Nick Craig on Leading From Purpose

Purpose: It’s worth digging for, and something no one can ever take away from us once we discover it. It gives us courage, clarity, and focus to act in the face of uncertainty, something every leader needs in today’s volatile, ambiguous, and chaotic...
Purpose: It’s worth digging for, and something no one can ever take away from us once we discover it. It gives us courage, clarity, and focus to act in the face of uncertainty, something every leader needs in today’s volatile, ambiguous, and chaotic world. And the impact living and working from our purpose is overflowing and includes the gifts of ongoing growth, a strong sense of identity, choosing the “hard right” over the “easy wrong,” energy that motivates the individual and promotes engagement across the organization, and fulfillment which is far more meaningful than fleeting happiness. These are just a few of my favorite takes from Nick Craig’s new book, Leading From Purpose.
1
00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.080
There are some people that make their
work just another thing they have to do,
2
00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:12.720
and there are those that make their
work something that they want to do.
3
00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:18.920
Welcome to Working on Purpose with your
host Elise Cortes. In our program,
4
00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:23.839
we provide guidance and inspiration from those
people who have found deeper meaning and
5
00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:29.000
personal connection to their work life.
It's beyond nine to five. It's working
6
00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:39.359
on Purpose. Now Here is your
host, Elise Cortes. Welcome back to
7
00:00:39.399 --> 00:00:42.000
the Working on Purpose Show. Thanks
for tuning in again this week. I'm
8
00:00:42.039 --> 00:00:44.960
your host, Alise Cortes, joining
you live from Dallas, Texas, which
9
00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:47.759
is home base for me. If
you've been tuning in for a while,
10
00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:51.600
you know this program is all about
helping people create more meaningful and productive personal
11
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:55.960
and work lives and equipping leaders,
insight organizations to cultivate meaning and purpose at
12
00:00:55.960 --> 00:01:00.920
elicit's passion inspired contribution, innovation,
and persevering performance. I talk with my
13
00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:03.719
guests to draw on their expertise and
share my own experience consulting, speaking and
14
00:01:03.719 --> 00:01:07.920
developing workforces across the globe. Every
week. In these conversations, I hope
15
00:01:07.920 --> 00:01:11.920
you walk away with something you can
immediately put into use in your life and
16
00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:15.159
that you come alive with a possibility
of living with passion, working on purpose,
17
00:01:15.319 --> 00:01:18.680
and are inspired to discover for yourself
just how big and fulfilling your life,
18
00:01:18.799 --> 00:01:22.359
work and leadership can be. And
if you do catch fire from anything
19
00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:23.920
you hear, reach out and tell
me about it. Email me at a
20
00:01:25.040 --> 00:01:27.519
lease at a leastcore test dot com, or use the contact me feature on
21
00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.640
my website to message me. You
might tell me how I can help you
22
00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:34.599
among some of these areas. Whether
you want to join the Neutratraditionalist to stay
23
00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:37.680
informed of these radio show topics.
You want to see about joining a cash
24
00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:42.159
fire online Inspiration, accountability or a
mastermind community. You want information on my
25
00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.799
purpose driven leadership programs for individuals or
companies, or you want to see about
26
00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:48.719
having me speak for your company or
conference. At any rate, I'm glad
27
00:01:48.760 --> 00:01:52.640
we're connected, and thanks again for
listening. Now onto this week's program with
28
00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:56.200
us Today is Nick Craig, the
author of the newly published book Leading from
29
00:01:56.200 --> 00:02:00.319
Purpose and the president of Core Leadership
Institute, where HEAT guides. Executive was
30
00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:02.239
on the journey to discover and lead
with purpose. He joined his day from
31
00:02:02.239 --> 00:02:07.040
Harvard, Massachusetts, where it's one
degree under zero. Thank you very much.
32
00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:09.120
Welcome to Working on Purpose, Nick. Thank you. It's great to
33
00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:14.599
be in a nice, warm room
as I you. Wow, I don't
34
00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:16.400
want to trade places with you.
I'm in Dallas, it's fifty some degrees
35
00:02:16.439 --> 00:02:21.439
and I'm good with that. So
I've read your book, Nick, and
36
00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:23.919
you are just brilliant and I am
so happy to share you with my listeners.
37
00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:27.719
And I read the whole thing from
cover to cover. So I had
38
00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:30.759
a lot of questions for you,
and I thought we would start with I
39
00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.400
mean, I know that you've been
in the leadership, consulting and coaching business
40
00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.479
for many, many years, but
how did you end up doing this work
41
00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:44.199
around purpose? Yeah? So I
think what's interesting is that purpose isn't something
42
00:02:44.240 --> 00:02:46.879
that you sort of go to college
and say, you know, I want
43
00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:50.360
to do work on purpose. In
some ways, what happens is it comes
44
00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.879
and grabs you and says, you
know what, you're not going to ignore
45
00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:54.919
me, and here we go.
You know. My version of that was
46
00:02:55.400 --> 00:03:00.680
a little over ten years ago.
I was working with a college Bill George,
47
00:03:00.680 --> 00:03:04.879
who was at Harvard Business School,
and we had created a model for
48
00:03:04.960 --> 00:03:07.800
authentic leadership and one of the topics
that we knew we needed to cover was
49
00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:13.159
purpose. The problem is it was
bombing in the classroom, and so I
50
00:03:13.159 --> 00:03:15.039
get all the I got all the
hard pieces, so I got purpose and
51
00:03:15.080 --> 00:03:19.960
I had to go figure this thing
out. And the process of doing that,
52
00:03:21.280 --> 00:03:23.439
we started doing some senior executi ed
programs. In the first place we
53
00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:28.800
did it was ge in Cromanville.
