Quotes About Purpose

Which of you are doing only what you were hired to do?

Your mind goes through five steps to accomplish virtually any task: 1  |  Defining purpose and principles 2 | Outcome visioning 3 | Brainstorming 4 | Organizing 5 | Identifying next actions

More formal and structured meetings also tend to skip over at least one critical issue, such as why the project is being done in the first place.

Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs.

When you're not sure where you're going or what's really important to you, you'll never know when enough is enough.

Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs. —Václav Havel You'll

So, what are you really trying to do here, anyway?" (vision, purpose).

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. —CHARLES DARWIN

While Horizon 5 (purpose and principles) is obviously the most important context within which to set priorities, experience has shown me that when we understand and implement all the levels of work in which we are engaged, especially the Ground and Horizon 1 levels, we gain greater freedom and resources to do the bigger work that we're all about. If your boat is sinking, you really don't care in which direction it's pointed!

you can decide what, specifically, something means to you and what you intend to do about it, if anything; if you can use a placeholder as a reminder of what you need to attend to;

You are powerful all the time, by way of your attention and intention. The question is, Toward what are you pointing that power?

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. —SUSAN ERTZ

It does not take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do.—Elbert Hubbard

A vision without a task is but a dream; a task without a vision is but drudgery; a vision and a task is the hope of the world. —From a church in Sussex, England, ca. 1730

Often the only way to make a hard decision is to come back to the purpose of what you're doing.

And if it's just you, attempting to come up with a good idea before defining your purpose, creating a vision, and collecting lots of initial bad ideas is likely to give you a case of creative constipation. The

Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs. —Vaclav Havel

I always wanted to be somebody. I should have been more specific. —Lily Tomlin

What's the assumption here? Before any evaluation of what's a good idea can be trusted, the purpose must be clear, the vision must be well defined, and all the relevant data must have been collected (brainstormed) and analyzed (organized).

Choose one project that is new or stuck or that could simply use some improvement. Think of your purpose. Think of what a successful outcome would look like: where would you be physically, financially, in terms of reputation, or whatever? Brainstorm potential steps. Organize your ideas. Decide on the next actions. Are you any clearer about where you want to go and how to get there?

In knowledge work . . . the task is not given; it has to be determined.

People love to win. If you're not totally clear about the purpose of what you're doing, you have no chance of winning.

Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.

Purpose defines success.