The Origins of Purpose

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com

"Rethinking how we approach business, PURPOSE: The Starting Point of Great Companies by Nikos Mourkogiannis demonstrates how a visionary sense of Purpose can be used to inspire and lead an organization to greatness."
(www.purposethebook.com/aboutthebook)

"There is a fundamental human need for guiding ideals that give meaning to our actions." A passionate purpose drives a business, personal venture, although it takes a diligent, introspective, patience in seeing purpose complete its revelation to you. A person's "true fame comes from goodness and high purpose. True fame is immortality." (Pericles)

To make your life worthwhile Nikos says "I would need to find a purpose worth living for. This is crucial to all truly successful enterprises. Purpose is the game of champions. Only the strong-minded men and women are suited for it."

Purpose is bigger than ambition and greed, greater than tactics, than strategy. It is the steps to optimal results. It is the source of great achievement, most noble causes, being a genuine contribution to the world around you. Purpose fuels everything. It’s what we want to talk about the most.

When living in purpose, "we are simply a messenger" of Divine Matter. Achievement comes with a humility because we know its origins are from greater powers, so we respect it. As Bach wrote after writing his great compositions, "To God alone be the Glory."

So in competition we must ask "what are we competing for?"
We look beyond what we do to "why we're doing it?"

Nikos is setting a stage for the next generation of business operatives. The senior executives will look deeper and broader to see more than just profits, the young executives will seek to build their enterprises around meaning of existence. "Do the Right Thing well... and doing what is worthwhile."

In Nikos' analysis, purpose revolves around four arenas… Purpose is the pursuit of Discovery (the new), Excellence (the intrinsically beautiful), Altruism (the helpful) and Heroism (the effective).

Leaders do not invent purpose. They discover it. It takes time to allow the purity of purpose to rise above the other substances that may create a shell around it. Most problems are only disguises hiding the true root of a cause. Look past the problem to a cause wanting to show itself.

The enterprise leader has reasons beyond "the business" for running the business a certain way. He communicates the reason, his people accept it, believe it, and follow it. To play a powerful role it must have a moral dimension. It adapts a valued result for human activity.

The four arenas of purpose reflected in great companies:
1. Discovery-- being a leader in re-inventing something important to those involved. Bringing in the new. (a Sony, IBM)
2. Excellence-- being part of a higher good that is recognized by and benefits the community. (a Warren Buffet in investment excellence, Apple’s great products)
3. Altruism-- helping others in a way that increases happiness. (a Walton to create low prices for everyone)
4. Heroism-- an achievement which embellishes incredible improvements in the world. (a Ford, Gates in advancing transportation, technology)

Nikos has these steps to finding purpose from these four.
1. Review your strategy (in which of the purpose arenas does it fit…discovery, excellence, altruism, heroism).
2. Draw out the implications on the purpose and community of purpose.
3 "Know thyself"... understanding your morale ideals and test your purpose against these.
4. Understand your company's traditions.
5. Take a purpose inventory of the top team (each person lives a moral creed).
6. Take a moral inventory of the community.
7. Identify a purpose.
8. Create metrics and models.
9. Test strategy and the purpose.
10. Launch a campaign to make the purpose work.

In Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies, Nikos Mourkogiannisshares comprehensive studies of the four purpose arenas and companies that represent each. He features highlights on morale, innovation and leadership and how purpose creates an enduring eye wall within them.

Nikos has a personal story which gives him life-qualifications for his studies. This study is his personal passion and it shows. He is thorough while explaining it in an understandable way, a somewhat mystifying subject.

Nikos’ website has more about the book and a profiler quiz online (a quick way to find your purpose arena).
http://www.purposethebook.com/

Purpose is Spirit. In Purpose is Spirit.
Spirit expresses Itself through Purpose.

This is the most powerful force in the universe. This force formed the universe. It flooded the earth totally. It healed people who touched it in Jesus' day. It gave inner joy to Peter the Apostle while he was chained up in a dark, rat infested, cold dungeon. Spirit embedded in purpose lives in you.