They had a list, we had a
54
00:03:28.800 --> 00:03:30.080
list of topics and we and they
said, well, we want this,
55
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:32.000
this, and we want purpose.
I says, no, you don't want
56
00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:36.800
purpose. I was like this,
no, no, no, no,
57
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.360
you do not want to do this. And they were like, no,
58
00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:40.680
you don't understand. You know,
you don't have a choice. I was
59
00:03:40.719 --> 00:03:46.560
like, oh, that's how this
works. What was interesting for me is
60
00:03:46.120 --> 00:03:50.080
that in the process of teaching the
material, along with a lot of other
61
00:03:50.120 --> 00:03:57.759
pieces, the participants showed me how
important this was to them. I mean,
62
00:03:57.919 --> 00:04:00.840
I got to hang out with a
bunch of individuals and I got to
63
00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.560
work at was with g I did
from two thousand and seven to twenty ten,
64
00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:09.360
so I got to go through the
whole recession with them. With fifty
65
00:04:09.400 --> 00:04:12.199
six. Stock went from fifty six
to six. Now it's not doing so
66
00:04:12.280 --> 00:04:15.599
good these days, but it's for
different reasons, but back then that was
67
00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:19.600
the first time they'd sort of hit
that that stop sign in their journey.
68
00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:27.439
And what was interesting was it as
alumni came back in twenty ten, when
69
00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:30.439
participants said, well, so,
of all this stuff you did, what
70
00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:34.439
was the most useful to you during
the most challenging moments of your leadership?
71
00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:39.480
And allows a couple of years,
these guys and gals would say purpose and
72
00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:44.800
I was like what. I was
like, what are you talking about?
73
00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.399
I said, And then all of
a sudden, the point at media and
74
00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.240
they'd say, you know this guy
is and I was like, oh,
75
00:04:49.319 --> 00:04:55.680
you know that thing we did.
So what I discovered is that purpose is
76
00:04:55.680 --> 00:05:00.199
the ultimate antidote uncertainty, and for
these leaders in the times of the greatest
77
00:05:00.279 --> 00:05:04.160
uncertainty, the one thing that was
solid ground that they could stand on.
78
00:05:04.959 --> 00:05:08.600
And this is what they told me, was their purpose. Everything else,
79
00:05:08.680 --> 00:05:15.000
the bonuses, the stock options,
everything that was being ripped away, and
80
00:05:15.120 --> 00:05:19.160
this one guy said, look,
everything I'd given them was was was crumbling.
81
00:05:19.839 --> 00:05:23.160
And so I realized the only thing
I had to stand on was my
82
00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:27.439
purpose, and my purpose is to
be the what a raft guide that gets
83
00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:30.040
you safely to the other side.
I remember that from your book that example.
84
00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:33.879
Wow, isn't it great? I
mean, now today, all these
85
00:05:33.959 --> 00:05:36.720
years later, Nick, can you
believe that we're not talking about purpose and
86
00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:42.160
how you almost stumbled past it?
Yeah? And you know the bottom line
87
00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:45.920
is it wasn't like I thought it
was something worth focusing on, Okay.
88
00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:47.759
I thought it was this nice,
fluffy thing that people didn't they have extra
89
00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:54.759
time? Right right? Well,
okay, so the next thing that probably
90
00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:58.519
makes sense to talk about here.
I've heard lots of different definitions of purpose,
91
00:05:58.600 --> 00:06:00.639
but how do you define it?
Yeah? You know it's interesting.
92
00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:04.720
I've bumped in early on. I
tried out all the versions and then they
93
00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:08.360
would all break on me and I'd
be like, okay, so now how
94
00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:12.560
I'm going to put this thing back
together? For me? Purpose is at
95
00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:16.000
its core is that unique gifts that
you bring to the world. And I
96
00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.639
guess the best way I could put
it is that if I replaced anyone who's
97
00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:25.800
listening to this with someone equally as
skilled and capable as they are in their
98
00:06:25.839 --> 00:06:30.920
life, in their job, and
then I was to interview everyone around that
99
00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:36.000
person three months later and say what
do you most miss? The answer that
100
00:06:36.079 --> 00:06:41.160
question would be your purpose. You
know, I did that exercise, Nick,
101
00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:44.040
and it was fantastic. It really
was great, a great exercise.
102
00:06:44.079 --> 00:06:46.319
There's so many useful things in your
book, and that was one of the
103
00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.360
things that I put right to you. So I won't talk about what the
104
00:06:48.399 --> 00:06:53.279
results were for that, but that'll
be for another conversation. But mini pearls
105
00:06:53.319 --> 00:06:56.920
Nick from that, Yeah, because
I think that you know, for most
106
00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.040
of us, Look, we have
our skills, we have our capabilities,
107
00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:03.160
we have our roles, We have
a lot of stuff, and we put
108
00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:06.759
a lot of stock in them,
but they're all fragile in the sense that
109
00:07:06.879 --> 00:07:11.839
someone gives them to as someone take
and take them away. And every day
110
00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:15.279
we open the newspaper read about people
and the consequence of that being the case.
111
00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.000
And in some sense, you know, what I see as purpose is
112
00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:23.319
is it is the one thing that
no one can take away from you.
113
00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:29.399
And in some ways it's what you
bring to a meeting of conversation, an
114
00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:33.680
experience that if you weren't there,
it won't show up. Yeah. I
115
00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:38.519
got that so clearly from your book, and that just really really takes me
116
00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:40.839
back when I when I hear when
I read that, when I hear you
117
00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:44.000
say it again, because it shows
up so powerfully in the room that way
118
00:07:44.040 --> 00:07:46.079
when you say it that way.
