We are in it now. 2023 is off to the races. Goals are made, strategies are clarified, and action steps are in motion. During this year you want to make sure you grow, you achieve, you kick butt and take names! We all want more than goal boxes checked when December rolls around. Whether you know it or not – you want to lead on purpose and with purpose. If you take the time to find your purpose and intentionally lead with purpose everyday – a successful year is inevitable.
 
A few days ago I had the opportunity to spend time helping leaders uncover, clarify and learn how to lead with their unique purpose. It was a privilege. The organization did not do that exercise with their leaders simply to be nice and have a good time, though. When leaders align their personal values and purpose with the organizations, amazing results happen.
 
It’s interesting. Psychology Today examined 35 different strengths and came to a profound conclusion.

• Purpose contributes to a leader’s well-being more than any other attribute

• Purpose was the only attribute associated with healthy functioning after adversity

• Doctors found a connection between having purpose and being less prone to disease.

• Psychologist found a connection between purpose and greater well being

• Executives found a connection between purpose and navigating a constantly complex changing landscape without obvious right and wrong strategic decisions.

Purpose comes out of you. It’s part of you. It fuels you and drives you. Purpose is specific and meaningful. It gets you out of bed when you are tired. It propels you when you are overwhelmed and anxious. Purpose is what keeps you from burnout. Purpose is what leads you to leave a legacy worth remembering while being a leader worth following.
 
Purpose is not simply a statement. It’s not plaque. It’s not trivial exercise. It’s a reminder as to who you are and why you do what you do, in the way you do, every day.
 
My son Ezra is 9. He’s filled with funny one liners, good dance moves in the kitchen, FIFA facts and more random fun. He’s super quiet at school and no one knows this side of him outside the home. I said, "Ezra – this year I’m praying for you to have the courage and conviction to be you at school. Don’t be afraid to make jokes, bust a dance move, and have fun. Be you. Don’t worry about what others think." He said, "... but only the appropriate jokes, right dad?" – "Yes son." Oliver Wendell Holmes (former associate justice of the Supreme Court) said: "Most of us go to our graves with our music still inside us, unplayed." The last thing I want for my son is to live another day with music still inside of him.
 
The last thing you need is to go another year without you being you. The last thing you need is to go another year without leading with clear purpose. We believe in this so much, we are going to focus on helping leaders craft their purpose and personal vision frames for their lives at Distilled. Distilled is our executive leadership experience in Louisville that weaves leadership training and the bourbon trail together. This leadership experience has a limited number of participants. They come from any industry, so you can learn from high-level leaders outside of your normal sphere of influence. [Click Here to learn more.]
 
It breaks my heart to see my kids holding back, however, you and I both know leading with courage and conviction is a constant challenge. Our kids struggle with it and so do we. I love this quote from Howard Thurman, “Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
 
Give us a call or set a time to chat and lets make sure 2023 is the year you come alive and help everyone you lead do the same!