance faith and business when one is focused on trust and confidence in the unseen, and the other relies on facts and data? It might not be a matter of balance. Perhaps you are making results-driven decisions because you’re listening to your calling. Bob Hasson, CEO at Hasson Inc. and co-author of “Business in Honor,” shares his insights on living as a person of honor in business and how faith fits into work life.
- It's amazing how Bob's painting career led him to build a successful brand that's been in the business for 40 years. You might be surprised that despite being the boss, Bob has always been more of a ‘behind-the-scenes’ kind of leader than a ‘front lines’ leader. This all changed after his friend, Danny Silk, got him to co-write "The Business of Honor" in 2017. This stirred Bob's passion and courage to serve the leadership community as a consultant. He talks about his business, his calling, and his faith.
- Speaking of faith, how do you show your faithfulness when you're in business? Kevin and Bob talk about how there's really no one way for us to demonstrate our faith. You can stamp symbols on parcels all you want, but it’s faith in action that gets people’s attention. It's present in your hard work, how you treat others, and how you purposefully live your life.
- A business that's built in the spirit of faith is grounded in honor, it strives to do the right thing even when doing what’s right isn’t easy. It's about finding and believing in the best part of people despite their shortcomings. Bob talks about how organizations benefit when they empower their people to talk, take risks, and share ideas without the fear of punishment.
- We have aspirations of how we want to lead, and most of us don't live up to our aspirations all the time. Being human beings, we have to accept that sometimes we respond in ways that we're not proud of. Bob talks about how trust and vulnerability help in building meaningful relationships. And how being honest and vulnerable in saying, "forgive me," goes a long way.
- Basically, everything that flows in life and in business boils down to the quality of relationships we forge. Kevin and Bob touch on the 3 vital areas we have to invest in when building relationships.
- Beyond sharing their vision, giving direction and clarity, a leader's heart must focus on service to accomplish their goals. Bob and Kevin talk about the energy shift in the organizational pyramid. Instead of the bottom lifting and supporting the top, the leaders' flow of support should go towards setting the front lines up for success. Bob shares how he demonstrated quiet trust during one of his business meetings, and how this delivered dramatic results.
Do you need clarity on how to move forward?Are you at a crossroads or facing a transition and not confident about what to do now or next? Then you're invited to join Kevin Monroe for a Clarity Call. You can enter for a free call or book right away!Bob Hasson:LinkedInInstagramFacebookBookHasson ConsultingHasson Painting Contractors Inc.Resources:How Amazon Prime Was BornDanny SilkCulture of Honor: Sustaining a Supernatural EnvironmentKeep Your Love On
Higher Purpose Podcast 64: Experiencing and Cultivating Abundance with Juliana Park
Are you living your life in alignment with what you value? Last week, Kevin and Juliana talked about the origins and fundamentals of the scarcity and abundance loops. It was such a powerful conversation that Kevin invited her back this week to take you deeper into the mindset loop discussion. In particular, they dive into how you can cultivate abundance in different aspects of your life.
- Recently, Juliana talked about 2 mindsets: the scarcity loop and the abundance loop. According to her, the scarcity mindset stems from fear. And that fear is the voice in your mind that says, 'this is not enough and you are not enough.' When you're not careful, it's easy to fall into the fear spiral.
- Juliana reminds us that fear leads to anxiety. Anxiety leads to desperation. And desperation leads to poor life choices. The scarcity loop goes like this: fear leads to poor life choices, and poor life choices lead back to even greater fears.
- How do you willfully seek abundance and make purposeful life choices? Look past the negative circumstances and ground your life in gratitude. Focus on shifting your mindset to gratitude instead, because fear cannot thrive in the heart of someone who's brimming with gratitude. The abundance loop goes like this: a positive mindset leads to positive outcomes; positive outcomes reinforce the positive mindset.
- The scarcity and abundance loop exist beyond our work life. It's present in our relationships, health, and other facets of our lives. No one is too rich or too poor to be exempt from the experience of scarcity and abundance.
- What practices can we embrace to help us spend more time in the abundance loop? Be intentional and aware of what brings joy and purpose to your life. Each person’s experience of abundance is unique, so be clear with what you want and commit your best efforts to get there.
- You have the power to make your own choices. You can choose to stay stuck in scarcity or shift towards abundance. Either way, all these shifts you make throughout the day add up, and sometimes the smallest of shifts can make the most impact. It's up to you to make the effort. Find the courage to get out of your own way and be honest with what makes your life purposeful. The simplest cure for your fear of not having and being enough is to be grateful for everything else in life.
Do you need clarity on how to move forward?Are you at a crossroads or facing a transition and not confident about what to do now or next? Then you're invited to join Kevin Monroe for a Clarity Call. You can enter for a free call or book right away!Juliana ParkWebsiteThe Abundance LoopTwitter
Higher Purpose Podcast 63: Abundance and Scarcity Loops with Juliana Park
Have you ever been pressured into making a decision that didn’t sit well with you? What happens when we silence our gut alarms and signals? Join Kevin and Juliana Park for a life-changing conversation grounded in abundance and purpose. They talk about what leads us to poor decision making and how we can shift away from the scarcity mindset. They will unravel the experience that led to the wisdom in Juliana’s book, The Abundance Loop, and how it can change your mindset today.
- How is Juliana living her higher purpose? Juliana has seen so many others and herself struggle in the pursuit for ‘more.’ This opened her eyes to her true mission: Help people shift away from scarcity and live in abundance.
