In a world that constantly bombards us with messages of striving for more, it's easy to lose sight of what truly constitutes wealth.  Alfred Nobel, the visionary behind the Nobel Prizes, understood this paradox intimately.  Despite his journey from childhood poverty to immense wealth, he recognized that material riches alone did not equate to contentment or fulfillment.  His assertion that contentment is the ultimate wealth resonates profoundly in today's hyper-competitive society which always seem to scream, "More!"

Benjamin Franklin echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that contentment transcends financial status.  He understood that a mindset of gratitude and satisfaction enriches even the humblest of circumstances.

But contentment shouldn't be misconstrued as complacency.  True contentment, as Nobel and Franklin both exemplified, coexists with a relentless pursuit of purpose, growth, and contribution.  It's about embracing the present moment while striving for progress—a dynamic equilibrium between gratitude and ambition.

Nobel continued to invent and patent hundreds of things to help improve the world even after he had amassed great wealth.  Even at 80 years old, Franklin continued to serve the burgeoning new US as a well-respected senior statesman.

As leaders, cultivating this mindset is paramount.  In the midst of ambitious goals and relentless pursuits, it's easy to succumb to the illusion that external achievements alone define success.  However, true leadership stems from a deep-rooted sense of contentment—a wellspring of inner peace that radiates outward, inspiring and empowering others.

So how do we cultivate this invaluable asset in our lives and leadership journeys?
First, it begins with a shift in perspective.  Instead of fixating on what we lack or desire, we must train ourselves to appreciate the abundance that surrounds us.  Practicing gratitude daily can rewire our brains to focus on the positives, fostering a sense of contentment irrespective of external circumstances.

Secondly, identify, clarify, and leverage your purpose.  We can use our imagination to develop a vision of what and who we want to become, what difference we want to make in the world, and to use our conscience to decide what principles and values will guide us. 

When we have a clear sense of purpose, it organizes and drives purposeful goals, helps us manage behaviors, and provides a sense of deeper meaning.  It promotes greater goal commitment and engagement with our goals.  It gives us a reason to get up in the morning.  When we work at something which fate or the Divine has called us to—to something which we work at and which we love—the work-joy dichotomy disappears.

When we believe in and act on something that gives us greater meaning and purpose in our lives, we simply try harder, work longer, are more creative, and produce better results, products, and outcomes.  It also serves to bind others together in a higher, common cause and boosts engagement, connection, and team cohesion.  It brings a sense of greater contribution and fulfillment.

Third, embracing a growth mindset allows us to pursue excellence without being consumed by perfectionism or comparison.  Understanding that failure is an inevitable part of growth liberates us from the shackles of fear and insecurity, paving the way for authentic fulfillment.

Lastly, connecting with a community of like-minded individuals who share our values and aspirations can provide invaluable support and accountability on our journey towards contentment and purpose-driven leadership.

In essence, the true wealth lies not in the accumulation of possessions or accolades, but in the richness of our inner landscape—the contentment that transcends circumstances and fuels our journey towards meaningful contribution and fulfillment.

Call to Action
Ready to embark on your journey towards purpose-driven leadership and personal growth? 

Explore our Purpose-Driven Leadership Program, coaching services, speaking engagements, and transformative assessments like the LPI360.

Connect with us to unlock your full potential and lead with authenticity and impact.

In the fabric of existence, there’s an undeniable truth:  We are all journeying towards the same inevitable destination—mortality.  And yet, like Marc Chernoff reports in his 2014 post, 25 Things You Should Never Stop Doing for Yourself, that I quote above, “What is it like to wake up every morning and pretend that you are not?” many of us deny, or at least suppress, that truth.

Yet, it's not the ticking clock that defines us, but rather how we choose to spend the time we have.  This profound realization forms the cornerstone of my mission: Partnering with like-minded leaders who want to make a positive difference in the world.

When I think back on my encounters with mortality, particularly within the realm of healthcare and EMS, I’m reminded of the fragility of life.  Each life stage, from infancy to the elderly, has whispered to me the same message:  Time is fleeting.  But in this fleetingness lies an invitation—to awaken and transcend the mundane; to align our actions with our deepest truths and purpose.

Reviving the Essence of Purpose
Echoing through the ages are the words of sages and spiritual luminaries, urging us to confront our mortality.  From the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth to the meditations of Anthony de Mello, SJ, we're called to reckon with the finite nature of our existence, that one day, "I will die."  It's not an exercise in morbidity, but a pathway to clarity—a chance to distill our essence and unearth the purpose pulsating within us.

In both my book, A Travel Guide to Leadership, and in the Purpose-Driven Leadership Program, I pose questions that pierce through the veil of superficiality: 

• What legacy do I wish to leave behind?
• How do I want to be remembered? 
• Who am I?
• Why am I here?