And I get that because I think that
119
00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.839
you know, in some sense,
if we look at you and you look
120
00:07:48.839 --> 00:07:55.120
at this broadcast, there's something you
bring to this dialogue that no one else
121
00:07:55.199 --> 00:07:58.360
is going to bring. And the
more you know what it is, the
122
00:07:58.360 --> 00:08:00.519
more you can own it, the
more you can own it where you can
123
00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:03.399
lead from it right well, and
to that end, I mean, you've
124
00:08:03.399 --> 00:08:07.439
already talked about how our purpose can
really help in times of uncertainty, that
125
00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:13.680
just what you talk about during the
recession is incredibly powerful. How do leaders
126
00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.560
access their purpose? Though? How
do they find it? People ask me
127
00:08:16.600 --> 00:08:20.720
that all the time. Yeah,
I mean, this was a My experience
128
00:08:20.720 --> 00:08:26.839
has been is that there's three major
access points to purpose. Okay, I
129
00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.639
mean the first access point to purpose
is there's most of us, no matter
130
00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:35.720
how tough our childhood was, you
can identify some magical moments in our childhood
131
00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:39.240
that once when we talk about them, the curious kid inside of us sort
132
00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:43.360
of shows up and it just gets
all energized. And in many of those
133
00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:50.440
experiences is the essence of how we
see the world and what's the gift that
134
00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:56.519
we bring to it. That's one
sort of access point. Another access point
135
00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:58.960
is some of our most challenging life
experiences and how we dig ourselves out of
136
00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:03.039
that hell that we might have been
in. Each of us does that in
137
00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:07.000
a unique way, and there I've
found many of the insights about what's the
138
00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:13.440
gift somebody who brings. The third
place I've found that purpose can be found
139
00:09:13.480 --> 00:09:20.879
is that some of us have passions
that transcend our They're not about money that
140
00:09:20.919 --> 00:09:24.720
we do them because they somehow speak
to some deeper part of us. And
141
00:09:24.799 --> 00:09:28.440
in those passions is an access point
to that place of purpose. So you
142
00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:31.600
know, for me, most of
the time when I'm working with individuals,
143
00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:37.639
we're looking at those different access points
and we're unpacking and discovering what is that
144
00:09:39.159 --> 00:09:43.720
version of the purpose that is them. Now, when I talk about purpose
145
00:09:43.039 --> 00:09:46.159
and the you know a lot of
people will come up with a set of
146
00:09:46.200 --> 00:09:50.399
words. Whatever the words are that
we come up with are are like a
147
00:09:50.480 --> 00:09:54.399
key to a room. What matters
is that what's inside the room itself,
148
00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:56.519
and that I think that for all
of us there's a room of purpose that
149
00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:00.480
is so much bigger and more beautiful
than any sort of world as we might
150
00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:05.399
use. I really get that,
and I did see that that set of
151
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.759
those those three access points in your
book, and they're so clearly written about,
152
00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.240
and I do think they give us
they give us a space to be
153
00:10:11.279 --> 00:10:16.080
able to discover from So I found
that useful as well. I want to
154
00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:18.840
go on to impact next. Nick, You've got a whole bunch of stuff
155
00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:24.000
there about impact, about how what
purpose does in terms of our professional in
156
00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:26.120
our personal lives. And I don't
know how many of these we can get
157
00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:31.000
through, but let's crack on them. The first one you talk about is
158
00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:35.519
clarity of focus. So how does
purpose give us clarity and focus? You
159
00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:39.799
know, it's interesting because when I
started doing the interviews for this book,
160
00:10:41.159 --> 00:10:45.519
that was not something that I would
associate with purpose per se. Well,
161
00:10:45.519 --> 00:10:50.399
what happened when I talk to people
is that time after time, everybody would
162
00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:52.799
say, you know, of all
the things that I would miss if I
163
00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.559
didn't know my purpose, it would
be the clarity and focus to make the
164
00:10:56.759 --> 00:11:03.200
hard decisions that I don't think I
could obeyed otherwise. And they were basically
165
00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:09.080
decisions in a world in which there
was no data or there was not enough
166
00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:11.159
daya that was ever going to help
us to solve it. And so in
167
00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:16.879
some ways, what I found is
that people feel a more of a sense
168
00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:22.440
of clarity and focus and being able
to make those hard decisions. And in
169
00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:28.960
some ways it's independent of whether it's
they're in a fog or they're actually in
170
00:11:28.960 --> 00:11:33.000
the sunlight. They feel it because
their purpose speaks to them and says,
171
00:11:33.080 --> 00:11:35.600
listen, here's where you need to
be, here's the job you should be
172
00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:39.039
taking. It doesn't make any sense, but this is what makes sense,
173
00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.919
or here's the choice that you need
to make. It almost feels to me
174
00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:48.240
nick like that purpose. It gives
us a way to illuminate all those extraneous
175
00:11:48.279 --> 00:11:50.759
things that take us away from delivering
on our purpose or living our purpose.
176
00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:54.960
They become, i don't know,
so visible and easy just to knock out,
177
00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:58.039
like they just don't belong. Yeah, And I think the funny part
178
00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:01.639
that was that I want to be
to honest, is it. You know,
179
00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:03.759
I spend most most a lot of
my time in most everybody else I
180
00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:09.840
know, running all into all those
other places hoping they're going to be great
181
00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:13.679
places to be, and then we
find ourselves getting kicked out at some point
182
00:12:13.720 --> 00:12:16.159
I go, Okay, this is
not working, and then we sort of
183
00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:20.399
say, well, if I was
listening to my purpose, now what would
184
00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:24.799
I be doing? You know,
all this is after there's lots of blood
185
00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:26.720
and bruises and everything else, and
then you go, oh, Okay,
186
00:12:26.759 --> 00:12:30.120
that's actually not so hard. Okay, now I get what that is.
