One of the Greatest Mistakes You Can Ever Make In Life: (Hint: It has nothing to do with who you marry)
The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why. — Mark Twain
We are all born with the capacity to lead, however it is up to you to become a leader. Becoming a leader has more to do with you leading yourself than it does with leading others. Your greatest assets are your gifts, talents and abilities. Learning skills helps you discover and develop your gifts, so that you can produce things and become who you are meant to be.
Doctors have even found that people with purpose in their lives are less prone to disease. I believe that everyone is born with a gift; and that gift is connected to your purpose. When you discover your purpose in life and decide to fulfill it, that’s when you unlock your potential as a true leader. But if you don’t take the time to actively discover your gifts and your purpose in life, you will never reach your full potential.
All true leaders go through a journey of self-discovery in order to find their true identity and discover their purpose in life. Study the true leaders in history and you will see that they all have one thing in common. They believed in something that they were willing to die for. They aspired to make a difference in the world by serving their gifts and themselves to mankind. Have you found your purpose in life yet? Do you have any idea what you are willing to die for?
Let’s take a quick look at four ordinary individuals who decided to live with a purpose and see what we can learn from them.
1. Purpose is Empowered by Education
Nelson Mandela was a South African revolutionary, political leader, philanthropist, and served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country’s first black head of state as well as a political prisoner for 27 years of his life. He believed that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” He also said “education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.” Nelson Mandela believed that “It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”
When you discover your purpose and enhance your natural gifts by learning new abilities they become more than just skills. They become formulas, recipes, blueprints, scripts, systems, methods, and legacies. They become invaluable treasures that you can pass down from one generation to the next. I’ve come to realize that if we don’t share our unique skills and abilities with the world; instead of leaving behind a treasure, we will take it to the grave. How will you serve your gifts?
2. Purpose Is Driven By Attitude
Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican political activist, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator. He believed that “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. He said ”If you have not confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence you have won even before you have started.” He also stated “Let the sky and God be our limit and Eternity our measurement.”
Your purpose is led by your attitude and how you view yourself. Don’t let other people’s opinions stop you from discovering your true potential. For those who said you couldn’t do it, or your dream is too big for someone like you, or that you’re not talented enough; always remember, that their estimation of you does not define who you are and what you can do.
3. Purpose Gives You Vision
Helen Keller was an American author, political activist, and a great lecturer. She was the first deaf & blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She believed that “Education should train the child to use his brains, to make for himself a place in the world and maintain his rights even when it seems that society would shove him into the scrap-heap.” She said “We are never really happy until we try to brighten the lives of others.” and “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision.” Even though Helen Keller was blind and deaf, she never let her limitations stop her from sharing her gift with the world. Through her skills and abilities she produced many books and educated many people.
You can always find an excuse as to why you can’t achieve a great level of success. You allow your low self of esteem and the naysayers to hold you back from becoming great and sharing your gifts with society. You have so much to offer. Take the time to discover your purpose and your potential and share your gifts with as many people as possible. What is holding you back?
4. Purpose Determines Direction
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a Christian minister, a public speaker, a skilled organizer, and an activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. He once said “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.” He believed that “Intelligence plus character” is the goal of true education.” Dr. King also believed that “Knowledge is a procedure of heaping up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.” and “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.”
Finding your purpose is not just something you stumble on, it’s a duty. You are responsible for your own personal discovery, education and what you produce in life. Your purpose will make a way for you in life. Don’t let your doubts and fears keep you from living your best life and fulfilling your purpose.
Conclusion
This is just a handful of people who have discovered their purpose in life and made their contribution to society. We can never forget these great leaders simply because they served their gifts to the world. One of the greatest mistakes a person can make is living life without purpose. Because life without purpose is simply meaningless.
If you like this article I encourage you to read “Lessons You need to Learn Before Your Business Dies in 2022”. In it I talk about the five biggest mistakes people make when building a business. The fourth one will blow your mind! Thanks for reading.