- People go through life with the stress from thinking that there isn’t ‘enough.’ We live under the assumption that acquiring more wealth and success would mean more validation of our worth. Juliana and Kevin talk about how true gratitude leads us from ‘not having enough’ to ‘being enough,’ and how her scarcity loop enabled her to verbalize the contrast between scarcity and abundance.
- What does abundance mean? To Juliana, it’s being present in the moment and realizing that we have enough. It’s feeling we’re enough inside, ‘I am enough,’ and outside, ‘I have enough.’
- When you reach that point where your inside and outside are in an abundance loop, then you'll start seeing the truth - there’s more than enough out there. There’s more for us to share and more for us to become because of our potential, and the possibilities aren’t finite.
- What is scarcity? Most people are stuck with the scarcity mindset. Scarcity is believing that we don’t have enough - it’s like falling in a downward spiral and into a vortex. In the scarcity loop, we unconsciously pick choices that make us feel even more inadequate.
- What compels us to make unwise decisions? Juliana talks about how she retraced her steps leading back to the root of that choice. What pushed her to jump and ignore reason? Anxiety. Stress. Fear. These made her blind to other choices that might have made all the difference.
- It seems that in our desire to be loved by others, we often forfeit self-love. We shout a louder 'YES,” every time our gut screams, “NO.” We’ll say yes because we want the pain and fear to stop so we opt for temporary relief and mistake it for happiness. Our discomfort in experiencing discomfort compels us to run with the least reasonable choice because we want some semblance of feeling okay again.
- Kevin and Juliana dive even further into the value of understanding the difference between making conscious choices under the abundance mindset vs. those poor, unconscious choices we make when stuck in the scarcity loop.
Juliana returns next week for another amazing conversation with Kevin Monroe. Subscribe now so you don't miss it!Do you need clarity on how to move forward?Are you at a crossroads or facing a transition and not confident about what to do now or next? Then you're invited to join Kevin Monroe for a Clarity Call. You can enter for a free call, or book right away!Juliana ParkWebsiteThe Abundance LoopTwitter
Higher Purpose Podcast 62: HR on Purpose with Steve Browne
Are you the same person at work as you are at home? Are you ‘busy’ or are you ‘full?’ Is your life gloomy or great? It might be time for a mind shift. Imagine what would happen if you were to reframe your thoughts around purposeful intentions and action. It could drastically change the way you live at home AND at work. Join Kevin and his guest, Steve Browne, as they talk about the power in feeding the positive mindset, our choices, and how they affect the people around us.
- Steve Browne is the Vice President of Human Resources for La Rosa’s, Inc. - an iconic regional pizzeria that’s been in business for more than 64 years. He is also part of the SHRM Board of Directors, an organization where he has served for almost 20 years.
- How does he understand his personal purpose? As an HR professional, Steve talks about how he fills his day with lots of meaningful interactions. He goes beyond the ‘hi-hello’ of the day to connect with, marvel at, and acknowledge people’s unique contributions to the organization.
- Steve shares how when we take the time to observe and care about those around us, everything becomes so much lighter for everyone. It’s harder than it looks, though, right? Especially when we have no genuine interest in people and their lives. This is why Kevin and Steve talk about authenticity and how this element amplifies our ability to inspire and serve others.
- Positive impact doesn’t have to be a grandiose act of kindness. Sometimes all it takes to shift our day from gloomy to great are two words, “Happy Monday!” You can pick any day, any greeting, but the point is that we have the power to transform transactions and other mundane day-to-day stuff into meaningful encounters IF we choose to do so.
- HR is the part of an organization that deals with people the most. Steve talks about his book, HR on Purpose, and how HR can do better when it comes to supporting people rather than dwelling on all the negatives. Companies, and we as people need to empower others to be who they are and work with purpose. When you celebrate people in all their diversity, don’t forget to celebrate what they do to benefit the organization.
Today’s conversation dives deep into how we always have an opportunity to do our jobs well and with purpose. We have to stop treating certain jobs as “just a ___,” to see beyond the task and acknowledge the person behind it. Let’s not leave room for people to belittle others, and it begins with how WE refer to them. The sooner we treat each other like we matter, the faster we can grow to become better, and more purposeful, people.Do you need clarity on how to move forward?Are you at a crossroads or facing a transition and not confident about what to do now or next? Then you're invited to join Kevin Monroe for a Clarity Call. You can enter for a free call, or book right away!Steve BrowneEveryday PeopleLinkedInTwitterHR on Purpose (book)ResourcesJennifer McClure
Higher Purpose Podcast 61: 7 Shifts That Move You Towards Purpose
Last week, Kevin had a deep and insightful conversation with Nick Tasler about what good people do when bad things happen to them. They touched on Dr. Viktor Frankl’s view on “Tragic Optimism” - the unwavering belief that life is good despite episodes of adversity. This inspired Kevin to share 7 mindset shifts that will ground your life in gratitude and meaning.1. Changing your default setting to become more receptive to opportunities.
- How do you naturally respond to unbelievable opportunities that come your way? Kevin shares how the book, Immunity to Change, helped him rewire his brain to change his immediate response, from “Who am I?” to “Why not me?”
- Why is there a need to shift your default setting? Sometimes we don’t feel qualified when we are called to do great things. We are often too critical of ourselves. This makes us blind to our own qualifications. Kevin calls on you to stop disqualifying yourself from claiming these once in a lifetime opportunities. Own your qualifications and seize your opportunities.
2. Adopt, cultivate, and develop a growth mindset.
- When people box themselves up in limiting beliefs that describe their resources as finite, they get trapped in the Fixed Mindset. They don’t believe that they are capable of change. They are stuck thinking “this is it” when it comes to who they are and what they have. Life is unfair and there’s nothing they can do about it.