187
00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:33.039
And so I don't you know,
I think that I just want to be
188
00:12:33.080 --> 00:12:37.320
humble and truthful for everyone who's listening. Is it as much as I would
189
00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:39.360
like purpose to be so crystal clear
that you always make the choice the first
190
00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:45.320
time? Right up? My sense
is that purpose is the is the background
191
00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.799
that's always there. It's the one
that will always take care of you and
192
00:12:48.840 --> 00:12:54.399
always be there for you and never
forget you even though you forget it,
193
00:12:56.360 --> 00:13:01.840
and it will be there always.
Yes, and along those lines what you
194
00:13:01.960 --> 00:13:03.919
just narrated there, Nick, I
really want to say thank you also and
195
00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:09.759
appreciate you for how authentic you wrote
your authentically you wrote your book because you
196
00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:13.120
did talk to us about how some
of the things that you tried on didn't
197
00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:16.039
always work and some of your experiences
weren't always the best. And I really
198
00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:20.799
appreciate and applot and I'm inspired by
how you did that? Yeah, well
199
00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:24.799
purpose made me do that one,
so purpose maybe do it? Okay,
200
00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:28.200
good, I'm serious. There's times
that I'm writing it's going okay, I
201
00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:31.159
don't think I actually want to print
this, and my purpose says, no,
202
00:13:31.440 --> 00:13:35.039
you've got to print this thing.
Stop. So I'm like, okay,
203
00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:37.159
well, just I'm not. I'm
going to listen. I think it's
204
00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:43.279
gorgeous and it's very inspiring really,
so thank you. And that brings us
205
00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.720
probably to the next the next point
about impact that maybe is related to that.
206
00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:50.039
It's growth and you talk about growth
you can count on, and then
207
00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:54.440
there's also something you talk about with
regarding the growth mindset with purpose. What
208
00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.399
what do you mean by the two
of those sets? And so here's the
209
00:13:56.440 --> 00:14:03.879
good news is it. I worked
with some individuals who, because of knowing
210
00:14:03.879 --> 00:14:07.840
their purpose, have been able to
generate double digit growth in their businesses.
211
00:14:09.960 --> 00:14:13.320
One of them was the CEO of
Ben and Jerry's for the last eight years.
212
00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:18.840
And another one was a guy who
got four hundred percent growth in a
213
00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.399
business in a thirdbal country that nobody
ever thought was even worth anything. And
214
00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:28.799
there's a whole stream of people and
you know what purpose will do is purpose
215
00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:33.120
will say those whimpy goals you have, those are really useless. Let's give
216
00:14:33.159 --> 00:14:37.679
you something worth really jumping into and
they'll get you go there. Now,
217
00:14:37.720 --> 00:14:41.559
you might not hit the mark of
what you sort of shoot for, but
218
00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:46.000
you'll go way beyond what the normal
numbers were that somebody said you should or
219
00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:48.399
shouldn't do. Because you won't,
you don't have to listen to that.
220
00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:52.840
So that's sort of the simple version. But when I looked deeper underneath all
221
00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:58.720
of that to what made these individuals
tick and what made them so successful,
222
00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:03.159
what I discovered is something that Carol
Dwick had discovered when she looked at kids,
223
00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.679
which was something called the growth mindset
versus the fixed mindset. So the
224
00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:11.759
way it works is is that if
we look at kids, the fixed mindset
225
00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:16.639
is that you think you're either good
or bad at math or English, and
226
00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.600
then you spend the rest of your
education reinforcing the fact that that's the truth.
227
00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:26.480
Okay, that's the fixed mindset.
The growth mindset is, no matter
228
00:15:26.519 --> 00:15:31.039
how bad you happen to have done
on any of those things at any moment
229
00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:35.159
in time, if you really dedicate
time and energy toward it, you can
230
00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:41.240
actually become really really good at it. Okay, that's the mindset, and
231
00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:46.080
the growth mindset comes from a deep
place of curiosity and possibility. The fixed
232
00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.720
mindset is trying never to make,
never to be seen as anything other than
233
00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:54.720
the way you'd like to be seen, which makes you fragile. And so
234
00:15:54.840 --> 00:16:00.360
my sense is that purpose is the
ultimate antidote to the fixed mindset. Purpose
235
00:16:00.399 --> 00:16:03.799
is always stretching us and saying,
really, that's where you're going to stop,
236
00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:08.519
right, You're gonna be satisfied with
that? Yes, well, I
237
00:16:08.600 --> 00:16:12.039
really like how you generated that and
brought that to life for us, Nick,
238
00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:17.480
because I do know Carol Deec's work. But the notion of being of
239
00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:21.879
standing if we are in a fixed
mindset, of making sure that you try
240
00:16:21.919 --> 00:16:23.480
to be who you want to be
or be seen as who you want to
241
00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:29.159
be, is actually a very nice
application that I haven't heard before. Oh
242
00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:32.639
good, I'm glad you appreciate it. Yeah. Absolutely, And on that
243
00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:34.360
note, Nick, let's grab our
first break. I'm your host. Alie
244
00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:37.799
Cortes were on the air with Nick
Craig. He is the author of the
245
00:16:37.799 --> 00:16:42.000
newly published book Leading from Purpose and
the president of Core Leadership Institute, where
246
00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:45.480
he guides executives on the journey to
discover and lead with purpose. He joined
247
00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:48.679
us today from Harvard, Massachusetts.
We've been talking about his new book.
248
00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:52.440
We're going to change the conversation after
the break. Stay with us, We'll
249
00:16:52.440 --> 00:17:17.039
be right back. Alise Cortes is
a speaker and engagement and development catalyst.
