What is your purpose?
I started reading the Will Smith autobiography in March of 2022. I did not know what was going to transpire just days after I turned the final page of his book. The autobiography gave vivid recollections of childhood scenes and reflections on the inner workings of one of the biggest celebrities in the world. I found it to be a compelling read before the incident at the 94th Academy Awards, but afterwards it became so much more relevant. A lot has been said about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face in front of the entire world. It will have a lasting impact on Will Smith, his family, and Hollywood. There is a lot that could be said about marriage, culture, or psychology as a result of this incident. Instead we are going to use it as a platform to talk about Purpose.
In his book, Will describes coming to a crossroads where he had to decide if his life was based upon Purpose or Desire. At first, Will thought that Purpose and Desire were the same things. Upon reflection, Will came to find out that they are very different notions and that the key difference was that Desire is the motivation that compels your own personal wishes, while Purpose is motivated by serving the greater good. One motivation is inward, the other outward.
On March 27, 2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock, Will had the purpose of protecting his wife. His desire, however, was to regain respect and establish his dominance. What this incident teaches us is that sometimes we lose our sense of purpose, or sometimes we never had a sense of purpose to begin with.
Companies come to Solomon Advising with a desire to grow their business. But, that’s not really what we do here. What we do is help you find your purpose. Purpose has to be our guiding light and the motivation behind every decision we make. Your company should know how to answer the question, what is the purpose of our business? Why do we exist? What about our business is outward focused?
If your business operates only on desire, it will not last. Or, at least, it will never fulfill its potential. Instead, as your business pursues its purpose, those desires will also be met. If you're a plastic surgeon, are you guided by your desire to become the best surgeon, or is your purpose to help others feel better about themselves? If you are a tech firm, are you guided by your desire to establish yourself as the dominant player, or by your purpose to support your clients’ success? If you are a law firm, are you guided by your desire to have more billable hours, or by your desire to maintain justice in this world?
It does not matter if you choose to engage with Solomon Advising, or not. What matters is that you know your purpose. Why do you exist? How are you making an impact? What is your purpose in life? Whatever your desires, we hope that you will take some time to determine your true sense of purpose.
Solomon Advising is a marketing & branding agency focused on helping professional services firms retain their relevance and ensure sustainability by consistently promoting a credible brand. Contact us today to see how we can help improve your brand’s health.