These inquiries aren't mere musings but transformational catalysts igniting the flame of purpose within.

Embracing Mortality: A Leadership Imperative
Leadership, in its essence, is not merely about managing tasks or accruing accolades.  It's a sacred dance—a call to shepherd souls and catalyze change. Yet, when we avert our gaze from mortality, we risk diluting our leadership potential.  By acknowledging our finite nature, we infuse our leadership with a sense of urgency and authenticity.

Imagine awakening each dawn with the clarity that this day could be our last.  How would we lead differently?  How would we love more fiercely, speak more authentically, and act more boldly?  It's this sense of immediacy that births purpose-driven leaders—individuals who lead not from a place of fear but from a wellspring of conviction and compassion.

A Call to Action
Today, I extend an invitation—a summons to leaders poised to embrace their mortality and seize the reins of purpose. Through my Purpose-Driven Leadership Program, we delve deep into the crucible of introspection, crafting life missions and leadership philosophies that resonate with our core values.  With personalized coaching and the transformative power of the LPI360 assessment, we sculpt leaders who lead not just with competence but with unwavering purpose.

In the tapestry of existence, mortality serves as both a reminder and a guidepost.  It beckons us to live with intention, to lead with conviction, and to leave an indelible mark on the world.  So, let's shed the cloak of denial, embrace our mortality, and embark on a journey of purposeful leadership—one that echoes beyond the confines of time itself.

In the pursuit of purpose, every moment matters.  Let us seize them with reverence, for in embracing our mortality, we unlock the boundless potential of our leadership journey.

Enjoy the two inspirational, bonus videos below

Who is the person and leader you want to become this year?
As we stride into 2024, it's crucial to contemplate the leader we aspire to become.  Are we merely passengers on the journey of personal and professional growth, or are we actively steering our own development?

Let's embrace the challenge of ownership over our evolution.  Committing to this path not only fuels motivation and engagement but also sharpens focus, cultivates relationships, expands skill sets, and advances careers.

Here are five indispensable strategies to empower yourself for a triumphant year ahead:

1)  Clarify and Contemplate Your Purpose
A clear sense of purpose is the cornerstone of impactful leadership.  It is linked to self-actualization, overall well-being, and higher engagement at work.  Purpose-driven leadership not only enhances individual satisfaction but also boosts team performance and organizational success.  Many have listed purpose-driven leadership as one of the key leadership development trends for 2024, including Forbes and Sylvia Lafair PhD, CEO of Creative Energy Options Inc.

You can't contemplate what you don't have.  Start by crafting your Life Mission, Leadership Philosophy, and Core Values Statement.  These foundational elements will not only guide your daily leadership but also shape your growth trajectory.  Reflect on your purpose regularly, fostering self-awareness—an essential trait for effective leadership.

Contemplating your purpose implies a certain level of self-awareness; another key competency you may want to consider.  A regular, consistent contemplative or meditative practice was identified as a characteristic of the most effective and agile leaders by Bill Joiner and Stephen Josephs in their book, Leadership Agility. 

Your Life Mission, Leadership Philosophy, and Core Values Statement should be the main driver of not only how you want to show up as a leader everyday, it should also direct your growth and development.

If this competency is a developmental opportunity for you, consider enrolling in The Purpose-Driven Leadership Program.  It's a powerful, enriching, empirically-driven, and engaging leadership development experience.  In this transformative program, you'll discover and unlock the profound impact of both leading with and through meaning and purpose.  It can be delivered completely online and on-demand, hybrid, or as in-person workshops—whichever best meets you and your team's needs. 

2)  Seek Constructive Feedback
I call leadership feedback leadership gold.   View feedback as invaluable currency in the realm of leadership development.  Actively solicit feedback from diverse sources, including supervisors, peers, and subordinates. Embrace both informal conversations and structured assessments like 360° feedback tools, such as the Leadership Practices Inventory or LPI360. 

Harness insights from industry experts, leadership blogs, and organizational resources.  Feedback serves as a compass, guiding your developmental journey and illuminating areas for improvement.

3)  Set Developmental Goals and an Action-Plan
Identify key behaviors and skills pivotal to your leadership journey.  Set both short-term and long-term goals aligned with your aspirations.  Consider your current competencies and envisage where you aim to be.

Where are you currently in terms of your skills, competencies, and behaviors?  Where do you want to be?  Consider what career achievements you want to accomplish and by when.  What metrics do you need to be focusing on and what do you need to learn and/or boost in order to achieve them?  How does your life mission and core values drive what you focus on?

