David Lutes is a global talent management, organizational development and leadership coach, consultant and trainer. A former church pastor, he is radically and passionately committed to helping people discover their meaning, purpose and direction for their life and career.
In this article, I will unashamedly quote (with permission, by the way) from Prof. Bill George, the author of Finding Your True North. I’ve referred to the idea earlier in Article 2 (Who I Must Be, the Work I Must Do), but Prof. George captures and complements so much of what we are exploring in this total collection of articles, it deserves a special reference. Professor George encourages us, encourages you, to spend quality time trying to answer the following 30 questions (below). If you do try to answer some of them, you cannot, you must not, rush the process. You may not be able to answer them all. Don’t worry; don’t stress out about it. It’s not a test that you need to pass.
This is about your life and career path ‘compass’
“Both leaders and the corporations they lead in, need to develop their own ‘True North’ that follows their unique principles and values. If they don’t – and you don’t – and you try to ‘fake it until you make it,’ you won’t just be unsuccessful, you’ll also be miserable.” (Bill George / David Lutes)
Take your time – but you must do it honestly if you hope it will be of value to you.
The questions are an effective extension of the Heart and Gut-check Thermometer concept mentioned in Article 1, and indeed much of the rest of this collection of articles. As we said there…
“Like any thermometer, it won’t make you better – but it may give you an indication of where you’re not as healthy mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and ‘directionally’ – life and career path-wise – as you could be.” (David Lutes)
If you can’t or don’t want to answer a specific question, it’s your call, obviously. But don’t avoid it just because you don’t feel comfortable with the question, or it would ‘take too long’ to think about it – or for some other reason. Remember, no one else will read your answers and it could even be useful at New Year when you’re doing your latest batch of New Year’s Resolutions. (see smile)
30 ‘true north’ questions
What do you want your legacy to be? 10, 20, 50 years from now? What will your name mean? And do you care, or does it matter to you? And if it does matter, who would you like it to matter to?
What one word do you want people to use to describe you? What word do you think they’d currently use? An authentic, open, honest, transparent, caring person who ‘walks the ethical, moral and integrity talk’? Reliable. Rock solid. Trustworthy. Completer-finisher. Loving mom/dad/son/daughter – other?
If money was no object, how would you spend your time? What would your day look like?
Fill in the blank: My life is a quest for _________________. What motivates you? Money? Love? Acceptance? Power? Status? Recognition? Service? To Win, Just Win!
If you were to donate everything you have to a cause or charity, which charity or cause would it be?
What is your biggest regret? If you could go back and have a life ‘redo,’ what would you change?
When was the last time you told a somewhat ‘biggish’ lie? Why? What would have happened if you had told the truth? Was it White (and little), yellow (as in side-step and avoid the hard part of the truth), blue (as in it made you sad, but you had to tell it), blazing red hot (as in, you know what I mean), etc.?
If you accomplish one thing by the end of the year, what will make the biggest impact on your happiness and sense of purpose and meaning? When it comes to accomplishment, do you distinguish between ‘joy’ (inner peace version), or ‘happiness’ (feelings based on ‘happenings’)?
What do you think is the meaning of life? Do you live your life accordingly? Do you have a raison d'être? (i.e., reason for existence; for being – a distinctive purpose)
What would others say is your biggest asset? What would they say is your biggest flaw or weakness? Be honest.
What did you like to do when you were 10 years old – I mean, really like (but not just sitting watching TV or sleeping)? When was the last time you did that activity? Does it still make you smile and feel good inside when you remember doing that special ‘something’? Is there a version of that activity that you have tried, or would like to try, now that you are older? What is it?
What do you love most about your current job? What do you wish you could do more of? Is it the ‘what’ you do, ‘who’ you do it with, ‘why’ you do it – or is it the ‘how’ you do it?
“Frankly, in my humble opinion, without God or a serious moral and ethical compass at the center of our lives, changing careers can be terrifying. Even with God or that reliable compass, it can really be scary.” (David Lutes)
What probably scares us more, lurking at the back of our hearts and minds, is the thought of waking up in 10 years and hating what we are doing for a living. Fight it as we may, depression and regret can dominate that lurking feeling and fear in various forms can soon follow. Dealing with those things are God’s and a good career coach’s specialty. Helping us find our True North is His and their ‘thing’.
What do you think you were put on this earth to learn? What were you put here to teach?
What keeps you awake at night when you should be sleeping? What gets you out of bed in the morning – stress or purposeful excitement? Do you have a restlessness about your work, your ‘calling’, your sense of purpose – and/or feel there is something more ‘out there’ for you? Does a sense of duty, obligation or just plain responsibility compel you? Or is there something more that drives and inspires you to get up, get moving, and keep going?
