“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain (American Writer)
This morning we hosted a group of senior college students from our local university. They are taking a Financial Institutions class and their professor schedules tours of local financial businesses to give these students a flavor of how we operate. The class ends up touring a bank, a trust company, an insurance agency, and (yours truly) a wealth management firm. Each student sat and listened intently as our team described what it was like to run our shop. At the end, everyone had great questions and were bright eyed as they pondered the question that awaits them at graduation: “What am I going to do with my life?”
Some will choose to become financial advisors, some insurance agents, some will work in financial operations, some will choose careers completely outside of their major. But all of them, uniquely, are on their journey to find and fulfil their purpose on the face of this planet…to find their ‘why’.
Purpose is such a rich word. We often use it loosely, without truly comprehending the depth of its’ treasure. Purpose, defined, is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. So…here we are. If you’re reading this, you’re one of 7.5 billion people on the face of this planet. Each going about their life, about their day. No two are exactly alike. Even identical twins have different fingerprints!
You were born for such a time as this. You were created to raise those children, or build that house, or engineer that project. You were purposed to provide that encouraging word, to support that person less fortunate than you, to offer your shoulder to cry on to that friend. Nothing is wasted, each moment uniquely crafted, awaiting your impact on it. Without you, there is loss. With you, great gain. Lose your purpose, lose your life. Discover it, and gain the world.
The world is one big jigsaw puzzle with 7.5 billion pieces. Just one piece that’s missing can change the course of history. You’re an integral part of the puzzle, a ‘must have’ piece that helps move humanity forward.
But, life happens, things go wrong, the best laid plans can shatter. Knowing your ‘why’, your purpose, can bring peace in those times. Turning those stumbling blocks into stepping stones can be made easier if you have the perseverance to navigate the difficult times and keep your eyes above the fray, and set your mind on the purpose for which you were made.
You were created on purpose, for a purpose. Live it today!