250
00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:22.680
She designs and delivers professional development,
leadership and engagement workshops and can bring her
251
00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:26.799
expertise to your organization. She will
help ignite meaningful development within your workforce that
252
00:17:26.839 --> 00:17:32.799
will increase employee engagement, performance and
retention. To learn more or to invite
253
00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:37.519
Elise to speak to your organization,
please visit her at www dot Elisecortes dot
254
00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:42.480
com. She would welcome the opportunity
to help get your employees working on purpose.
255
00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:53.519
This is working on Purpose with Elise
Cortes. To reach our program today,
256
00:17:53.759 --> 00:18:00.599
send an email to a lease Ali
at Alisecortes dot com. Now back
257
00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:10.720
to working on Purpose. Thanks for
staying with us, and welcome back to
258
00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:12.759
working on Purpose. If you're just
joining us, My guest is Nick Craig.
259
00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:15.960
He is the author of the newly
published book Leading from Purpose and a
260
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.519
president of the Core Leadership Institute,
where he guides executives on the journey to
261
00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:23.720
discover and lead with purpose. He
has worked with organizations including Ben and Jerry's
262
00:18:23.920 --> 00:18:30.640
Heineken Ig Bank, Lego, Unilever, and the United States Military Academic Academy
263
00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:33.880
at West Point. So, Nick, before the break, we were talking
264
00:18:33.960 --> 00:18:37.240
about some of the areas of impact
that purpose has on our professional and personal
265
00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:40.359
lives. And the next one up
I wanted to talk about, which is
266
00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:42.160
very near and during to my heart
because I've studied it for a long time,
267
00:18:42.519 --> 00:18:48.160
and that's identity. So what's the
correlation, that connection between purpose and
268
00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:52.480
identity? You know, this is
wait. I've spent so much time with
269
00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:59.759
so many senior executives who don't have
lost track of who they are. They
270
00:19:00.599 --> 00:19:03.640
sit in front of me, They've
been they've been promoted to the point where
271
00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:07.240
they no longer can use any of
their expertise, skills, or knowledge right
272
00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:12.319
and they are struggling to figure out
what is it that they actually bring because
273
00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:18.000
they don't know. And what I
discovered is that in the process of helping
274
00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:22.960
them uncover their purpose, they for
the first time actually knew what is it
275
00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:29.640
that they brought that was their gift? It's their true identity, independent of
276
00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:34.960
the education, university, or whether
they're marketing or engineer or whatever the case
277
00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.880
may be, which is how they'd
defined their identity up until that point,
278
00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.880
which was also what was causing them
to do the job with the people that
279
00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:45.400
worked for them, as opposed to
doing the job they needed to do,
280
00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:49.480
which is going into the unknown territory
that nobody had figured out yet. And
281
00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:56.079
so I think that that's the real
gift that purpose brings for us, is
282
00:19:56.119 --> 00:20:03.440
it reveals that deeper sense of identity
that is one that is only ours.
283
00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:08.559
Now. Really, that's the gift
of purpose. And what I knew that's
284
00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:11.200
so great, Nick. I love
that what I know about identity is,
285
00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:15.680
among many other functions, it's a
it's a behavior driver. So if we're
286
00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:21.599
actually behaving from from our from our
identity of purpose and purpose, then that's
287
00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:25.000
that's a pretty strong path to come
from. Yeah. And I just think
288
00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:27.920
that if I look at how many
people, so I, uh, you
289
00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:32.640
know, I worked with a guy
I work with a guy Runjay, and
290
00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:37.720
you know, he had been he
was on track to become head of HR
291
00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:42.359
for a very large company, and
everybody was telling him that he was going
292
00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:48.119
to get this big promotion and when
and I mean they're all everybody was telling
293
00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:52.119
him. And when the announcement came
out out there was somebody else's name on
294
00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:56.799
the announcement, and of course he
was incredibly devastated. Now his purpose was
295
00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.759
light camera action. You know,
we really you know, and let's make
296
00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.359
it happen and earthly do it.
It came from him as a kid,
297
00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:07.920
and he loved sort of creating theater
and being on stage as a kid and
298
00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:12.440
getting others on stage and writing plays. It was sort of his whole ethos
299
00:21:14.079 --> 00:21:19.200
and his orientation to his purpose was
to always help everybody else step on stage.
300
00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:23.799
And what he realized is is that
he had a choice. He could
301
00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:30.799
go leave and be disgruntled and go
work somewhere else and sort of protect his
302
00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:33.240
identity, or he could let go
of that and realize that independent of the
303
00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:37.599
title and everything else, he could
live his purpose. And he realized there
304
00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:40.680
was two people who were a couple
of layers below him, who had been
305
00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:45.200
overlooked for a couple of promotions,
and so he decided to spend the next
306
00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:48.000
year making sure that they got the
promotions that they really deserved. Now,
307
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:51.079
in the process of doing this,
of course, he ends up with a
308
00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:56.880
great promotion himself. But it was
only after he let go of his corporate
309
00:21:56.920 --> 00:22:03.759
identity that he was free to really
step into and own his own What are
310
00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:07.680
you really here to do? And
so I think for all of us,
311
00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:11.079
you know, the true identity is
not the one we think it is.
312
00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:17.160
It's after everything else is stripped away, what's left? Right? Oh,
313
00:22:17.240 --> 00:22:21.319
I do remember that story from your
book. It's an incredible story and a
314
00:22:21.400 --> 00:22:23.480
testament to what it is to step
back and really stand from our purpose.
315
00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:29.799
So it's gorgeoustuff Nick. So how
long have you been working in this purpose
316
00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:33.680
space a little Lizzie at this point, Oh, a good ten to twelve
317
00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:37.039
years. I've been, and I've
worked, We've worked with the group.
