This week, in my Ponderings, I thought I would share a discovery about myself, and perhaps encourage you to ponder your inner drive too.
I have worked for 41 years now. My first proper job, aged 19, was supposed to be as a Physiotherapist, I had volunteered for 6 years supporting a boy with cerebral palsy. Toby was an amazing person in my life that gave me my first experience, aged 12, that enabled me to see that life for me was about contribution and love.
My academic results were not good enough to get into Physiotherapy Training and aged 19, (in 1983), I found myself sitting at a desk, in an office, selling computer equipment over the phone. For the first few weeks, it felt soulless and pointless. I was working to survive, living away from home, managing my own costs, the only joy was the end of month pay packet.
Each day I questioned why I was doing this, and I eventually applied to a University to do Psychology. This gave me a well needed boost. Eight months later, I resigned to begin my studies and move into Halls.
However the day I resigned, a Senior Board Member, took me aside and reflected back to me the change I had made in the office. Unknown to me, the energy of love and kindness had helped the culture of our small office, and critically for him, I had created some very loyal clients. He persuaded me to stay, telling me to never change who I was. I built a powerful career in the IT Industry over the following 10 years. I was lucky, he spotted what deeply drove me, he could see that my inner driver was about people, contribution and love.
Being given permission to see that who I was, had meaning in the business world, I carved a career and business life based on my values. The following 20 years were spent without thinking much about this, however, clearly my subconscious mind always knew to stay close to my inner purpose.
In 2004, a few years into the development of our social networking community, Ecademy, an amazing lady called Christine Clacey came to my house to practise a new form of Coaching that she had trained in, called ‘Core Process’, a method of ‘appreciating who you are’.
Three hours we spent together on this process. The goal was to create 2 words, personal to me, that would affirm what drove me, that enabled me to ‘appreciate myself’, no matter what external factors are bearing down. It was a beautiful experience, one I have never forgotten
My two words, created through a process of questioning, were, “Connecting Hearts’.
These are not marketing words, they are deeply personal, and as expected, when we created them, they made me weep. When people discover their Core process, they usually weep, and that is when the Coach knows they have found the inner drive, the reason this person lives, it is a very moving experience.
Thomas discovered his as well, “Changing Lives’ and he has certainly done that for at least 30 years, he is driven to connect people in order that that connection can ‘change lives’.
My life has made sense ever since I was able to articulate to myself exactly what drives me, it has guided my work, guided my words, helped me to strategise, and driven business models, and…
… when the going gets tough, it keeps me going
Understanding what drives us provides a compass for both personal and professional realms, especially during challenging times. It’s not always about adapting to external changes but rather ensuring alignment with our deepest values and motivations.
This week, I encourage you to ponder your own fundamental drives. What keeps you moving forward, and how can you align your daily actions with this inner strength? Remember, business and innovation demand flexibility, but the most constant force in your life is the personal mission that uniquely defines you.
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