Jeremiah was purpose born. He managed to live through mud-filled cisterns with no food for days... but with a message that changed nations.
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."
(Jeremiah 1:5, NLT)

David lived in caves for months because He knew of His purpose. He danced before the Lord when he marched to His "purposed" throne.
“You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.”
(Psalm 139:15-16, NLT)

Isaiah who announced the coming Messiah and a new world in Spirit was purpose disposed.
“Listen to me, all you in distant lands!
Pay attention, you who are far away!
The LORD called me before my birth;
from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.
He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel,
and you will bring me glory."
I replied, "But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the LORD's hand;
I will trust God for my reward."
(Isaiah 49:1-4, NLT)

Purpose may walk a dark road at times, but the promise of its reward is there to those who walk in it. The diligent will experience their purpose if they walk in it and live it.

How to find purpose?
First and foremost, its origin is in Spirit, so you must live in Spirit to find it, know it, live it.
Guide posts to find your purpose.
1. What, with your talents, experience and abilities are you the best at, you do very well almost effortlessly?
2. What are you passionate about? So much so that you drive through all kinds of circumstances to get there. You are relentless in pursuing it. Even after grave disappointments, you come back to it again.
3. What gives you a strong sense of satisfaction that even without reward or recognition, you feel very good about what you are doing? This is a personal, almost secret fulfillment that surrounds living a strong sense of purpose.

Purpose is profound. It can be found by reflection, introspection, observation.
What gifts do you naturally possess? What things come easy for you and you see others compliment you about them... almost to your surprise?

What gives you a sense of fulfillment when you do it, so much that your "heart smiles" and you care little about whether you're rewarded or receive recognition for it.

When you are engaged in a certain activity, it seems your energy is endless and you spend hours and hours never growing tired while in it.

Therein may be your purpose. When these meet, you have a hint, a direction, an idea of what your purpose is.

John Mark, the Apostle, signatured the process of purpose, and the key ingredients that are part of its process. When setting out to do anything called of God, you first
1. Must stay very close to Him and be very intimate in your interactions with Him. It is about knowing Him very well, so you hear His voice without question. To live as close to Him with the same intimacy as in a marriage.
2. Then trust as a child. Have the unwavering faith of knowing it will be done and you can trust God for it. He is your Heavenly Father who does all things for you... Overcomes all insurmountable barriers for us.
3. Give it all you got. Totally put everything you got into it in all areas of your life. God is your provision and you should not trust money, position, skills or any other thing. Give it all for Him as He gives all of Himself for you. When we are in Him, we walk in "Exceptional" Strength and Power.
4. Be aware though that some may desert you. Some who you thought were close to you will leave you and forsake, abandon you.
5. Some will try to harm you for no apparent reason. We share in Christ, as like Him we may at times be persecuted without cause.
6. Have a servant's heart in all you do. Jesus came to serve and be a ransom for us. Be a servant to others. As he asked the blind man, "What do you want me to do for you?"
7. Then you will heal too. His Healing Power will be continually coming through you.
(See Mark 10, New Testament)

John the Baptist had a unique purpose to announce the arrival of the Kingdom of God. Jesus had a unique purpose to prepare the way so many may be part of the Kingdom of God. Paul, Peter, John, The Apostles helped put it into motion.... all with unique assignments, unique character.

ALL are born with a purpose. You are included. You have a Heavenly Purpose, stamped, sealed, tattooed on you. It is directly appointed to you by the very Spirit of God. It's the unique you, like no one else.

It's His Special creation only in you. Purpose begins before we are physically born, continues through earthly life and continues in a Heavenly Kingdom. It is always with you...from before to forever. We are part of a Divine never ending story.

Everyone is important and inside of you dwells this profound powerful driving force... the invincible destiny of purpose. In Divine Purpose, God's Spirit goes with you and the spotlight of His Spirit shines on you. Many see it, we are jubilant in it, and are drawn to the bright light your purpose spreads around you. It's the Light of God's love in you brightening the day of everyone privileged to be in your presence that day.

This is what God, Spirit, the universe has assigned to you to be fulfilled through you in your life. The world stands in line to meet you here, at this intersection of your purpose. It will inspire all those who meet you here.

Find your purpose, live in your purpose and you will create a contagion around you... for who you are, what you believe in, and hope for others to live out their purpose too. Be the unique purpose you are DNA'd for... by The Spirit of God Himself.

There you will shine and exude in-depth Happiness.
The Spirit says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you."
(Psalm 32:8, NLT)