- Studies have shown that the human brain has the capability to constantly learn and adapt throughout our lives. Which makes sense now that we're shifting to the Growth Mindset. People who live by the Growth Mindset open themselves up to abundance and potential. They believe that life, although sometimes difficult, has limitless possibilities.
- How can you live by the Growth Mindset? Nourish your mind. Surround yourself with positive people. Work on intentionally transforming those limiting beliefs into liberating beliefs.
3. Moving away from egocentrism and becoming other-centric.
- Do you think about yourself more than you think about others? In Rick Warren’s book, Purpose Driven Life, the opening statement says, “It’s not about you.” If we want to create significant change in our lives, we must go out of our way to build meaningful relationships with the people around us. Find ways to dedicate yourself and resources to support efforts that improve the lives of those around you. Do something for someone who has no way to repay you. Consciously shift away from self-service and focus on being authentic when you’re extending service.
4. Focus on what matters most.
- Kevin shares how his routines help him focus and keep his priorities straight. We may have different priorities in life, but it acts as our anchor for when the beauty and chaos of life happens. When we learn to rank and understand what’s most important to us, we are better able to walk our journey without distractions.
5. Live in the now in light of eternity.
- "Now" may be the only time we have, but now is not an isolated time. This very moment is a slice of eternity. Now connects with everything that came before and everything that follows. Live knowing that your life is the product of all the nows that you have lived so far. Live wisely and make those nows count. What you do now, at this moment, is both the soil and the seeds of what is to come in your life.
6. Live a more led, less driven life.
- What is the driven life? It’s the hustle and bustle, the fast-paced and high energy demanding life. Living your life as if you were on fire and attempting to put it out yourself by flailing your hands.
- What is a led life? It’s living a responsive life, following the leading and rhythms of life. It’s about living a life of connectivity, creativity, and community.
7. Live in the abundance loop.
- Ground yourself in gratefulness and seek to live in abundance. Do you know what’s holding you back from living a fruitful life? It’s called the scarcity mentality. It distracts you from enjoying the good things that are present in your life with the belief that it will come to an abrupt end.
- You always have something to be grateful for. Kevin encourages us to find ways throughout our day to incorporate and include gratitude so that we flourish in the abundance loop.
Resources:Man Search For MeaningImmunity to ChangeMindsetThe ShallowsPurpose Driven LifeLeadership and Self Deception: Getting out of the boxOutward Mindset: Seeing Beyond Ourselves
Higher Purpose Podcast 60: What Good People Do When Bad Things Happen with Nick Tasler
Life doesn’t always go the way we want, and we’re left wondering why. You might wonder why bad things happen to good people, but you should be wondering what good people do when bad things happen. Life doesn't always seem fair, but there's a way to overcome this mindset issue. Navigating North with Kevin today is Nick Tasler - an Organizational Psychologist, Speaker, the author of 4 books, and father. Together they discuss how to adapt to change, become a better decision maker, and the beauty of tragic optimism.
- A common trait most thought leaders share is their incredible sense of gratitude. Nick, for example, is especially thankful for all the gifts and blessings he has in his life - family, community, and career. Equally as important, he is thankful for all the times he had been through hardships - when life didn't go as planned.
- Nick shares why we should not attach our value and purpose to our life's circumstances. That being grateful for both the good and the bad should be our goal to understand the grand scheme of things.
- Another key both Kevin and Nick believe is vital in finding your true North is keen decision-making. But how do you make the best decision where there are multiple ways to do the right thing? This is where your moral and ethical compass comes into play. Use it to find your way towards the direction that makes the most sense to you.
- Nick shares his insight on what separates resilient people from those who aren't. Change and adversity are inevitable. But resilience comes from shifting away from an immediate response of, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" to an actionable mindset, "What do good people do when bad things happen?"
- Our guest also unpacks the concept of ‘tragic optimism’ and why adversity is necessary to live a meaningful life. Following the teachings of Dr. Viktor Frankl, Nick talks about how people can be optimistic and pragmatic even in the face of adversity.
- Kevin and Nick talk about the importance of focusing on fixing and adapting to change rather than resist and resent it. Change is constant and we can't stop it, but we do have the freedom to decide how to respond to that change.
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.Nick Tasler:LinkedInWebsite Ricochet: What to Do When Change Happens to YouReferences: Meals on Wheels Conference 10 Tips for Living with Higher Purpose Starting TodayDr. Viktor Frankl
Maybe this explains why company culture really matters...
If you're a leader in business, you know you have a great responsibility. But what if it is greater than you realize and perhaps even more than you signed up for when started the company or took that job.Let me explain.Max Stackhouse in On Moral Business observed,
Business leaders are increasingly the stewards of civilization.
Take a moment to pause….and read that line again. Let it soak in for just a moment. Then consider that Max is a theologian, not a business person. Here are a few reasons behind his belief:
- "Families split, but companies endure.
- Governments fall while firms expand.
- The steeples of the churches are dwarfed by the towers of industry.
- People say they learn more at work than they did at school.
- The corporation reaches across cultures; it transcends the boundaries of nations; it serves as the primary center of production and applied technology, and it binds together people of diverse backgrounds in new global networks of interdependence and exchange." (On Moral Business, Stackhouse, 1995).
