In case you missed my earlier posts about my high school rowing experience, I achieved my goal of making the varsity rowing team in high school by following the GoalBud process. I partnered with a senior named Charlie, and we created weekly commitments to work together and separately. Initially, Charlie was unsure about my commitment level, but I kept him informed of every workout I completed, and our training gradually became more rigorous. By spring training selections, I had earned one of only two available seats in the second boat, thanks to Charlie and our commitment to each other. Our gradual approach to training helped build my confidence and made me more determined to reach my goal. In this post, I want to take it a step further to talk about leading with the 3Ps—Passion, Purpose, and Progress.
I often reference that rowing experience when taking risks in new directions. It was the boldest move I had ever made up to that point in my life, and I still feel that whispering passion inside me today. But as I've learned through years of decision-making, it's not always easy to tune into that frequency. We have three intelligence centers in our body—our brain, heart, and gut. Our brain focuses on logical processing, our heart transmits emotional signals, and our gut deals with desires and instincts. It's important to understand that these three intelligent centers transmit different types of communication, and when making decisions, it's crucial to consider all of them, not just the one that's the loudest.
I believe that being passionate about something is wonderful, but it may not be enough to help you persevere through tough times. I think of passions as hobbies that are enjoyable but may not always lead to a fulfilling career. To turn a "hobby" into a meaningful job, it's crucial to find purpose in your work. Purpose acts as an engine that propels you forward through obstacles and motivates you to dig deeper and keep going despite frustration, pain, or fear. Purpose enables you to push past your limits and persist when others have given up. Just like Instructor Half-Butt, who said, "Y'all been focusin' on bein' a SEAL on a sunny day," it's essential to focus not only on the passion for being a SEAL but also on the purpose behind why they do what they do. The same applies to entrepreneurs who can easily become swept up in the excitement of inventing popular products or achieving fame and fortune. Still, finding purpose in their passion or becoming passionate about their purpose is crucial to developing an unstoppable mindset.
When I started my business, I quickly realized that passion and purpose weren't enough to keep me going. I needed something more tangible, something that would give me the strength to overcome any obstacle. That's when I discovered the power of progress. To me, progress is like fuel for a rower, it keeps me moving forward, even when the waters are rough. Without it, it's easy to get discouraged and let fear seep in. In the early days of my business, I struggled to stay focused and disciplined while working from home. However, as I began to see small wins and incremental progress, everything changed. Now, progress is part of my daily routine, and I celebrate my small wins to keep pushing forward. With progress as my fuel, there's no limit to what I can achieve, and the same goes for you too, so keep going!
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly achieve success while others struggle to make progress? The answer lies in the three key elements of passion, purpose, and progress. These three components work together to propel individuals towards their goals and aspirations. In this section, we'll explore each of these elements and how they contribute to achieving success.
Passion is the driving force behind everything we do. It's what ignites our fire and fuels our energy. Having a passion is crucial for achieving success because it gives us a sense of purpose and direction. To identify your passion, consider what excites you, what makes you feel alive, and what you could spend hours doing without getting bored. Once you've identified your passion, embrace it fully and pursue it relentlessly. Look to successful people who have followed their passion and let their stories inspire you.
Purpose provides meaning and fulfillment to our lives. When we have a sense of purpose, we're able to align our actions with our values and beliefs. To discover your purpose, ask yourself what you want to contribute to the world, what legacy you want to leave behind, and what impact you want to make. When you find your purpose, everything else falls into place. You'll have a clear sense of direction and will be more motivated to take action.
Progress is the result of taking consistent action towards your goals. Without progress, passion and purpose become meaningless. To make progress, set specific and measurable goals, break them down into smaller steps, and track your progress along the way. Stay motivated by celebrating small wins and reminding yourself of why you started. Even when faced with challenges and setbacks, keep moving forward. Progress may be slow at times, but it's still progress.
When passion, purpose, and progress work together, success is inevitable. Passion fuels our purpose, purpose gives us direction, and progress validates our efforts. Take, for example, my story of making the varsity rowing team in high school. It all began with a passion for rowing, which gave me purpose and direction. From there, I was able to set measurable goals and make incremental progress towards achieving them. Ultimately, this combination of passion, purpose, and progress helped me reach my goal. Embrace these elements fully, stay focused, and never give up. You have the power to achieve anything you set your mind to.