Category Archives: Purpose

It’s time

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You’re here for a reason, and we need you.

It’s time for you to step into your genius and show up as your best self doing the work that only you can do.

It’s time for you to fully own your power, and trust that you have everything that you need: right now, in this moment, to create the life that you want, doing the work that you love.

Yes. You have the power. You wouldn’t be the high achiever you are today if you didn’t.

It’s time for you to be, do, and have whatever you can dream.

Why?

Because deep down, you know that it’s possible.

You also know that in this game called life, it’s not simply about making a dollar; it’s about making a difference. And yes, while you have been wildly successful and have plans to be even more so in the future, there’s something greater pulling you. Telling you there’s more…

Because there is.

There’s a lot more.

And it starts with committing to living on purpose and leaving the world better than how you found it.

It’s about your legacy.

What do you stand for?

My Most Important Meeting

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The weekend imeeting in progresss here and it’s time for my most important meeting of the week… my meeting with myself.

This meeting time is sacred.

Alas, I  can check in with myself to ensure that I’m still on track.  In my journal, I take the time to honestly answer some key questions and reflect upon the answers to determine if I have been living on purpose. If I have not been living in alignment with my purpose and doing things that move me in the direction of the long-term vision that I have for my life, then it’s time to course correct. No need to wait to the end of the month or the end of the quarter to celebrate my successes or make adjustments so that I can move in the direction of my dreams.

When’s the last time you had a meeting with yourself?

If it’s been a while, consider asking yourself the following questions. Go on…try it.

YOUR MEETING IS NOW IN PROGRESS

10 questions to keep you on track and in the zone:

  1. What happened this week?
  2. What made me laugh and/or smile?
  3. What did I learn this week?
  4. When did I feel loved and/or at peace and why?
  5. What did I improve?
  6. What projects are still in motion?
  7. What caused me tension and/or stress? How can I alleviate this going forward?
  8. What were my big wins for the week?
  9. Where did I fall off track, and how can I dust myself off and get back on?
  10. Next week, I’m looking forward to…

Stop Stealing from People!

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I was once asked the rhetorical question, “if you had something that could help someone solve one of their looming challenges, and you didn’t share it with them…would you truly be that person’s friend?”

I remember thinking to myself, “no.”

The inherent lesson was that we each have a gift, a unique talent or skill that must be shared with the world: and if this superpower is not shared in service to others then we truly can’t call ourselves a friend. In fact, the only thing we can call ourselves is a thief.

Are you stealing from someone because you’re not sharing your unique gifts and talents?

Are you a thief?

Stepping into the new

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The more I seek, the more I find.

The more I learn, the more I realize that there is so much that I don’t know.

As we lean into vulnerability we can receive love and strengthen our connections.

It is by faith that we can walk into the unknown with confidence.

What motivates me also scares me

…but it’s my job to show up and do my part no matter what.

As we step into the new, remember that legs of doubt take us nowhere and feet of faith enter into new realms.

Writers Write.

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Last weekend I attended Pam Slim’s amazing Power Boost Marketing Live Event!

While I’m still nurturing the seeds of knowledge planted over that awesome weekend in Arizona.  I can’t help but continuously hear the phrase, “writers, write,” over-and-over again ricocheting off the corners of my mind. The same is true for whatever gift it is that you have: painters, paint. Runners, run. Salesmen, sell. You see where this is going.

My question for you is two-fold: what do you do, and are you doing it?

 

The Dollar Difference Breakthrough!

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This weekend…something EPIC happened.

I was backed into a corner and forced to answer a series of open honest questions regarding a goal of mine that I set at the beginning of the year. This goal was purposefully designed to be BIG and BOLD, and as a result the goal had a very large revenue figure attached to it. The open honest question I was asked was, “… is the dollar amount associated with your big bold goal realistic?”

Ouch.

I knew it wasn’t achievable by December 31, 2012; however, there is not a doubt in my mind that this passion project won’t yield indescribable fortunes in the future. After about ten minutes of 6 people grilling me as a means of getting me to re-frame my goal, another open honest question was asked, “…what about the revenue portion of your goal doesn’t resonate with you?”

Jackpot! It hit me.

For the past 60 days I have intensified my self study. Yup you read that right…I hired a life coach and having been spending an extraordinary amount of time studying myself. Getting answers to questions like: Who I am? What do I want? What do I value? What is  my purpose? I’ve been studying myself, and getting really clear, specifically on my values. Why? Because it all starts with what it is that we value. I’m talking values deeper than family, friends and happiness…yep, much deeper. More on this some other time.

Back to my breakthrough moment

So I’m in the hot seat. I’m confused. I’m anxious. I’m pissed off at myself for having not set aside the time prior to our meeting to re-frame my goal before arriving. Had I done that, I could have avoided this agonizing series of questions (the best form of medicine I might add).  And the worst part about the entire experience was this mind chatter…this old voice inside challenged me over and over again, trying to fire up my competitive spirit. The spirit that wouldn’t back down in the face of a challenge. The spirit that would never admit that something is not achievable. But the more I heard this voice telling me to keep it up there (the revenue figure), another voice was emerging. My own.

