Как да постигнем успех и задоволение като свържем работата си с личните си цели
The modern business world is more competitive and fast-paced than ever. Artificial intelligence and changing technology are rapidly reshaping the workplace while evolving global markets are increasing competition. In this environment, many companies are looking for and finding new ways to innovate and get ahead.
But even amid all these opportunities, businesses are facing a crisis of engagement. More and more leaders and employees are reporting that they feel burned out and unfulfilled at work. In one study,1 more than half of American workers reported feeling at least moderate levels of burnout. Even if your business is successful, it doesn’t mean much if you aren’t finding joy and purpose in your work.
“Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.”
The good news is that there is a solution: work-life integration. It is possible to build a business and a life where you experience deep fulfillment and massive business success. Everyone is looking for work-life balance, but that’s just not a reality for driven achievers..
What you want is for work to feel so meaningful and purpose-driven that it aligns with all the other aspects of your life. That doesn’t mean that you don’t make time for your family, hobbies or other meaningful pursuits, but you bring these aspects of your life together so that they support one another. An avid golfer might organize networking activities centered around golf games. A dad who works in advertising might hold family elections where his kids rate his ads and help him pick the best one for his new campaign.
At its heart, business is a spiritual game. Not in a woo-woo kind of way, but in the sense that what we do every day has to connect with what makes us human—our desire to engage and make a difference in the world. When that is the case, work will be a place you want your family to be a part of; it won’t be something you have to escape.
“When business and contribution are interwoven, we feel whole.” — Tony Robbins
Aligning your business with a greater purpose isn’t just feel-good mumbo jumbo. It’s the x-factor that will separate your business from the competition. It will increase engagement and productivity in your employees and create a raving fan culture internally and among your customers.
The key to living is giving
If your sole purpose in going to work every day is to make a profit, you might find business success, but you’ll miss out on life’s greater joy and a deeper purpose. Take some time to figure out what you really want out of life. Is it just to make money, or is money a means to another end—time with your family, the ability to make meaningful contributions, financial freedom, positive influence or a lasting legacy? Aligning your business with your ultimate life goals will give you clarity and purpose.
Leading a business isn’t just about spreadsheets and profit margins. After all, 80 percent of business success is psychology, and only 20 percent is mechanics. Nothing will jump-start positive emotions and increase drive and connection like giving to something greater than yourself.
Giving involves making regular charitable contributions. But more often, it looks like building a meaningful company culture where employees feel needed and engaged. It can mean creating a company that is connected to a bigger vision and making a positive impact on the world. Giving is about understanding the needs of your clients better than they do and doing more for them than anybody else.
What business are you really in?
If you want increased fulfillment in your business, you have to find its purpose. The best way to do that is to ask yourself, “What business am I really in?” This will help you focus on your core identity and purpose.
When Steve Jobs stepped back into leadership with Apple in 1997, the company was in crisis and near bankruptcy. Reportedly, he gathered all the executives and asked them, “What business are we in?” They responded with the traditional answers—computers and technology. Then he asked again, “What business are we really in?” He wanted them to rethink Apple’s identity and greater vision.
Over the following months and years, Apple redefined itself as a company that didn’t just make computers but connected people to their passions in a user-friendly and beautifully designed way. This led Apple to invest in music and phones, transforming them into the wildly successful company they are today.
Having a compelling vision for your company and linking that to a greater purpose will drive innovation and allow you to connect with your customers on a deeper level. Here are some other examples of companies that understand what business they are really in.
Google - “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful."
Starbucks - "To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time."
Airbnb - "To create a world where anyone can belong anywhere."
Patagonia - "We're in business to save our home planet."
