We are born to find fulfilment and happiness through passion

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Jacqueline Novogratz was as an international credit analyst for a large bank on wall street, before she transitioned to a life of meaning and purpose. 

As a child she had a blue sweater which she loved until she grew out of it and gave it to Goodwill. Eleven years later in Rwanda, she spotted a young boy wearing that very sweater, with her name still on the tag. She reflected how the sweater had made it all the way to Africa and that we are all connected and our actions-and inaction-touch people every day across the globe.

She was back in Rwanda many years later, after the Genocide, and was deeply moved by the ineffectiveness of the aid. She realised effective solutions to poverty require compassion but also entrepreneurial thinking.

That drove her to start an organisation, Acumen, with the vision of using long term investment or patient investing, to support social enterprises that address issues such as healthcare, education, and clean energy. Acumen has now invested more than $154 million in 167 companies across America and developing countries, helping over half a billion lives.

She drew on all her skills and experience and focused them towards her passion and purpose.

Of course, you and I are not Jacqueline Novogratz. But what if one of you are? What if one of us ends up making a massive impact on our community and the world. 

We can take years after leaving our well-paying job, to decide our mission. Jacqueline took 15 years from leaving the bank to when she started Acumen.

It has taken 10 years since my transition from a corporate career to coaching for me to understand my mission is to use my experience and skills to support successful and driven women to lead organizations that positively impact people, communities, and the world.

For many years, I thrived in the demanding world in project management of corporate technology. I was successful, well respected, and I loved the challenge.

I spoke in boardrooms, managed teams, and ran multi-million-dollar projects. Then….

One Saturday night, around 2 a.m., I had returned from a night out with friends and finally fell into a deep sleep. I needed it, and a lazy Sunday morning, more than anything.

But the phone rang. My engineer told me that a critical system of one of the large Australian airlines, had failed. If it wasn't fixed by 6am flights couldn't take off.  SHIT….

I jumped into my car, drove to the city to get parts I wasn't sure I had, while calling other engineers to go to the site, and lined up support teams from across Australia and overseas. 

I needed to make that call to the customer, telling them we didn't know if their planes could take off in the morning. I hate to think about the people they had to call and wake up!

In the end, we had the part, the engineers rallied together, and at two minutes before 6, the system started to come up.  But I realised this was common, I have similar stories with railways, power grids, insurance, and finance companies. 

I loved the challenge. It was fulfilling and rewarding. But came at a cost—time with my family, friends, and my health.

What about the money? Will it work? Where will you find a sense of meaning? These are questions we all face when considering leaving a safe career.

It took me four years from making the decision to leaving. I had a young family and a mortgage. But as soon as I decided, I could see my reality more clearly.

• When did I decide this was what I wanted from my life?
• Was I wasting my potential, could I do so much more?
• Is the  cost worth it?

When we have clarity, we realise

1. Not living a meaningful life can be depressing?
2. The thought of wasting our potential creates anxiety. 
3. Living the wrong life can be painful.

These emotions are dangerous!  But they can also be powerful catalysts for change. They push you to seek something better, something more fulfilling. And as we move through our transition to a mission with purpose, these emotions just fade away.

If you want to make the biggest impact on yourself, your community and the world, clarify what you stand for and Decide on your mission!  

Focus on the most powerful think you can do, simplify it, then break it down into actionable steps, taken consistently over time. 

Imagine a life where your work aligns with your values. Picture yourself feeling empowered, with the freedom to shape your future and positively impact people, communities, and the world. 

Envision · The immense satisfaction, knowing your efforts are creating positive change. · The growth you'll experience as you use your skills and expertise  challanging yourself in meaningful ways. · Enjoying a balanced life where you pursue your passions, spend time with loved ones, and maintain your well-being.

This is achievable. 

The key is to ground your decisions in passion and purpose, and to embrace consistent incremental improvement. Forget perfection it can be your biggest obstacle. Instead, decide on your mission and take small, strategic steps toward your ultimate goals.

This will lead you to a Life of meaning and impact.

What I know to be true is;

1. We are born to find meaning and purpose. 
2. It takes most of us years to decide our mission. 
3. One person can make a massive impact. 
4. Decisions provided clarity. 

Most importantly - Simplicity, and consistent focused effort towards your mission will make the biggest impact on you, your community, and the world.