Many people spend a third of their waking hours working. What happens at work doesn't stay at work. It follows the worker home and impacts everyone else they encounter along the way and really impacts those with whom they live.What happens at work doesn’t stay at work. It ripples into the homes, communities, schools, and other businesses in your community.Who pays? In many ways we all do.Think of the encounters you've witnessed where frustrated workers vented their frustrations:
- on the drivers around them
- the clerk at the grocery or convenience store
- the barista
- the daycare worker
- the teacher
- the spouse
- the child
- the person who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time
Perhaps Stackhouse's insight helps explain why creating a vibrant culture where people thrive and flourish has increased and continues to increase in its importance.[clickToTweet tweet="You know that creating a vibrant #culture in the workplace is considered a huge competitive advantage, but what if it's more. What if it is has become a moral imperative?" quote="Creating a vibrant culture is indeed a compelling competitive advantage, but what if it's more. What if it is now a moral imperative?" theme="style3"]That's something to think about. Want to think out loud about it with me? Join the conversation by sharing your thoughts and ideas in a comment below.
Higher Purpose Podcast 59: Navigating North in Business, Leadership, and Life
So many things seem the same from day to day, but today is uniquely different. That’s the guiding thought in today’s podcast as Kevin unpacks what that means to him. How can you take today and make it matter? We are all on a journey to somewhere we’ve never been, and it’s up to you to make every minute count.
- How often do you use GPS in your car? If you’re like Kevin, you’ve become reliant on it, so much that you don’t think about direction. But do you do that with your life as well, allowing someone else’s voice to guide you? How do you navigate when you don’t have a map? Kevin tells the story of how ancient mariners used to find their way, and there’s an important lesson there for you as you explore uncharted territory.
- You’ve heard the saying, ‘a ship is safest in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.’ Kevin gives his own spin on this: you can live a life without risk, but life itself is a risk. If you live without taking any risks, then you haven’t truly lived. Even if you’ve taken risks and found yourself beaten, bruised, and wondering why, you have to get up and try again. Kevin assures you: you have a unique gift to offer to this world, and it’s worth the risks. Purpose isn’t a privilege of a select few.
- There are some misconceptions around purpose. One of them is that purpose is the privilege of a select few. Another is that your purpose is hidden, and it’s some big mystery you have to unravel. Or that, to find your purpose, the stars had to come into alignment and everything had to be perfect. In fact, your purpose is your birthright, and it isn’t hidden, nor will your understanding of it be perfect.
- Have you ever arrived at a dream destination and discovered it wasn’t all you dreamed it to be? Kevin shares the story of the worst travel decisions he ever made that landed him in a motel outlined in tacky blue neon with a 24-hour package story right next to his room. Certainly not what Kevin expected, and he shares what he learned from this experience, and how those lessons apply to all areas of your life… especially your purpose.
- Kevin talks on how you have a desire deep inside you to ‘build a brighter world’ in a way only you can. But you might not know how to do it, what direction you need to take to get there. Kevin has three key elements to get you on that path. First, start where you are, acknowledge how you got there, and be willing to forgive yourself. Second, decide what your ‘true north’ really is. Third, chart your course and start navigating north. You don’t need to know the exact destination. As long as you know the direction you need to go, you’ll figure out the details and course-correct along the way.
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.
Higher Purpose Podcast 58: 10 Tips for Living with Higher Purpose Starting Today
Life is — and will always be — full of twists and turns. It’s a pendulum swing between triumph and defeat, fulfillment and frustration, clarity and confusion. On this journey, we all walk towards finding, following, and fulfilling our higher purpose. In today’s episode, Kevin shares 10 tips that you can practice today to start living with higher purpose and why you’ll be glad you did.Kevin’s ability to welcome and encourage rich conversations with people has played an instrumental role in his growth as a thought leader. He has persevered through his own experiences with failure and frustration, and is driven to share 10 enlightenment tips to encourage us to relentlessly pursue and follow our path to a higher purpose.Action leads to clarity, and so, here are 10 tips to get you started on your higher purpose journey today:Make peace with your past.
- Reconcile everything from your past that seeks to hold you back from the present and your future. Make peace with your past, however painful it is. Don’t let it keep you captive.
- Forgiveness is your friend. If you’re disappointed in yourself, forgive yourself. If you’ve wronged someone, ask for forgiveness. If you’ve been wronged, choose to forgive your oppressors even if they don’t ask for it.
- Lewis B. Smedes shares: “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” Whatever’s hurting you or holding you back, make peace and when necessary, let go.
Your deepest hurt can be the source of your greatest strength.
- There’s no denying that we all inevitably encounter hardships in our lives. But these awful moments are what transform us into more empathetic beings, who learn to channel their deepest hurt to bring comfort and understanding to those who are suffering the same.
Stop comparing yourself to others.
- Don’t be tempted to drive yourself down by comparing yourself to others. No one can be you, except you, so find the courage and strength to be your genuine self.
Cultivate your willingness to stand out.
- It’s funny how we perceive babies to be perfect the way they are, and yet we torture ourselves into believing we are completely flawed. In Psalms 139:14, it says: “I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows full well.” When did you start looking in the mirror and stop seeing yourself as fearfully and wonderfully made? Whatever the reason, remember that YOU are valuable and marvelously made. Your gifts are proof of that.
See the people others overlook.
- If you truly want to live your life with higher purpose, open your eyes and ears – be aware of those others often overlook – touch the untouchables, befriend the friendless, acknowledge their value and remind them of their value.
Shine your light and share it with others.
- If you are given the choice of either fanning the flame of someone else’s dream or dousing that flame – FAN IT.
Be kind every day.