318
00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:41.599
We've probably worked with over fifteen thousand
people. Now, wow, that's so
319
00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:45.200
great. Talk about impact and make
a difference in the world, Nick,
320
00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:48.799
that's so great. Well, and
on that note, the next thing I
321
00:22:48.839 --> 00:22:52.480
want to talk about is energy as
one of the impact pieces of purpose.
322
00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:56.200
And you talk about purpose as being
really a true source of energy, and
323
00:22:56.200 --> 00:23:00.160
I absolutely agree with that, and
that leadership purpose promotes comy engagement. So
324
00:23:00.319 --> 00:23:03.480
this becomes really interesting because people say, Okay, how do you connect purpose
325
00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:11.200
with engagement? Yeah, So I
think here's the lissualy. I know a
326
00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:15.000
lot of people who, when I
interact with them, they at some point
327
00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:22.200
finally admit the fact that they're exhausted
and that what they're exhausted from mostly is
328
00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:26.119
trying to look like they're not exhausted
and trying to act like everything's wonderful.
329
00:23:26.240 --> 00:23:30.680
And they're the energizer buddies because everybody
else is acting like the energizer buzzy buddy.
330
00:23:30.799 --> 00:23:34.480
Right. Yeah, And so I
mean one funny example, So I
331
00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:38.279
was at West Point teaching the program, and I have all these people who
332
00:23:38.359 --> 00:23:45.880
are very impressive military and professors and
whatever. And what turns out is that
333
00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:52.000
they all thought that somebody made a
mistake in letting them in. Okay,
334
00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:56.000
every one of them thought that everybody
else belonged in, but they didn't.
335
00:23:56.000 --> 00:24:00.160
And everybody else looked confident. But
they were all in the room together are
336
00:24:00.200 --> 00:24:02.720
saying, well, we all look
confident, but the truth is is we
337
00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:07.079
all think that everybody else belongs to
be here, but not ask. And
338
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:11.480
you know that is enormously de energizing. Okay, And I think that in
339
00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:15.759
some sense, the beauty of purpose
is that when you have your purpose,
340
00:24:15.799 --> 00:24:18.319
you're finally home. Yeah. I
love how you say that in your book.
341
00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:22.920
It's so great. Yeah. And
when you're finally home, then you
342
00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:27.839
actually have energy in a different way. And I think that the look.
343
00:24:27.880 --> 00:24:32.640
I think that knowing your purpose will
put you in harms way more often than
344
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.640
would be if you don't know your
purpose. But you have energy in a
345
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:41.559
different way because you're not trying to
fake it anymore. You're pretty clear what
346
00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:45.279
it is you are in who you
are. And so from that place,
347
00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:49.000
the energy that you speak from and
you operate from, is it a very
348
00:24:49.000 --> 00:24:52.240
different layer. Now it's not to
say that you don't spend a lot of
349
00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:56.599
time being exhausted and tired in all
those things that happens as well, But
350
00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:00.839
I think that the deeper level of
where the energy comes from, it's not
351
00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:04.640
coming from the external thing that you're
excited about. It comes from the internal
352
00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:11.240
thing that is driving through you.
Okay, So let's take that a little
353
00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:15.559
one step further if we ken in
terms of an organization, So thinking about
354
00:25:15.640 --> 00:25:18.920
how do we thread the energy of
that one person, and we look toward
355
00:25:19.000 --> 00:25:22.799
creating more satisfied, fulfilled, and
energetic workforce. What's the thread for us,
356
00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:29.400
Nick? How does this purpose stuff
work energetically inside an organization to catalyze
357
00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:33.079
engagement. So what my experience has
been is that as a huge impact on
358
00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:40.680
shifting the whole engagement scenario. I
think if we look at engagement scores and
359
00:25:40.920 --> 00:25:44.480
if you're in the HR organization and
the engagement scores are going in the wrong
360
00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:48.359
direction, but you have all the
external events happening in the world, that
361
00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:52.880
would suggest that there's nothing that you're
going to do to change the external events
362
00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:56.440
and you're struggling to figure out what
to do. The question then becomes is
363
00:25:56.440 --> 00:26:02.359
what levers do you really have?
From my experience is in most of the
364
00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:07.720
organizations that bring us in and bring
us in because they they have lost that
365
00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:11.759
magic and they don't know how to
get it back. And when we start
366
00:26:11.799 --> 00:26:15.079
doing this work with people, when
we reignite. The way I think about
367
00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:19.039
this is this purpose is only present
if the curious little kid inside of your
368
00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:25.000
shows up right now. I can't
think of anything more engaging and energizing and
369
00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:29.000
dynamic than the curious little kid inside
of you and me. I know exactly
370
00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:30.559
what you mean. I just saw
in the airport as I was traveling,
371
00:26:30.599 --> 00:26:36.359
it was so great. And so
with that, the opportunity is is if
372
00:26:36.359 --> 00:26:40.759
you have that across an organization,
you're going to have a very different level
373
00:26:41.359 --> 00:26:47.039
of engagement than if you don't.
And in some ways, that's what we're
374
00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:49.880
looking to access, is how do
we get the whole system to wake up.
375
00:26:49.960 --> 00:26:53.279
I mean, I've had an organization
right now that's decided to roll this
376
00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:59.599
out to twenty five thousand people.
Wow. And the reason why is because
377
00:26:59.599 --> 00:27:02.920
it worked for the top five thousand
and they got all energized, and everybody
378
00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:04.920
else said, whatever they got,
I want some of that, And so
379
00:27:06.200 --> 00:27:08.599
it's it's it's you know, in
some ways, it becomes infectious as to
380
00:27:10.039 --> 00:27:12.960
what happens when you start to see
all these people who have something, Why
381
00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:17.960
are they so energize? What's going
on? And so in some ways it
382
00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:22.319
is it is a virus that we
all would like to have, which is
383
00:27:22.759 --> 00:27:27.839
level of energy. So the engagement
shifts, and what happens is people start
384
00:27:27.880 --> 00:27:33.839
having more authentic conversations, more transparent
conversations, and all of that generates very
385
00:27:33.880 --> 00:27:38.160
different effect. Yeah. And if
we're if we're fueled from a sense of
386
00:27:38.200 --> 00:27:42.920
purpose and we feel united in that
all the more so. Yeah. Absolutely.
