If you want to take better quality action, there’s one question you should be asking...

Purpose. What would it mean to use it to inform your decision making? How often do you do that already? Do you notice? So many questions… including… is ‘purpose’ sometimes a mis-used term, a way of creating a sense of lack or eroding self-trust and self-confidence so that people feel compelled to buy a course, a book or some coaching? Are you weary of hearing coaches talk about a Life Purpose? Does the concept of a ‘One Life Purpose’ de-motivate you? I know it has done for me in the past. It just seems like such a big deal, weighty and significant. Huge. Can’t function properly unless you know what it is. Sigh.

Well, I’m not talking about *that* today. If you’re a slightly frazzled, home-based, often solo working entrepreneur or freelancer, you have enough on your plate already. How do you feel about having a greater sense of confidence, and greater clarity for your decision making instead?

What does purpose mean?

Let’s begin rather nearer the beginning and define ‘purpose’. According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, it’s a noun meaning ‘why you do something or why something exists’. I love this definition. I think it provides a great working definition. I also read the pronunciation instruction (purr puss) which tickled me because it made it sound like stage direction for a cat.

But there’s more! Other meanings include: ‘a need’; ‘a use’ (gloriously straightforward).

Then there are these two, highly relevant to those of us who do what we do to help others: ‘if you do something on purpose, you do it intentionally, not by accident’; and ‘determination or a feeling of having a reason for what you do’.  

Yes indeed, the purpose of talking about ‘purpose’ in relation to decision making in this article is to help you to bring greater intention to your actions, so that you feel good about what you do… which brings me to the final definition I want to share with you. It is from Victor Frankl in his 1959 book ‘Man's Search for Meaning’. Have you read it? It is only slim and it is brilliant. He doesn’t dwell on the traumatic reality of 1940s camp life, which was the concern that held me back from reading it. Frankl defines purpose as:

“…the pursuit of meaning and fulfilment in one's actions, contributing to a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment."  

Boom. If we’re going to work well, this aspect really matters.

‘Purpose’ then answers the question ‘why are you doing that?!’. Working from this start point, answering that question brings direction and intent and it boosts motivation.

Working Well

My work, and the way I support people like you, involves developing this and considering a couple of frameworks and concepts where purpose is central to working well.

Purpose, together with capacity and connection is one of the corners of The Vitality Triangle, because sustainability requires vitality.

When we make decisions, it is really important that we also consider our capacity to do that thing well too. I wrote a whole article on vitality for sustainability and using The Vitality Triangle framework, which you might find helpful.

Secondly, if we think about the manner of getting a big thing done, a project or a major goal, we need a plan and a direction of travel across the many stepping stones from here and now to there and then, when it will be complete. Building on the ‘why are you doing that?!’ question, will doing that thing help you towards achieving what you need to do to?

Notice too how we are now considering ‘need’ rather than ‘should’ because if there is any shoulding going on, it is rarely about your needs.

Coming back to you and your work, why do you do what you do?

How often do you consider that wider purpose when planning an individual work session? Do you think forward to how it will be when the goal is achieved or a project is complete and how you will feel, seeing it in action? Tapping into that felt sense of completion boost the aspiration and can really help with intentional decision making, keeping your chosen tasks and actions closely aligned to ‘why you are doing that?’.

What would it mean to you and your work to use purpose more often to inform your decision making?

If you would like to delve a little deeper into this topic, to get even more clarity about your purpose I created a free purpose checklist to help you work with greater strength of purpose and elevate your entrepreneurial or freelance journey with practical tools designed for success.  Sign up now - it is available for immediate download.