- Bring kindness unto the world that has become increasingly calloused and unkind. The ripples of kindness has a catalytic effect, so there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. So please, always be kind, always be kind, always be kind – there is really no excuse not to be.
Be an encourager.
- Offer encouragement. When you see someone’s potential, do whatever you can to affirm, encourage, and invest in them. If you see someone distressed, depressed, discouraged; stop, ask, and listen.
Discover your dream.
- Write it down, draw it up, or map it out – make your dream vivid and visual. If you have not discovered your dream yet, invest your time and find out where you want to be in the future.
- Be careful with whom and how you share your dreams. Some people won’t be able to understand and appreciate your dream, so build meaningful relationships with people who are committed to living their lives with higher purpose, connect with people who will believe in you and support you in your journey.
Abandon scarcity and embrace abundance.
- Scarcity holds you back from living your life to its full potential. Kevin recalls how every bad decision he’s ever made was born under the scarcity mindset, whereas every good decision he’s ever made happened out of an abundant mindset.
- It’s possible to rewire your brain and adapt the abundance mindset, all it takes is a few seconds because abundance is really all about practicing gratitude. If you want to make great life decisions, cultivate abundance and let gratitude permeate your day.
Clarity will find you when you take action, so seize this moment to start living with higher purpose today. Take the time to reflect, “What do you need to do between now and the end of 2018, so that when the new year arrives you are ready to find, follow, and fulfill your purpose with gusto?”An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!ResourcesOscar TrimboliNick CraigThomas Winninger
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 57: Becoming a Deep Listener with Oscar Trimboli
Joining Kevin on the Higher Purpose Podcast is Oscar Trimboli - a mentor, leadership coach, speaker, and the author of Deep Listening: Impact Beyond Words. Oscar has an outstanding track record of helping leaders become even more impactful leaders by teaching them the complex yet fulfilling act of deep listening. Today’s focus is how to grow beyond the trenches of average listening and learn how to harness the power of pause for effective communication.
- Fun fact: Oscar was already an adult when he first learned to swim. His wife had challenged him to swim in the ocean, and although adamant, he was determined to give this challenge a shot.
- He had 2 coaches to help him prepare for the big swim, a swimming pool coach and a surf coach. Within weeks of training, he had learned how to swim well enough to go 2 kilometers in the pool. But when he hit the ocean, he struggled to make 40 meters, which didn't make sense to his coach at first, since he had been doing most of the techniques right. Except for one vital micro skill - proper breathing.
- He had been swimming 2 kilometers without following proper breathing techniques this whole time. He had been struggling in the surf because he "heard" his coach's instructions, but didn't actually "listen" to them.
- So, Oscar and his surf coach worked to bridge this disconnect by asking the right questions, narrowing the down the variables, and communicating how they were going to achieve the goal together. More training ensued, micro skills relearned.
- The result? He finally swam in the ocean. It’s amazing how aside from learning how to swim, he had also acquired valuable life lessons that would change his perception as a leader, learner, and listener. Everything you learn in life is connected with your higher purpose in some way, all you have to do to connect the dots is to listen for the instructions.
- In case you didn’t know, an average person listens 50% a day, and leaders listen to about 80% a day - with only 2% trained in deep listening. You may be wondering, “Why is there a huge gap in listening capabilities?”
- Oscar explains that hearing is our birthright, it's the first sense that gets developed while we’re in our mother’s womb, and the last sense that shuts down when we die. So, hearing in many ways is the beginning and the end, but the distinction between hearing and listening is, listening is an intention you set before you commence, whereas hearing is instinctive.
- Hearing is about processing sounds. Listening is an intention to make sense of what the sounds are. Think of hearing as seeing in black and white, and listening as viewing the world in full color!
- But whether you’re listening at 50% or 80%, you’ll find great inspiration in today’s unusual podcast flow. Especially since Oscar's book, Deep Listening will take center stage in this conversation. The book touches on several Deep Listener concepts such as the power of pause, the 125:400 rule, the 5 levels of listening.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!Oscar Trimboli Website Deep Listening: Impact Beyond Words LinkedInResourcesArlene Dickinson Speaker & Listener Breathing Synchronization Study Speaker-listener Neural Coupling
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 56: How to Find Your Purpose with Nick Craig
Nick Craig is the Founder and President of the Core Leadership Institute, and his expertise comes from over 25 years of working with top teams, leadership programs, executive coaching, and much more, with companies like Ben and Jerry’s, Lego, Heineken, Unilever, and the US Military. What makes Nick’s approach truly unique is that he focuses on helping leaders tap into their deeper wisdom rather than giving them rote instructions on how to be a good leader. Today, Kevin and Nick talk about some key takeaways from his new book, Leading from Purpose.
- So many of us have great ideas but lack the belief in ourselves to carry them out and share them with others. Nick is no different. He briefly shares with Kevin how he went through several challenges of his own bringing his unique leadership training to the world. It began as Authentic Leadership and is known today as the Core Leadership Institute, and it all hinges on purpose, something he had reservations about from the start.
- Kevin notes the forward of the book, Leading from Purpose, and the “CAUTION” written there might give you second thoughts about reading the book. We can’t put the exact text here, but in short, once you live your purpose, you can’t unlive it. There’s no going back. Nick has his own purpose, naturally, but he defines it in two parts: the key to get into the room, and the room itself. Have you ever thought about your own purpose in this way?
- Do you have a purpose statement, and if so, does it sound like a mission statement? Or worse, is it filled with corporate speak? According to Nick, purpose is the unique gift you bring to the world – keyword ‘unique.’ He shares some of the most delightful, meaningful statements of purpose he’s heard, including one from the president of Hershey’s, that aren’t at all what you think a purpose statement should be.
