Lessons in Productivity: Insights from a Former Inmate
The age-old question of discovering one’s purpose has troubled many people. Numerous thought leaders have attempted to guide the matter, drawing from fields such as spirituality, philosophy, psychology, and technical reasoning. However, despite these efforts, the question remains unanswered. Recently, while listening to a podcast, I came across what I believe to be the best and most practical explanation yet, from an unexpected source: Wes Watson. Watson is a former inmate imprisoned for violent crimes and served a 10-year sentence. He has since become one of the most influential agents of transformative change, helping countless individuals find clarity and transform their lives. According to Watson, the answer to finding one’s purpose is clear and concise: “Your purpose in the world is to create the man or woman you admire in all ways and serve them to the world.”
In my opinion, this analogy is the most precise and practical way to reinvent oneself in any domain. According to this perspective, purpose is not a single grand idea, concept, or philosophy that needs to be embraced as the core aspect of one’s life. Instead, purpose can take on multiple definitions that transcend different areas of one’s life, such as spirituality, health, family and relationships, finances, stewardship and impact, mental health, and inner wellness. Simply put, your purpose is whatever you envision as the ideal version of yourself in any sphere of your life that you admire the most. The key is to establish clarity in that domain, visualize the optimal outcome of embodying your best self, and pursue it to the fullest of your ability.
For instance, if you aspire to be a great husband, that becomes your purpose. If you desire financial freedom and make millions of dollars, that becomes your purpose. If you yearn to be someone of influence in the world, catalyzing some of the most significant impact and transformation for marginalized people, that becomes your purpose. Essentially, whatever you cognitively and emotionally perceive as valuable and have an innate desire to expand it, that is your purpose. This is why it is the best conceptualization of purpose. It does not restrict you to a specific ideal but gives you the space to improve yourself holistically across multiple areas of your life and enhance them collectively.
Your purpose is never meant to confine you to an ideal but to infuse meaning into your life, injecting vigor into everyday living at your highest potential. Your purpose is intended to be your highest point of service and more significant impact on humanity. In essence, your purpose is meant to create the necessary altitude for you to soar and glide through life as your optimum self.
This philosophy also applies to leadership and managing people in an organizational context. As an executive, it is crucial to identify the most significant point of admiration that you want to expand within your organization. This could be building high-performance teams, maximizing shareholder value, achieving industry leadership, or sustaining superior competitive advantages that transcend industrial structures, allowing your organization to dominate and thrive among your corporate peers.
This philosophy is relevant and applicable in the professional world. As a leader, it is your duty to establish clarity at a personal level of your definition of the greatest desired outcome, embody that as an ideal outcome to be realized at a personal level, and translate that to the larger organization as a collective vision. This involves reinforcing shared values, beliefs, standards, routines, and tactics that collectively influence the willingness to steer efforts towards its attainment.
Wisdom on peak performance can be obtained from various sources, including the failures of others. Even a former inmate can inspire a systematic approach to enhancing productivity in life and career. This is what lifelong learning is all about, the willingness to remain teachable. Your greatest responsibility is to identify what you admire in any domain, embrace all ways to develop it and serve it to the world. This is your resume to the world.
Bob Kalili a seasoned executive coach and strategic management consultant. His passion lies in enabling organizations and individuals to achieve their maximum potential. With over a decade of experience in the field, he has a proven track record of driving success for clients across a wide range of industries and sectors.
His expertise is helping senior executives and managers acquire the skills and mindset necessary to thrive in today’s fast-changing business environment. His collaborative and empathetic approach entails working closely with clients to identify areas for improvement and develop customized solutions that deliver tangible results. In addition, he committed to cultivating strong relationships with my clients and empowering them to achieve their goals.
As an executive coach, he has assisted numerous individuals in honing their leadership and management abilities and advancing their careers.
