Purpose

About the Author

Ben Renshaw builds purposeful partnerships with leading organizations to develop leadership capability, high performing teams, and transform organizational cultures. He believes that discovering and leading with purpose is the greatest opportunity in life. Speaker, coach, consultant, and popular author of eight books including Purpose, Lead, and SuperCoaching, Ben inspires people to go beyond what they think is possible. As a consultant, he is renowned for getting to the heart of situations and creating the conditions for new solutions to emerge. As an author, Ben blends his depth of insight with practical calls to action.

Main Idea

Have you ever asked yourself, “What fulfills me?” It’s an awkward question, but one that is important to understand who you are and where you want to go in life. People who know and pursue what fulfills them have better productivity, focus, and overall health. The question, “What fulfills me?” is another way of asking yourself “What is my purpose?” If you don’t know your purpose, or if you don’t feel you have the right purpose, this book will help you discover it. Purpose – The Extraordinary Benefits of What Matters Most helps you understand how to find your purpose and how you will benefit from it.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Lead a Life with Purpose
3. Identify Your Personal Purpose
4. Live and Lead with Purpose
5. Turn Your Purpose into Action
6. Conclusion

Introduction

As a child, author Ben Renshaw was trained as a classical violinist. He toured the world and showcased his extraordinary talent. But in spite of his success and recognition, he wasn’t happy. Renshaw felt he didn’t have a purpose and was afraid that all his time practicing and performing was for nothing. Ben embarked on a personal journey to discover who he really was as a person. He realized his purpose was people. He loved connecting with others and interacting with all types of people, so he pursued the field of personal development to focus on relationships, happiness, and leadership. This new purpose made him a new person. A purpose helps you learn who you really are, and leading with purpose will have a huge impact on your life. Before we identify your individual purpose and how to use it to help others, we’ll share the benefits of leading a life with purpose.

Lead a Life with Purpose

Once you are clear on your purpose, you can apply meaning to every aspect of your world. This meaning is important at all times, but especially in hard times. One inspiring example comes from one of the darkest times in history. Victor Frankl was a Viennese psychiatrist who survived seven concentration camps during World War II. He believed man’s deepest desire was to search for meaning and purpose. His purpose was to have hope amidst all the despair around him, and he believed that’s what helped him survive. Your purpose helps you find your meaning, and it can guide you through whatever trials you experience in your journeys.

“Those who have a 'why' to live, can bear with almost any 'how'.” – Victor Frankl

We spend so much time trying to gain new skills and knowledge in the hopes of being better than everyone else. This constant pursuit of the future prevents us from taking a step back and trying to learn who we are in the present. Being authentic, admitting our limitations, and being transparent in our communication helps others believe in your skills as a leader.