387
00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:48.279
And you know, if we look
at organizational purpose that the challenge with
388
00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:52.480
the organizational purpose by itself is is
that it is. It's how do you
389
00:27:52.519 --> 00:27:56.279
connect to it? And if you
know what your purpose is and what your
390
00:27:56.319 --> 00:28:00.440
connection is between your individual purpose and
the organization's purpose, it gives you a
391
00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:06.160
whole different arc of why you're there. Absolutely. Yeah. Interestingly enough,
392
00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:08.319
nickol when I research on people experience
meaning and their work and listening to their
393
00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:12.079
identity, and one of the modes
of fifteen that I found was organizational mission
394
00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:17.640
alignment, and I kind of map
it over to that. But and how
395
00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.440
what a space of you know,
these guys are on fire when they're in
396
00:28:19.480 --> 00:28:25.559
that place. Absolutely so. One
of the other things that you talk about
397
00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.680
in your book that I love the
way you write about this, Nick,
398
00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:30.559
It's just so crisp and clear and
accessible. You talk about doing the hard
399
00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:34.680
right over the easy wrong as an
element of impact. Will you say more
400
00:28:34.680 --> 00:28:40.319
about that? Yeah? I think
you know. The hard right versus easy
401
00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:42.640
wrong comes from the crew at West
Point, and it's from the Cadet Prayer,
402
00:28:45.640 --> 00:28:48.000
and it talks about doing the hard
right versus easy wrong and going for
403
00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:53.759
the whole truth instead of just behalf. And look, what I've seen over
404
00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:59.240
and over again is that most of
us are struggling. It's easy for all
405
00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:03.559
of us to know what easy wrong
is in hindsight. And the challenge is
406
00:29:03.920 --> 00:29:07.720
in the moment, do we make
the hard choice, and do we make
407
00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:12.079
that hard right choice that as a
result of it is for the bigger cause
408
00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:15.640
or the bigger us? You know. One of the stories that I ended
409
00:29:15.680 --> 00:29:18.599
up having that I have in the
book is actually about a colleague I know
410
00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:22.519
from West Point who was on track
to become a one star general. He
411
00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:26.559
was with portray Us during the surge
and he decided that that wasn't what he
412
00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:30.799
wanted to do. He wanted to
train leaders. He didn't want to be
413
00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:33.079
the leader, which in the military
is kind of a weird thing to do.
414
00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:36.720
To make that shift, But he
went back to school and he was
415
00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:41.920
in Boston and he was running in
the Boston Marathon in twenty thirteen with the
416
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:48.400
blind colleague, and he was at
the finish line when the first of the
417
00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:53.480
bombs went off, and he was
He'd done a number of tours of duty,
418
00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:59.400
so for him, that was no
different than being in Afghanistan. So
419
00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:03.400
he started doing triage and he was
actually he saved six people's lives, and
420
00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:07.240
the EMTs were like overwhelmed, and
they'd never seen anything like this, and
421
00:30:07.319 --> 00:30:11.920
he was teaching them in real time
what to do to stop the bleeding in
422
00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:15.880
certain situations and what you had to
do to make create the tension. And
423
00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:18.319
you know, in some ways,
he had spent the six months before that
424
00:30:18.440 --> 00:30:23.759
wondering whether he'd made the biggest mistake
in his life getting off of the general
425
00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:27.799
career track, you know, but
after that event, he realized why he
426
00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:32.160
was. One of the reasons that
he was there was so he could be
427
00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:34.799
there in that moment. So it
was the hard right versus the easy wrong.
428
00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:40.000
We never know what it is until
in hindsight. Now, purpose in
429
00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:42.799
some ways always knows. Okay,
very rarely does it let us know why.
430
00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:48.440
But if we do follow it,
we tend to find ourselves accessing and
431
00:30:48.519 --> 00:30:52.079
operating from those choices that end up
being more of the hard right versus easy
432
00:30:52.119 --> 00:30:56.000
wrong. You know, Nick,
I totally get that because I left a
433
00:30:56.079 --> 00:31:02.200
perfectly good consulting job, you know, to jump off a cliff go do
434
00:31:02.240 --> 00:31:04.440
this purpose stuff. A boy was
that, you know, the hard right
435
00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:10.079
over the easy wrong. I really
get it. Yeah, exactly. It's
436
00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:11.599
that tough you know it. Don't
make it easy, girl. It's like,
437
00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:15.359
this is a really tough thing,
and I just labs am humble.
438
00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:18.359
I say, oh my gosh.
It's like, there's so many other things
439
00:31:18.359 --> 00:31:22.880
that would be so much easier for
me to do than the purpose. God
440
00:31:23.640 --> 00:31:26.880
right, you wan. Writing the
book for me was the hard right,
441
00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:32.559
because I resisted writing the book for
about five years, and my Purpose finally
442
00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:33.720
said, listen, I'm not going
to let you start. You're gonna,
443
00:31:33.920 --> 00:31:37.920
I'm gonna you know, You're just
gonna do this thing. So it's like,
444
00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:41.480
oh my god. Hi. Yeah. So anyway, I got that,
445
00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:45.400
and that's how I actually finally birthed
my first draft of my first book.
446
00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.799
I promised myself I'd do it by
the end of last year, and
447
00:31:47.880 --> 00:31:51.000
I did do it, Nick,
So you're right, it does work,
448
00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:55.240
this purpose stuff. So all right, let's grab our last break here.
