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imperative-prod-blog · 10 years ago

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Reflections on a Summit for Purpose at Work

It has been about 3 weeks since I was in New York City for a summit that was hosted by Imperative. Around 50 passionate individuals gathered together, at the invitation of the Imperative team, to help define what finding purpose at work can mean for organizations in the future. We chewed on, debated, and discussed some of the heaviest, most significant issues facing organizations today, recognizing that more and more people are looking to express their life’s purpose in the work that they do. Talk about boiling an ocean…

At the end of the day (literally…that day…not figuratively), I had a raging headache because I pushed myself to think wider and farther than I would normally allow myself to think. I explored a space that has proven frustrating and uncomfortable for me in the past: effecting change at a societal level. I normally stick to working at the individual and organizational level, so just talking about issues on a societal scale with a group of very informed, very intelligent people was a stretch for me. And, let me tell you, I did stretch!

I’ll spare you the intimate details, but I will tell you this: at the end of the day (literal, not figurative), the level of energy remained high but the level of weariness showed on most faces. There were lots of smiles, for sure, and there were also clear indicators that most people were beat. The work was thought-provoking, and there was a great deal of room for us to engage emotionally with the topics we were dissecting and discussing. And there was satisfaction, a great deal of satisfaction, everywhere I looked. We socialize for a bit when it was all said and done, and we allowed ourselves the gift of release. I could see that everywhere I looked, too.

So, what did I take away from the marathon day in New York? Two things really struck me. First, it’s clear to me that we are in the midst of a revolution. There are people, lots of people, who are not only searching for purpose in their work but also searching for the means and methodologies to help others find their purpose, too, and apply it to the work they do. I was part of a group of 50 such individuals, from organizations of all sizes, and it left me inspired. Inspired and invigorated and hopeful…and unsure of what to do next.

I’m left with the question, “Now what?”

Now what depends on me, doesn’t it? It depends on the things to which I am willing to commit. It depends on the degree and amount of energy and effort I am willing to invest. It depends on my ability to influence and inspire others, too, to join me in whatever crazy scheme I cook up next. So, it part, now what depends on you, too. It depends on you and me and our ability to reach out across the ether and connect in ways that defy the obstacles and the power of improbability.

So that leaves me with a new question: “Can we do it?”

Can we make something happen? Can we shift paradigms? Move mountains? Slay dragons? Perpetuate more clichés and colloquialisms than a poorly-written, thrift-store paperback novel? I don’t know. I’ve been in this place before. I’ve been inspired, gotten fired up about something only to have reality and The Real World™ run me over. I’ve been put in my place time and time again. Big Dreams die swiftly. Big Ideas evaporate completely. The probability of our success in miniscule.

But the possibility exists. It’s there. Sure, it’s tiny and feeble, but as long as I can sense it in some way, shape, or form, I’m in. I’m totally in.

And that brings me to my final question: “Are you with me?”

I can’t do this alone. I mean, I can, and I will. I don’t need you to get something done, but I need to you get it done on a scale that really matters. I’m talking about a scale that can really change the way all people view the work they spend their waking, working lives doing. Some of the ideas we shared, from the 401 P to a manifesto for Purpose at Work, are too friggin’ good to just let slip away. Those are the kinds of ideas that can stick, that can transform, and it’s up to us to give them a chance at survival.

In the coming weeks, our friends and partners at Imperative are going to provide us with the documented proof that we did something extraordinary on October 9, 2014 in New York City. What you do with that proof…that’s your call. Me? I’m in. I’m there. I’m at the corner of 8th Avenue and 58th Street, just waiting to step back inside and return to the very hard labor of birthing something that will change lives.

“Are you with me?”

--Ric Gonzalez

You can check out more of Ric's thoughts on leadership here at his blog Woo Woo Leadership. He tweets at @odracir72.

#purposeatwork #hr #inspiration TGIM

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