Don't procrastinate!  Develop an action-plan and work it into your calendar.  Block time and hold it sacred.  This is your personal and professional development time and you deserve it.  Leverage the Eisenhower Matrix, popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

Some of your goals may be Big Hairy Audacious Goals (BHAG) and need to be broken down, maybe even over several years.  That's okay.  Others may be as simple as enrolling into a course and taking it.  But block the time and take action.  And, ask yourself how you are going to hold yourself accountable, what other resources you need, and who can help hold you accountable.

4)  Volunteer for stretch assignments and projects
Volunteering for challenging, stretch assignments and projects, while on the surface may appear risky, can have huge payoffs in terms of development and career advancement.  Take for example the director of an emergency room I worked with who took on the project of reducing a persistent patient wait-time issue.

You might think, why is that a stretch-project to take on?  Any ER trying to address wait-times has not only internal systems, structures, processes, and people to contend with but almost every upstream and ancillary department in the hospital.  A slow lab or radiology department, patient transportation, admissions, administration, receiving floors, surgical services, staffing issues, and even environmental services (cleaning) can impact patient flow through an ER.  This type of conundrum for hospitals is so notorious that it inspired an experiential learning activity and game called Friday Night at the ER.

Needless to say, this director ended up partnering and working with so many stakeholders in her hospital from the Chief Nursing Officer and VP of Patient Services to frontline hospital cleaning service workers.  By the end of the project, not only had they reduced wait-times in the ER, but almost everyone in the hospital had firsthand working experience and a deeper relationship with her.  She developed skills and competencies she never had before and set herself up for future success. 

5)  Embrace Coaching
Unlock the full potential of your leadership journey through personalized coaching.  Engage with a seasoned professional who offers inquiry, support, and empathy while helping you gain clarity, focus, strategy, and accountability .  Coaching provides a confidential space for reflection, goal setting, and skill enhancement.  Leverage coaching as a catalyst for accelerated growth, navigating challenges with clarity and confidence.

You can learn more about coaching with me here:  Coaching with Alan

As we embark on this journey of leadership excellence, let's continue to learn, adapt, and evolve.  Share your strategies and aspirations for 2024 in the comments below—let's inspire and empower each other to reach new heights.

I just read a few days ago that for over 30 years, Harvard Business Review has been asking thousands of executives and board members globally to define success using the "champagne question."

Coincidentally, in the Purpose-Driven Leadership Program, I ask a slightly different version of that same approach as one of five steps in helping leaders get to the same thing:

A Shared Team Vision
I'm talking about a Shared Team Vision.  Whereas a Shared Team Mission defines your team's purpose or 'why' and values are the underlying beliefs or principles that motivate people to act one way or another, a Shared Team Vision is a statement of what you hope to achieve in the future.  Usually, strategic, project, and/or action plans are created to support and implement that vision.

Why should this be important to you as a leader?
Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, the bestselling authors of The Leadership Challenge and creators of the Leadership Practices Inventory assessment have been asking people around the globe a different question for over 30 years.  “What are the characteristics of the most admired leaders ?”  Respondents are asked to rank order leadership characteristics from a list. 

Four of these leadership characteristics have been selected by more than 50% of the respondents across time, across industries, and from around the world ever since Jim and Barry began their research.  In fact, throughout most of the survey time frame, these four have been selected by more than 65% of respondents.  They are (rank ordered):

• Honest
• Forward-looking
• Inspiring
• Competent

Forward-looking
While all of these characteristics are important for the most effective, purpose-driven, and admired leaders, it is forward-looking that distinguishes a leader.  Anyone can be honest, inspiring, and competent without necessarily being a leader.  Leaders are expected to communicate a forward-looking vision that points the direction, lifts the fog, and quiets the noise and distractions of everyday work life.  A Shared Vision—one in which team members and stakeholders have a voice—enables them to have greater buy-in and to respond with greater focus, and more quickly and safely, in a changing environment.

Another reason this is so important for leaders and their teams also comes from Kouzes’ and Posner’s research.  When direct reports were asked about the frequency of how often their leader displayed a list of leadership behaviors, those key behaviors that characterize a leader as being forward-looking, are consistently rated at the bottom of frequency for the population of leaders at large. 

Leading through meaning and purpose with a Shared Team Vision is one of the most challenging competencies for most leaders.  So, if you're experiencing any challenges around this key leadership competency, you're not alone.

Thankfully, the Purpose-Driven Leadership Program will not only help you get better at it, it will skyrocket your ability to be a forward-looking and a forward-leading leader.  It will walk you through a step-by-step process that will guide you and your team towards painting a compelling picture of the future that drives results.

All of the great leaders of the past have had a great purpose (authentic & inspiring) and got things done (competent) .  They were also all forward-looking; envisioning the future and gazing across the horizon seeing greater opportunities to come.  Join me on this journey of leading with and through meaning and purpose.  Amplify your leadership effectiveness.  Achieve yours and your team's goals and dreams.  Lead with purpose-driven leadership.