Look back at Part 1 of this collection of articles and refresh your memory about your core values. Now look at your own organization’s mission, vision, and values statements. List them. Do yours and theirs match up or align?
What skills or work attributes or attitude or style or heart qualities do people frequently compliment you on? Note: These may not be what you think you’re best at.
If you had the opportunity to get one message across to a large group of people, what would you say? And how would you prefer to say/deliver it? (e.g., method).
What do you not want others to know about you? Use your answer to find and conquer insecurities (and even your Achilles Heels – see Article Part 3 – Who I Must Not Be, What I Must Not Do).
List the five people (or media sites) you interact with most frequently (not necessarily friends). How is each helping you to reach your goals (or not)?
If ‘you’ from ten years ago were to meet ‘you’ today, would you be impressed with where you’ve gotten to, what you’ve become, and how you’ve gotten there/here? Why or why not?
What ‘bugs’, irritates, or bothers you? If it makes you mad, you’re passionate about it! Are you able to make your anger productive?
‘Fast-forward yourself’ ten or twenty years. What is the one thing that, if you never pursued it, you believe you would always regret not doing it?
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So, throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Explore. Dream. Discover." (Mark Twain)
When was the last time you embarrassed yourself? Sometimes you need to be vulnerable to find your purpose. Did you laugh at yourself, smile or grimace it into the unfortunate ‘memory box’, or did you continue to carry the embarrassment with you for some time?
Who or what energizes you? What makes you feel depleted/lacking in drive? Do you thrive on chaos, or prefer order – or both, or somewhere in between?
Who do you look up to or admire – who inspires you? Who are your mentors, both those you know personally and those who inspire you from afar? What is it about them that has this positive effect on you?
Think about your talents, passions, and values. How can you use them to serve and contribute to society? Or to some form of work? Or maybe you don’t want to…be honest.
Why do you want to find your purpose, meaning, and direction? Write the answer down and put it somewhere you can see it. The journey isn’t always easy.
What in your life is ‘on hold’? Until you lose weight, until you retire, find the right partner, pay off your university debt, etc.? What are you waiting for?
What price would you take to give up on your dreams? What price would you be willing to pay to achieve them?
Now that you’ve answered the previous questions, what is your action plan? What steps will you take today? Don’t try to boil the ocean…just try to do 1-2 things; small steps; boil a teacup or two.
“Finding our True North is the highest of goals and the most important of dreams. All of our life goals begin with dreams. But dreams are subjective, and largely imaginary in nature. Not all dreams turn into reality by themselves. It requires intent and contribution from our end to pursue the dream to become a reality. It requires ‘setting goals’ and ‘taking action’ – and not giving up.” (Prof. Bill George and David Lutes)
A Dream written down with a specific date becomes a Goal.
A Dream shared with those know your heart and care about you is a Life with Purpose.
A Goal broken down into steps becomes a Plan.
A Plan backed with Action brings your dreams closer to Reality.
A Purpose orchestrated by God is all of the Above Combined. (If you choose to include or acknowledge Him).
It still requires sound Thinking, Planning and Action on our part – our Choice.
Our Motivation, Ability, Purpose and Attitude are key factors for achieving our goals. These are all interlinked and overlap with each other in our journey to success – and even for your career freedom and wholeness. Our strong inner drive, the right attitude, and insatiable thirst for the kind of knowledge that strengthens our abilities can help in achieving our goals. If our motivation and attitude are not right, we can’t move forward or can slow down our progress towards achieving our career goals.
Don’t lose heart if you fall short while trying to achieve your goal. If you are feeling tired, replenish and recharge yourself or want to give up – review your plan, reach out to your network, and support system. Analyze your career priorities correctly. But don’t give up on your goal.
Find a Career Coach who you can connect with and trust because of shared values, beliefs and attitudes.
“With a positive outlook, patience, persistence, commitment, and determination you can watch your Dreams come to life.” (Acknowledgement/Adapted from: Ireland Symonds)
My final word on the matter and on the last of these 12 articles.
Be Ambitious about it. It’s ok – God has put fire in your soul. Want it! I got it!
Dream it.
Think it.
Pray about it.
Plan it.
Act on it.
Achieve it.
Give Him Thanks for it!
“Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” (Joel A. Barker)
Read more from David Lutes
David Lutes, Executive Career Coach ‒ Leadership Consultant
David Lutes is a global talent management, organizational development and leadership coach, consultant and trainer. A former church pastor, he is radically and passionately committed to helping people discover their meaning, purpose and direction for their life and career. He has been described as a 'gift and latent skill detector and developer', as he helps people and the organizations they work in discover the wealth and richness within their people.
