Writing this column gives me the chance to look back on situations that have had an impact on me during my life both within and outside of optics. When looking back, the number of ‘Sliding Doors’ moments which defined my journey are quite astonishing. One wonders how different my life would have been if just one of those many moments had gone the other way.
One of these moments was my father getting a new job and needing to relocate when I was 16. My career was somewhat mapped out before that – economics, business studies and a few sciences would lead to a career in the business. Having to change schools to do A-levels elsewhere changed my outlook on life, new friends, new sports clubs and too many parties led to a drop in performance and results. This led me to leaving school after just one term of A-levels – instead leaving school to find a career.
Another defining moment was a few years later when I decided to look around for a new role. My interview was planned with a well know chain. However, I couldn’t locate that particular practice and wandered into a local independent to ask where it was. After chatting to the owner, I ended up working for him, then with him for the next 35 years.
What might have been?
The question I ask myself is what might have happened if we had not moved, or if I had found the original practice and had my interview. The same question can be asked all the way down the line and the various junctions where decisions or fate played a part. Would I have had the same enjoyable time in a parallel life, with different friends, colleagues and possibly in a completely different profession or industry?
For me I think the answer would be a resounding ‘yes’. It would be a ‘yes’ because when I think of ‘why’ I work it was always and still is about helping people. Whether that was to help patients to see better, whether to help the people who worked for me to achieve more and even now, hopefully helping a few of you to improve your own lives by taking some value from this Mentoris column. So consider this…
- What is your purpose?
- Why do you do what you do?
- What problems do you solve for others in your daily life?
Too often, people start out on their working lives, without knowing what exactly it is about. I know many excellent and successful optometrists, dispensers and support staff DOs who ‘fell’ into optics for one random reason or another. This means they were not pre-disposed to being involved with the function of sight – but they were attracted by the notion of helping others in one way or another.
For those who own their own practice, the vast majority do not do it for the money. Of course, we all must make a living but if you think about where you work, it is probably not just about making money. If you think in terms of the range of services available to your customers, many of those services (NHS sight tests spring to mind) are in fact loss-making.
In order to have a rewarding and successful career or business it is important to understand what your true purpose really is.
Why is this important?
Understanding and setting your core purpose is
important for several reasons. To enjoy a fulfilling working life, in my view, you must of course make a
living, but also you must aim for a sense of
achievement.
In terms of companies, one of the components that defines a successful business and adds longevity is both having a sense of core purpose and aligning that with the people in the organisation.
Having your own core purpose is grounding and by defining your own core purpose you will be defining your values; values you are going to live and breathe and not stray away from.
What is a purpose?
Your purpose is not about your daily tasks or goals. Although there are similarities, your purpose defines what you ultimately would like to achieve.
Write your 80th Birthday Speech
One exercise I do with the business owners I work with is to write an 80th birthday speech. This is your challenge this month. Imagine you are 80 years of age and looking back on your life and recalling the various successes and failures. On whom did you have a lasting impact? What would they say about you? How would you like to be remembered?
Think about the most important elements and write that speech – then look at your life now and think about how you might change or adjust what you do and the way that you do it to achieve your purpose.
Your core purpose does not need to be communicated to anyone else, is a critical aspect of you that will help you live your values. Sharing your purpose with others will, however, help you to develop yourself and, in these times of distraction, having someone else holding you to account is no bad thing.
Until next month...