My personal mission in life is \u201cto optimize the value of people\u2019s lives by encouraging them to reach their potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

About fifteen to twenty years ago, there were several waves of books and articles stressing the importance of having a personal mission statement and, if possible, aligning it with one\u2019s business culture as well.<\/p>\n

Although the fad passed, I\u2019ve revisited and tweaked mine through the years and continue to find that the core thread has remained consistent.<\/p>\n

The primary value of writing out my life\u2019s core purpose many years ago was that, when I used it, everything I did could be measured against it and I could see that my most fulfilling relationships – personal and business – came out of serving others\u2018 potential.<\/p>\n

Whenever a potential client contacts me, I always ask, as part of my discovery process, \u201cHow do you see my work with you forwarding your goals and helping your company reach its potential?\u201d It helps me stay focused on and align my work with what my clients’ need.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ve also come to realize that I get terribly frustrated, and unfortunately very irritated, with individuals and businesses who refuse to use their abilities and potential, but instead remain static and scared to move forward. I see it way too often.<\/p>\n

Whatever the excuse – too young, too old, too little time, too little money, under qualified, over qualified – the underlying cause is always fear. It sounds overly simplistic to say, but you have to take the risk and move out in some small way, anyway.<\/p>\n

Waiting until the landscape changes could create an easier journey but it could create more obstacles as well. And even if conditions do improve, there are steps that can be taken now that will make it even easier down the road.<\/p>\n

Waiting until the election is over, until we get past the holidays, after the New Year, when it gets a little warmer, or any other fear-based excuse will not make it any better. You\u2019re just wasting your great potential to make a difference and a better life for yourself. Today.<\/p>\n

Charles<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My personal mission in life is \u201cto optimize the value of people\u2019s lives by encouraging them to reach their potential.\u201d About fifteen to twenty years ago, there were several waves of books and articles stressing the importance of having a personal mission statement and, if possible, aligning it with one\u2019s business culture as well. Although […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,5,7,12,20],"tags":[36,43,55,146],"class_list":{"0":"post-638","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-attitude","7":"category-business","8":"category-creativity","9":"category-inspiration","10":"category-work-ethic","11":"tag-attitude","12":"tag-business","13":"tag-creativity","14":"tag-thinking","15":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n