- Many of us have lived our lives trying to live up to the expectations other people have of who we SHOULD be, instead of living according to the purpose of who we were MEANT to be. That’s a paraphrase of a line in Nick’s book, and he and Kevin dive deeper into what it means, and more importantly, how it can keep us unhappy with what we do. Do you ever feel like a fish trying to climb a tree? Then this will resonate with you.
- Finding the key to get into your own purpose room can be a real challenge, and Nick has an exercise for you. Sit down and write out a story of a magical moment from your childhood, but not from your own perspective. Write it like a movie script: what happened, who was saying it, what happened next. Nick shares what to do with that story, and it’ll floor you how easy it can be to locate your purpose.
- Once you discover your true purpose, you may realize that you’re in for a rough time. Think about it: are you the one who tells people what they don’t want to hear but need to? It’s not always the case, but a lot of people Nick has worked with find that their purpose is edgier than they ever realized. And that’s fantastic. Out of ‘10,000 encounters,’ there are some that really stand out for Nick, and he shares some of them. They’ll touch your heart.
- You might be Gandalf or Buzz Lightyear in your personal statement of purpose, but that doesn’t mean you should proclaim that to everyone you meet. While you should absolutely stay true to the spirit of it, Nick also advises you to keep another version of your purpose statement to share with others, once your relationship with them deepens.
- Nick closes with some very poignant thoughts on choices, time, perspective, the Divine, and more, and it’ll put you in the right state of mind to dig in and find your OWN purpose.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!If you liked this...Then you'll like the interview Kevin did last year with Thom Winninger about Divine Gifts. You can give it a listen right here!Nick CraigLeading from Purpose AssessmentCore Leadership Institute WebsiteLinkedInFacebookTwitterYouTubeLeading from Purpose Book
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 55: Change Your Brain, Change Your Life with Kevin Breeding
Kevin Breeding started Mindset Engine as a way to generate leads for his business. But he soon realized that it was far more than that. In fact, he realized he was rewiring his own brain in creating it. Kevin realized that when you change your brain, you change your life. Today, he shares how you can rewire your own brain to change your mindset and enjoy a far better life.
- Kevin shares the story how he created his Mindset Engine app, how he ‘rewired’ his brand, and of his personal VA who used to suffer from daily panic attacks in a corporate setting before using the app. It’s been two and a half years since her last attack.
- Some people don’t understand the importance of mindset – they wave it off as ‘woo.’ Kevin asks his guest how important the connection is between mindset and success in leadership, business, and life. As you might have guessed, it’s integral. He responds to the question with something he’s observed over the years. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs and influencers would change one very important thing about their trajectory: they would put the mindset stuff first. Many of them believe they would have gotten to where their business is today twice as fast for half the cost.
- It might seem like Kevin was throwing spaghetti at a wall and the Mindset App was what stuck, but that isn’t the case. Intuitively, Kevin knew he needed a coach for himself after a midnight panic attack. His life was ‘on fire,’ and Kevin believed he’d be dead from stress by the end of the year, both from bankruptcy and a divorce. And he knew the place to start was in the way he thought about things. Kevin shares the story of how he began journaling and eventually got to the Mindset Engine.
- Do you ever wonder where the best coaches get the material they use to help others? In Kevin’s case, it was the journal he kept. He explains how he captured his emotions, the progression of his own brain rewiring, and turned it into lessons he uses to this day to help others through his 5-part framework.
- You might cringe at yet another guru touting how, if you mimic what he did exactly, you can succeed, too. But that’s not what Mindset Engine is. Rather than focusing on a single path to success, it focuses on principles – and Kevin believes that to be successful, you have to do it in a way only YOU can, not how a guru did it.
- It’s a shift in mindset that results in a shift of action, of ‘milestone moments.’ Kevin shares a poignant thought: “My fear of failure is nowhere as big as my fear of mediocracy.” Think on that a moment – it takes bravery to succeed and to fail, and bravery is a mindset. Kevin reveals how this shift in his life took him from extreme fear to where he is today.
- Kevin has a free resource available, Mastering Mindset, and he shares some of his favorite insights. The first is about focusing on the process rather than the goal (contrary to what many people teach), and the second is that we are to be a witness of ourselves, not a judge. Powerful thoughts, and Kevin goes into more detail. He also shares some powerful actions you can take today to begin the shift in YOUR life.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!Kevin BreedingWebsite (Mastering Mindset Resource)Get Mindset Engine for FreeJoin Catalyst UFacebookTwitterInstagramLinkedInRick Rigsby’s The Wisdom of a Third Grade Dropout Speech
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 54: The 6 Obstacles to Success
"Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won." That is the West Point Cadet Prayer, but it’s not just for cadets. It‘s for all of us, especially those of us who strive to live our purpose. Today, Kevin talks about thing things that get in his way on his path to purpose. If you’re anything like him, you have probably experienced them, too.
- If you’ve been listening, you’ve heard about the 13 weeks to purpose, and this week, it’s all about encouragement. Socrates said, to paraphrase, ‘always be kind because you don’t know about another person’s battles.’ Kevin shares how his fans did just that for him.
- Frustration is first on the list of things that Kevin confronts often. Has anyone ever asking you why you're SO frustrated? And do you take it as a complaint or a compliment? In fact, it’s an invitation, and Kevin talks about why he’s shifted his beliefs around frustration to become the source of something positive in his life. Specifically, you can use your frustration as fuel.
