In building Work Bigger, I’ve been designing a way that helps us get closer to the work we want to do. The goal is to identify your mission, and get clear on your longer-term vision so you’re not spinning your wheels and struggling with indecision.
Life is much less cluttered this way.
But can your mission change?
I received this question from one of my students who is working on the Work Bigger framework. The answer?
Yes. I do believe your mission can change.
Your mission is born from your interests, experiences, ideas, issues that speak to you. I believe it has to be personal, something deeply meaningful.
For example, one of my interests is work, how we work, our careers, how we choose to spend time away from our families, providing for ourselves and our loved ones.
I feel these hours, the time we have to work are precious. They’re an opportunity to build, create, find a better part of ourselves, reach our full potential.
This interest stems from a personal struggle trying to identify what it was I wanted to do. Work for me became a significant pain point. I always wanted more from my 9 to 5 jobs.
Anyhow, as a result of the experiences I had, Work Bigger was born. I’ve dedicated the past 2.5 years to helping 20 to 30-somethings identify the work they want to do. (Remember BOULD, my first company?)
This is my mission, and it’s my compass.
But life brings the unexpected.
As we get older we have new experiences that shape us in new ways, that inspire us to shift direction. I can’t say what that is or what it could be, just that it could be.
So what happens when your mission changes?
Does this mean you start over? Does this mean the work you did was a waste of time and energy? Absolutely not.
It means you’re now wiser, more experienced, more mission-driven, more focused. It also means you know how to focus. And you bring that to the new work you want to do. It’s all transferrable.
It’s important not to beat ourselves up when this happens. It’s important to welcome the change, especially if we’ve done the work, we’ve dug deep and understand why the shift has happened.
I liken it to marriage and long-term commitments in some ways. We pick a partner, we commit, we love. But we don’t know what’s to come, and a marriage today can look different 15 years from now.
Either way, you’re making a positive impact. You’re reaching your full potential. You’re changing the world.
Do you have any questions about the Work Bigger pilot? Leave a comment or question below. And if you have a friend or two who can benefit, please share this article.
