Do You Have A WHY?

We need a mission, man. A purpose! Something that can grab and hold our attention. I often talk to people and they say “I don’t know my WHY” “I don’t know my mission. I don’t know if I have a purpose.” When this is shared with me I’ll ask. ”Tell me what you’re into? What are you about?” The answers are (almost always) with what that person does for work. And look, I get it. Work takes up 1/3 of our day. It’s kind of a big deal. Especially when people find no purpose or meaning in their work. So don’t take this wrong… but, how shallow to believe mans purpose can only be found in the ways he earns money? See, at the root, if that is the case that means your purpose, your why, is to make money. And, again, I get it! It’s great to have an occupation that you’re passionate about. One that is in line with your mission as a person. Some people forget before I was in the coaching space I was a coal miner. Before that, an IronWorker (very shorty) before that a roofer… (all summer from ages 13-18)

These jobs wasn’t my mission or my purpose. Every job I had (outside of a short sales position in 2015) was hard work. Some of the hardest jobs to have. While these jobs was not my purpose I worked them hard simply for the sake of working hard. I did the Jobs with optimism, always a smile on my face. I’d work all the overtime they would give me and I would do the hardest work they asked me. WHY? Well, because of a lesson that my Momma taught me. She said “it doesn’t matter what you do for work bud. All that matters is you work as hard as you can. You keep doing that and doors will open for you. And one thing will lead to the next and you’ll always have your work ethic to guide you” - well, something along those lines, with more wisdom coming from the kitchen. (Where moms shares the best life lessons)

Momma was right. Always, right? One thing lead to the next and another to the next. I still carry with me that blue collar work ethic in all the things I do. The harder I worked, the more and more opportunities were presented to me. This lead me into working jobs that I love. What I am doing right now. Now, I am very passionate about my work. I really do love helping people. I believe if I didn’t my coaching business wouldn’t have lasted very long. But it’s not my WHY. I never “aspired to inspire” I started fitness because I love the feeling of a hard workout. I started personal development because I was tired of my actions hurting others (and myself) In that, I worked very hard, set records and grew. One thing lead to the next- just like Momma always said. What is my WHY? Well, it’s always been to work hard for the sake of working hard. My mission? Lift weights and help people. However I can do that… I do that. Sometimes I get paid for it , other times I don’t. Being able to have MORE TIME to do that things I want to do is why I work as hard as I do. Some people earn money and buy things. I earn money and BUY TIME. Not time when I’m 65 (though, of course, Invest wisely.) BUT ALSO, TIME NOW. I’m about to head into my summer schedule. I’ll work nearly bi weekly.

Here’s how I want to end this. My mission is working hard. Doing hard things. Lifting weights and helping people. MY WHY is working hard for the sake of working hard. Thats lead to me being able to BUY TIME… doing work that I truly love. None of this happens if I wasn’t holding my attention on the effort I was giving on any one thing I was doing at that time. May it be my work, self or family. How I do one thing is how I’m doing everything.

DO HARD THINGS