- Have you ever suffered from Imposter Syndrome? It’s when you doubt your accomplishments and live in fear of being exposed as a fraud. Kevin has a wealth of experience, accomplishments, credentials, and proof that he’s everything he says he is, and even HE suffers from imposter syndrome. He shares how it’s been crippling in his life even when his friends tell him otherwise. It’s time for you to stop living in the scarcity loop and start living in the abundance loop.
- Have you been caught in the belief that there’s nothing ordinary about yourself? Maybe you grew up in a middle-class family, average income, average schooling, average… everything. It can be hard to see anything extraordinary in yourself, but you’re blind to the truth. Being extraordinary doesn’t have much to do with that. Kevin explains how you can be extraordinary every single day.
- It’s time for you to adopt the belief that getting it right is overrated. For all you perfectionists out there, Kevin understands completely, and he’s let that perfectionism stop him short many times before. He’ll be the first to tell you that there are so many things he should and could have done if not for giving up before he started because he knew it wouldn’t be perfect. Getting it right is overrated; keeping it real is where your head should be.
- One of the things that goes hand in hand with getting it right is overthinking it. Fortunately, Kevin has a wonderful friend he can call on when he realizes he overthinking things, because in truth, overthinking leads to underacting on something. The correction to overthinking is to take action. Do something, move forward, make progress. Imperfect action always trumps perfect inaction.
- Finally, do you downplay success? And worse, do you replay failure? This is yet another of the struggles Kevin faces, but how about you? Have you found yourself sapped of all motivation because of this way of thinking? Kevin’s got a challenge for you. Take time to celebrate success. Learn from your failures but don’t cling to them. In fact, you need to redefine what failure means to you because if you’ve learned something, THAT is a success.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!
Higher Purpose Podcast Episode 53: Better Together with Rusty George
As we’ve often said, purpose thrives in community and dies in isolation. Today’s guest, Rusty George, agrees. In fact, he published a book entitled Better Together where he talks about the power of community. Rusty is a pastor, speaker, and leader, and in today’s episode, Rusty and Kevin talk about what community really means when you’re living a purpose-filled life.
- We are more connected than ever before, so why does it feel like we’re more alone than ever? In the UK, they’ve added an empty chair and called it the Minister of Loneliness because of the epidemic they perceive in their country. Rusty shares a story about wanting one thing but getting another, like how social media is supposed to be social – do you resonate with his message? It’s not about how many online friends you have; it’s about how many people really know YOU.
- Rusty was inspired to write Better Together after a very lonely period in his life where he didn’t interact outside of his family and work. He spent a lot of time doing solo activities, and it made him realize how empty it made him feel. What Rusty realized is that the only thing he hadn’t tried was community, a group of like-minded people he could talk to and relate with. He decided that the way to fix me is with
- How do you define your reality? Do you get frustrated and tired of all the people around you and finally retreat to the safety of the people closest to you then tell yourself the story that ‘this is enough?’ There’s a long-term problem associated with that, and it can BREAK the people closest to you. It’s a dangerous reality that doesn’t help you at all.
- Have you spent a lot of time in self-discovery? You’re probably putting your thumb on the scales as you weigh your strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, there are some things that you can ONLY discover by being with others. Rusty talks about some of his own issues, like considering himself a strong leader when he’s actually a control freak.
- As leaders, we often think that we need to be perfect and to not show our vulnerability. But the opposite is true. Rusty agrees that the incomplete leader is one we should praise and strive to be, because we’ll never truly be complete or perfect. To try to be otherwise will only isolate us more.
- There’s a trend online to be hyper-vulnerable, but it’s not the same. It does very little for your personal growth to be vulnerable with people who don’t know you. In fact, those who share on social media rarely share the whole story of why they feel the way they do, so they really aren’t connecting and letting other people know who they are. Rusty believes that you don’t have to be vulnerable to all, but you have to be vulnerable to some.
- One important thing to point out is that vulnerability doesn’t go one way. It’s just as important to find someone who you can be vulnerable with as it is to be engaged as they share themselves with you. Realize that you won’t always understand exactly what someone else is going through, but simply being there for them is enough. That’s where connection begins.
- One thing we’re all guilty of from time to time is going into things with certain expectations, and according to Rusty, expectations are pre-arranged resentments. You’re setting yourself up, in many cases, for disappointment, and that leads to the belief that others have somehow failed you. It’s no way to live, and you need to hear what Rusty has to say.
- In a community, listening is essential. The best way to do that is to try to ask 3 questions. Rather than formulating your witty reply, discover more about the person you’re with. Not only will it impress the person you’re with; it will help you get to know who THEY are rather than steamrolling them with who YOU are. It’s one of the most generous things you can do.
- Have you noticed how the act of ‘consumerism’ has invaded our social circles? Certainly, you’ve talked with someone who was only interested in what you could do for them, but have you noticed it in yourself? Consumerism is the anathema of community; you can never connect on a deep level if you’re only in it for yourself.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!Rusty GeorgeFacebookWebsite Better Together BookGet a free copy of the book!Tweet @kevin_monroe, and let him know you heard about the book on the Higher Purpose Podcast! You could win a free copy of Better Together by Rusty George.
High Purpose Podcast Episode 52 - Looking Back with Purpose
Kevin reflects on 52 weeks of the Higher Purpose Podcast, sharing some of the things he’s learned and experienced along the way. Kevin discusses five ways that purpose benefits all of us - a retrospective on the incredible guests that have been on the show and some of the big takeaways from a year of energizing and inspiring conversations.
