Have you ever wondered what you were born to do? What's your biggest strength? What's that thing that feels like a second skin, home, your place where you simply flow?
It's all around you, in everything you do but you're missing it. You're probably looking past it to the next task, deadline, project or other noise in your life.
What if you looked for it though? It's not as hard as you think and can be done in a short period if you know where to go. The best place to start this search is in your past. You'll see clues right there.
The only way I know how to teach you this is by showing you myself, literally. I want to take you in my time machine. We will visit the Emilys of yore to discover my purpose in the hopes you learn how to apply this in your own life.
Before we begin, know these are the stories that stuck out in my life. They are places I visit frequently in my memory. I now realize they've been showing me my path.
When you undertake this task for yourself look for the stories that feel comfortable, familiar and are easily recalled.
So let's go back to the 80s (sorry Michael J. Fox isn't invited)
Growing Up
It's 1987, I'm in the first grade. I went to a private kindergarten, this is my first year of public school and I'm terrified. There are giant kids on the school bus in the form of 5th graders and no one is telling me I'm special anymore. (I was spoiled, that's the only reason this was traumatic) I also find an odd comfort in the routine of things and start organizing my desk in the order of the day to easily access everything at just the right time. My teacher notices this and rearranges the class so that I'm sitting next to the "less organized". At the time this annoyed me but then I found myself organizing their desks too, showing them my way and why I did it. They improved. (not dramatically, I wasn't a miracle worker)
Let's now jump to 1988 when the same thing happened again. 1990, repeat. Each of these years my teachers saw my organization as a skill that could be taught to others.
College
It's 2001 and I'm living in a college dorm room, which is built very similarly to a prison cell. (Cinderblock walls and a roommate in a space about the size of a postage stamp, I bet you never saw the parallels before) My organizational skills get a kick out of this challenge of course but something else comes into play. I find my voice. I'm asked to chair my sorority composite (a giant framed picture with every sorority member's headshot). I stand up at the weekly meeting and announce "make the picture days or don't be in the composite, this is you're choice. If you miss the day, tough, you're out." Clarity in communication is empowering for all parties involved. We have the largest composite participation ever. This single event is a defining moment for everyone in that room. I become known as clear, candid and direct. I gain respect.
Around this same time I declare a major, Supply Chain. A degree in streamlining systems, processes and people.
In 2003 I give my senior project presentation. The historically critical teacher says "you were born for this". (Only years later do I realize he means for public speaking)
Career Life
I'm 22, I begin working and find myself not enjoying the actual work but instead I love getting to know my coworkers and bosses on a personal level. I become fascinated with how people ended up in the positions they're in. I ask everyone I meet, "how did you end up in your career?", 90% of people can't answer this question. (start asking people this and you'll be shocked how most careers happened on accident while people were waiting for their life to start, it's really sad).
From 31-33 - I have 10 employees that report to me in some fashion or another. I push them so hard, I pull, I yell, I can't get anything accomplished. (These years I'm not being me, I decide to wear someone else's skin and use their tactics. I'm unsuccessful because I'm not me. I never forget this)
At 34 I draw up a plan for MY team, the environment I want to work in, I want to treat people like the unique souls they are. They are empowered, heard, loved and challenged but on their terms. We laugh, we cry, we are a family. We create the most effective team in the company and they successfully save 60 million dollars, 1/3 of the budget.
In 2013, looking for a way to connect to more people, help them find their path and streamline their life. I join Beachbody, an online fitness sales force that gives me my first platform for change. I connect to thousands of women (and men), motivate, energize, listen and have a blast. The challenge I face with this model is it's based on recruiting others to sell. I would rather motivate people in their chosen path. For 4 years I struggle with this concept and decide in October of 2017 to stop promoting it because I have found the thing I've been searching for, what all of my life experiences have lead me to.
Drawing Meaning
You may have noticed underlined words and phrases in my writing above. This is the next step along your path to identifying your purpose.
Once you've written out all of your stories look back at them and look for common themes. When you write down a particular story what emotion is evoked? Do you feel that same emotion in all of the stories?
In looking at my own stories I see:
Helping others but on my terms, in my voice.
Streamlining simple tasks, ideas and people.
Meeting someone where they are through listening and understanding their world.
Personalizing help based on each person's passions and frustrations.
Motivational speaking to reach a larger audience and to clearly articulate my passion for everyone to find their purpose.
My Purpose
Life coaching individuals, companies and groups to find and hone who they were born to be.
Find your Purpose
Do you need help finding your passion? Send me an email and let's explore this together.