I processed the question, “…what about the revenue portion of your goal doesn’t resonate with you?” and speaking from my core with conviction; from a place only accessed through truly knowing myself, my values, and what’s really important to me, I was able to say without fear or shame,” the reason this revenue figure bothers me, is because money is and has never been one of my core values. At the end of the day…this is not about making a dollar, but making a difference. And if we do what we’re supposed to do, and create a community of advocates that are engaged and really living this message, then the revenue will come, at the right time, in the way that it’s supposed to.”

Breakthrough.

MORAL OF MY TRUE STORY

If you want to live an extraordinary life, get crystal clear on your values. Let them be your guide. Because  with persistence, patience, and faith, it is possible.

Put Yourself First

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Sounds selfish. Counter-intuitive. Genius.

It’s quite simple really. Take care of yourself and you can give so much more.

We need you to use your superpowers on a daily basis. We need you to show up as your best you everyday. You can’t do this if you are not taking care of yourself. I’ve had to learn this the hard way. Giving giving giving. Burning out and then not being able to enjoy the fruits of all this gracious labor.

If you don’t put yourself at the top of your priority list, you’ll get to a point where you’re not showing up well-rested, energized, and ready to use your superpowers for maximum impact. You’ll show up tired, dragging, potentially irritable and this is a dangerous combination; especially if your labor is out of love and for a cause greater than yourself. It’s not about you…or is it?

Don’t cheapen your gift. Take care of yourself.

Is this easier said than done? Yes.

But I never said it would be easy.

 

Feel the Fear & Do It Anyway

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Tonight I participated in a random yet intentional meeting of the souls. My life-coach (Jacob Sokol) and one of his great friends and fellow coaches (Dave Ursillo), opened up the lines for 20+ souls to  pose questions regarding living on purpose on a one hour conference call. There was no formal agenda, just an open line and two eager souls willing to listen, share, and give of themselves so selflessly. Simply put, the call was magical. Nervousness, shaky voices, authenticity, and pure emotion rocked the air waves for an hour and forty minutes! Yeah…it ran over.

Part way through the call there was silence…then I took a deep breath, pressed *6 and prepared to ask my question.

Here goes… I asked  “when you’re running after those good feelings that come with living on purpose, what do you do when it’s time to face your demons?” I mean seriously. You’re 72 hours away from launching your first for free product; yet there is something inside of you that makes you restless, filled with anxiety, and excitement that feels border line painful as thoughts like, I can’t believe this is really happening, repeatedly flash across your mind. I had been feeling so crazy, and just had to get this question off my chest. I was Amped up. Really tired. Eating cheesecake (and chicken wings) and blaming that on mother nature. Good thing during the second hour of the call I was able to lace up my sneakers, pop in my ear phones and get in my hour walk.

Before walking off the cheesecake, and after sharing my latest fear about demons that paralyze me from practicing my craft every day. Both coaches explained how what I was feeling was totally normal; especially if I was planning on doing big things and living on purpose. Dave put it best when he simply said, “feel the fear and do it anyway.”

My response…will do.

Life is meant to be lived despite the fears that paralyze us…but with a little encouragement and focus, our fears can be overcome.

My Moment of Truth in Corporate America

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The phone rang…it was my boss. I could tell by her tone that something was really bothering her, so I immediately asked her, “what’s wrong?” Hoping she wasn’t about to oust me for not having one of my clients  download and print their marketing materials.  Luckily, that wasn’t what she wanted to talk to me about. She explained to me how there were a series of things that were getting on her nerves, one of which had to do with me. I listened intently as she went on…”Nathan (our regional manager who we shall call Nathan) e-mailed me last night, and the subject line of his e-mail read “Theresa Campbell.” My heart jumped into my throat for a moment as I said, “…and?” trying not to sound not too concerned.

She proceed to tell me how a position was available back in Detroit, Michigan and he was wondering if they should, serve me up as a candidate to interview for this promotion. Besides the fact that I’m not even technically up next on the “next up list,” she proceeded to tell him that based on all of my conversations, with her and other upper level managers, the opportunity he was thinking about having me interview for would not be a good fit based on my interests at this point in time.

The best part about this entire conversation with my boss, is that I didn’t really do much talking. She did. She explained with conviction how she told Nathan that this would not be a good idea, and although he continued to come back to her with “what if,” statements concerning my future with the company she was able to, with confidence, fight for me.

For the longest time I have been sharing with our leaders that work-life-integration is only one piece of the, “what does it take to retain a millennial?,” puzzle. The reality is…many of us want to do work that is meaningful, that makes us come alive, and allows us to live out our purpose with endless resolve and heart. The opportunities are available in my Fortune 10 company; however, it will take a new breed of leaders to recognize that the days of having employees work jobs that they don’t necessarily have an interest in just to be promoted, will be few and far between. The companies that will win in the future, will be those that position their employees in areas of the organization where they can leverage their strengths for the greater good of the organization and themselves. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, “just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean that’s what you’re supposed to be doing.”

This phone call from my boss was a defining moment in my corporate career. It was a moment of truth. My truth being told by someone else. It was a moment where I was so proud of myself, for having taken the time to really determine what it is that I wanted for not just my career, but for my life. Not only this…I was proud of the fact that I was able to clearly articulate what I wanted, to the point where someone else got me. My boss…she knew my truth.

I will remember this conversation with my boss for the rest of my life. I’ll remember, what it felt like to have someone fight for me, and let me tell you…it felt damn good.