- Kevin shares the story of how, at the outset, the Higher Purpose Podcast almost didn’t happen! How does purpose help you persevere in difficult times? This podcast itself is an example of how purpose can prop us up and help us through the challenges we face.
- When we’re frustrated, there is a gap between our experience of reality, and what we believe is possible. What isn’t coming together in your life as you had hoped it would? How can you tap into the power of purpose in order to regroup, and focus on the things you are here to do?
- Purpose attracts. It attracts great people to each other, to important causes, and to inspired projects. It helps us forge relationships and form community, so we can support each other and better achieve our purpose, together.
- Purpose connects. It is like glue that holds people together. Kevin reflects on the guests who have joined him this year, and the amazing web of inspired thought formed by these conversations.
- Purpose inspires. Which conversations on the show inspired you? And what is a conversation you’d like to hear or have on the Higher Purpose Podcast?
- Purpose energizes. It has a way of energizing the most routine tasks, of enlivening and enriching conversations. The higher the purpose, the greater the energy. It inspires us to aspire to be more than we would otherwise be.
- If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of higher purpose to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com, or call Kevin at 678-744-5111!
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank-you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!
Why are you so frustrated? Here's the real answer
Has anyone ever asked you, "Why are you [so] frustrated?" Have you been asked that question more than once? Perhaps thousands of times.If that doesn't make your list of frequently asked questions, stop reading now -- this post isn't for you.Since you're still reading, I'm assuming you're no stranger to frustration. Since we've got that in common, let's explore this topic deeper.When you hear that question, do you interpret it as a compliment or a complaint? I've heard the question a lot in life -- seems like about a million times, I'm sure that's slightly exaggerated. It's not like I was keeping count or anything.If you're anything like me, you most often heard that question as a complaint. It was framed negatively and expressed judgmentally. You know, like a "what's wrong with you?" accusation. Even when you were asking the question of yourself.What if the question wasn't actually an accusation? What if it was an invitation? An invitation to take action? To innovate?Let me share how the dots finally connected for me.For decades, I understood frustration as the feeling of being upset or annoyed. That's probably the most widely held understanding of frustration. It's also incomplete and, in my opinion, a misunderstanding of what it means to be frustrated.Being upset or annoyed is a fruit of frustration, not the cause. What then is the root?Read the rest of the definition: the feeling of being upset or annoyed especially because of inability to change or achieve something. That's eyeopening. But there's still more. An expanded definition includes this entry, "the prevention of the progress, success, or fulfillment of something." If you ponder that definition of frustration maybe you'll reach the same conclusion I did -- frustration need not be negative.[clickToTweet tweet="Why are you so frustrated? Frustration is rooted in the awareness that your current reality is not living up to your potential reality. You see a gap that needs to be closed." quote="Frustration is rooted in the awareness that your current reality is not living up to your potential reality." theme="style5"]In other words, there’s a gap between what is and what could be. That's why you're frustrated!Put that another way, it means you see a better, brighter future possible than what you are currently experiencing. That, my friend, is a sign that you are a visionary, an idealist.It harkens the George Bernard Shaw idea popularized by Robert F. Kennedy,
Some men see things as they are and say, why; I dream things that never were and say, why not.
What's really going on when you're frustrated is you see a gap between what is and what could be. Seeing that gap creates tension. That's the source of your frustration.Now you know. Now you have a choice.Will you express your frustration as anger and annoyance which results in friction and thwarts your progress even more? Or will you channel it as fuel for innovation and change?What's frustrating you most now? How can you close the gap?
HPP Episode 51 - Why Hierarchy is Bad for Business with Brian Robertson
What would your workplace look like without any managers? Brian Robertson says that management hierarchies create a parent-child dynamic between managers and workers that actually undermines organizations. Through experimentation in his own entrepreneurial enterprises, he found a new kind of organization – one that allows us to use our collective consciousness for a purpose. He called the system Holacracy, and now it is implemented by thousands of businesses worldwide.
- Brian became an entrepreneur because, after coming up against bureaucracy in the companies he worked for, he thought: there must be a better way to do things.
- Individuals often are conscious – they see problems and have ideas about how to fix them. But how can we build an organization where anyone who identifies a change that would improve the organization will be able to implement that change?
- Many people assume that management hierarchy is the only option for organizing business. But when Brian became a CEO himself, he realized that even from the top, the structure was limiting how effective he could be in supporting the purpose of his organization.
- If employees need the boss to empower them, that means they are fundamentally in a disempowered position. Brian has created a system that involves everyone in defining the boundaries, rules, and responsibilities, in a non-hierarchical business environment.
- With Holacracy, when you fill a role and have a purpose to express, you can take any action to achieve your purpose - as long as there is not already a rule against it. This is the opposite of how things work in most workplaces – where the manager has to okay any new initiative. Brian says this kind of system creates a fundamentally empowering, and much more effectual, workplace.
- How is Holacracy implemented? Brian explains how eliminating managers actually works, and the benefits of increased flexibility and distributing burden and responsibility throughout an organization.
- For more information, check out Brian’s website, his book about Holacracy, or check out his network of licensed Holacracy trainings offered throughout the world!
- If you or someone you know is interested in bringing the benefits of non-hierarchical empowerment to your enterprise, let us know! Email Kevin at kevin@higherpurposepodcast.com.
An Extraordinary ExperimentThank-you for listening to this episode of the Higher Purpose Podcast. Remember, if you ever think that your work could be less ordinary, there’s not much between you and something extraordinary. Just 13 weeks, and a bold experiment. Find out more about the Extraordinary Experiment here!