THE POWER OF PURPOSE: KNOW YOUR “BIG WHY?”
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Inspiring Core Purpose
Martin Luther King, Jr. clearly understood his “BIG WHY?”—his inspiring purpose to create equality for all through one of the most successful Civil Rights movements humanity has known.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited India in the early 1960s to learn satyagraha principles first-hand from Mahatma Gandhi’s family and followers. He used these principles of nonviolence to lead the civil rights movement of the 1960s. This resulted in improving privileges and rights of African Americans throughout the United States.
Like Gandhi, King saw injustice being imposed on people because of the color of their skin. Martin held dear the words crafted by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.”
Dr. King chose to take a nonviolent stand and create a movement attempting to bring our society back into alignment with our founding principles of equality.
Why Understanding Your “Big Why?” Is Important
Do you know your “BIG WHY”—your CORE PURPOSE? If not, LASTING SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT may elude you.
Knowing your core purpose keeps you centered on what’s most important—during good times and challenging times.
The Core Purpose of your organization is like the seed of an apple. “You can count the number of seeds in an apple, but you can’t count the number of apples in a seed.”
No one knows the potential IMPACT your purpose will have in the world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Cause and effect, means and ends, seed and fruit, cannot be severed; for the effect already blooms in the cause, the end pre-exists in the means, the fruit in the seed.”
Your organization has a unique Core Purpose for SERVING THE WORLD. This is your “Big Why?”—why your organization was started in the first place—beyond just making money.
Clarifying Your Organization’s Core Purpose
What’s your organization’s Core Purpose?
It is most likely the original heartfelt reason you decided (or are deciding) to take a LEAP OF FAITH and start a business.
Remember when you first got excited about the idea of STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS—when you got goose bumps just thinking about it? Where were you? What was your inspired idea that grew into your “BIG WHY?” for doing it—beyond just making money?
The answer is something very simple and profound at the core of everything you do and why you do it. It should be at the heart of all the decisions you and your employees make: It…
- Defines why your organization exists to SERVE THE WORLD.
- SOLVES A PROBLEM
- FULFILLS AN ASPIRATION or desire.
- PLANTS A SEED that, when properly nurtured, will take root and bear fruit.
Here are some examples of core purposes from successful companies:
- Disney – “To bring happiness to millions”
- Nordstrom – “Service to the customer above all else”
- Johnson and Johnson – “To alleviate pain and disease”
- Walmart – “We exist to provide value to our customers”
- My company, Business Energizers™ – “We inspire hope and awaken greatness”
What’s the Core Purpose of your organization?
Enjoy this FREE online class which shines more of a light on the Power of Purpose and other elements of strategic planning…
Click this link to my resources page to get access to my FREE Strategic Planning 101 online class.
Much success and fulfillment,
Ray
Ray Madaghiele
Chief Inspiration Officer, Business Energizers™
I am happy to talk if you have questions or want assistance with strategic planning. Click this link to schedule a free 30-minute energizer Zoom call.