Purpose Clarified Through Adaptability

Accepting a position with a new organization after spending nearly my entire adult life with one company was a tremendous shift. The tasks I was responsible for on a daily basis were indeed similar to what I had been doing for years, but the industry and the team members I was serving were wildly different. Grinding through the rebuilding process was a necessity to get my bearings and earn the influence I’d need to deliver what they expected from me.

It didn’t take long to realize that while this organization had definitely mastered their specific craft, my nearly two decades in a large company gave me a perspective that could add values in areas outside my john description. And since I was juggling so much less than I had been in the years leading up to that, I jumped at every opportunity I could find to get involved wherever they allowed me to - and some they didn’t really want to be involved with but hadn’t forbidden completely.

I shared previously how each of the adversities I had to navigate leading up to this point helped me hone the leadership attributes Napoleon Hill detailed in Think and Grow Rich; specifically, definiteness of decision, definiteness of plans, and a willingness to accept full responsibility. Without putting every ounce of energy I could into each, both through those earlier adversities and as I learned the ropes in this new role, I wouldn’t have progressed nearly as well. That progression, and recognizing that much of my experience from a very different industry could add value to that small, family-owned business, highlighted something that provided me with a kind of fulfillment that I had felt since I left my role in behavior-based safety. My purpose clarified through adaptability, albeit slowly at first. That clarity, coupled with what felt like part-time hours and not being as broke as we had been for years prior, led to starting a fledgling business with the hope of serving other small businesses locally in a limited capacity.

Over time, each of those leadership attributes grew stronger. The “bad situations” we face in our careers often forge the exact attributes needed for purpose-driven leadership; adaptability becomes a competitive advantage. The influence I was earning grew, both in my job and with the handful of folks I interacted with in that new business. We’ll look at that more next. Right now, though, I’ll challenge you to assess a recent transition or decision. Where did you lack definiteness? Plan one way to strengthen it over the next month.