When We Lose Our Why, We Lose Our Way

What inspires you?
What inspires you? (Michael Phillips/Flickr)

I was in grad school when my daughter was born. I haven't forgotten one minute of that early morning. When I first held my baby girl, I knew I had a new, energizing purpose to wake me up every morning.

Today, I'm still fascinated by what wakes me up. My mind wakes up before my body with thoughts of my latest project, idea or creative unction. There's nothing like a new to-do rooster call early in the morning. I love to be driven out of bed with a rush to make progress, to do something worth doing.

A leader's passion is often overrated as a tool for leading. I don't know about you, but I think we can all ACT with passion, yet have an absolute vacuum of desire in our heart. Cheerleaders lead cheers but rarely create passion by screaming "two bits, four bits." Cheering may be necessary in a project, but it is not sufficient.

I've been to many multi-level marketing conventions. I've spoken to crowds of people pursuing passion. I wave pom-poms. And for a moment, we all believe that we can run out of the assembly en masse and sell stuff to people for no apparent reason. After only a few days after the collective cheer session, the passion exits faster than the initial reason why entered in.

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Motivation without method rarely endures.

Enduring motivation occurs from the gift of an inspirational leader. Inspiration helps us remain focused on our why. The cry of a baby from her crib quickly reminds us of our why.

When we lose our why, we lose our way.

When I speak to young leaders, I teach inspiration as the primary weapon of choice for a legacy leader. We must create and maintain inspiration for the project at hand. We must learn to differentiate between motivation and inspiration.

We must learn to inspire before we can ever be inspirational.

Dr. Steve Greene is the publisher and executive vice president of the media group at Charisma Media and executive producer of the Charisma Podcast Network. His book, Love Leads: The Spiritual Connection Between Your Relationships and Productivity, is now available.

Leaders, Dr. Greene wants to help you understand the spiritual connection between relationships and productivity. Read his new blog, here.

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Dr. Steve Greene is now sharing stories, teachings, and conversations with guests who lead with love on Love Leads, a new podcast. Listen now.



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