449
00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:59.599
I'm Alice Cortes. I'm your host
in the Air with Nick Craig. He
450
00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:04.039
is the author of the newly published
book Leading from Purpose and the president of
451
00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:07.839
Core Leadership Institute, where he guides
executives on the journey to discover and lead
452
00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:30.920
with purpose. Stay with us,
We'll be right back. Alise Cortes is
453
00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:37.200
a speaker and engagement and development catalyst. She designs and delivers professional development,
454
00:32:37.400 --> 00:32:42.480
leadership and engagement workshops and can bring
her expertise to your organization. She will
455
00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:47.039
help ignite meaningful development within your workforce
that will increase employee engagement, performance and
456
00:32:47.160 --> 00:32:52.119
retention. To learn more or to
invite Elise to speak to your organization,
457
00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:57.519
please visit her at www dot Elise
Coortes dot com. She would welcome the
458
00:32:57.559 --> 00:33:07.920
opportunity to help get your employees working
on purpose. This is working on Purpose
459
00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:13.359
with Elise Cortes. To reach our
program today, send an email to a
460
00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:25.960
lease Alise at aliscortes dot com.
Now back to working on purpose. Thanks
461
00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:29.920
foresting with us, and welcome back
to working on purpose. If you're just
462
00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:31.279
tuning in. My guest is Nick
Craig. He is the author of the
463
00:33:31.319 --> 00:33:36.559
newly published book Leading from Purpose and
the president of the Core Leadership Institute,
464
00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:39.319
where he guides executives on the journey
to discover and lead with purpose. He
465
00:33:39.359 --> 00:33:45.119
has worked with organizations including Ben and
Jerry's Heineken, Ing Bank, Lego,
466
00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:49.119
Unilever, and the United States Military
Academy at West Point. I'm your host,
467
00:33:49.160 --> 00:33:52.960
Alis Cortes, so for this last
segment here and if we don't have
468
00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:54.359
much time here, but I definitely
want to hit a couple of high points
469
00:33:54.400 --> 00:34:00.680
that I think are hopelessly fascinating.
Hopelessly, yes, I find it fascinating,
470
00:34:00.720 --> 00:34:05.079
so hopefully somebody else in the audience
will too. But we're still talking
471
00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:07.400
about impact from purpose, and one
of the things that you distinguish in your
472
00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:14.079
book is fulfillment versus happiness. Say
more about that. Oh yeah, so
473
00:34:15.719 --> 00:34:22.960
look, it turns out that purpose
and happiness are not directly connected to each
474
00:34:22.000 --> 00:34:25.960
other. Everyone thinks that if you
have much, if you're clear on your
475
00:34:25.960 --> 00:34:30.840
purpose, that your life he'll be
much happier and so forth. And actually,
476
00:34:30.239 --> 00:34:35.840
it's an interesting reality is that for
many of the people I know,
477
00:34:35.960 --> 00:34:40.760
is that they have been willing to
postpone instant in his happiness for purpose.
478
00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:49.719
That purpose will have us be willing
to persevere and do the tough stuff much
479
00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:54.280
much longer than we would be otherwise, and in some ways postpone the happiness
480
00:34:54.280 --> 00:35:01.800
piece. There's a lot of research
around being a parent, okay, And
481
00:35:01.880 --> 00:35:06.440
it turns out that if you have
one kid, it has a little bit
482
00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:09.320
of impact negatively on your happiness,
but if you have two kids, it's
483
00:35:09.360 --> 00:35:14.119
like it's really clearly has an impact. And the challenge is is that none
484
00:35:14.119 --> 00:35:16.039
of us would give up having our
kids because of the meaning that it brings
485
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:22.480
to us. Right, So I
think that when we look at there's a
486
00:35:22.519 --> 00:35:28.480
deeper fulfillment that purpose's purpose brings to
us and satisfaction happiness is. You know,
487
00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:30.639
I have a benefit of working with
Ben and Jerry's and Hinnek. And
488
00:35:30.639 --> 00:35:36.039
if I give you Ben and Jerry's
and Heineken, and you know you have
489
00:35:36.159 --> 00:35:37.639
enough of it, you'll be very
happy for a small for a period of
490
00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:40.400
time. Now there's the hangover that
comes from both of those. Oh yeah,
491
00:35:40.400 --> 00:35:43.719
it's just going to say what a
great thing ice cream and beer works
492
00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:45.840
for me. I was actually working
with Ben and Jerry's once and I saw
493
00:35:45.840 --> 00:35:51.760
the Heineken truck full up, and
so I finally have gotten both of these
494
00:35:51.800 --> 00:35:53.760
guys in the same place at the
same time. Now that I'm working with
495
00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:58.639
Lego, I'm trying to see if
we can get all three of them together
496
00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:00.440
and see if we come up with
a whole new products suite. So anyway,
497
00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:05.760
I love it all the innovation that
can come from working on a purpose
498
00:36:05.800 --> 00:36:09.719
too. Right. Well, so
another part of your book that I think
499
00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:15.000
is quite interesting, the whole piece
of saving yourself and saving the world.
500
00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:20.440
You talk about how saving the world
is very different from leading in life of
501
00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:24.480
purpose, because even the guy selling
Jiffy peanut butter needs purpose. So what
502
00:36:24.480 --> 00:36:30.039
do you mean? So one of
the biggest places if I look at most
503
00:36:30.199 --> 00:36:32.639
of the people I've worked with,
when they get clear on what their purpose
504
00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:37.639
is, they quickly go running out
of the room and they go impact all
505
00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:44.159
the people around them, And it
is incredible to watch. The real impact
506
00:36:44.199 --> 00:36:47.960
that these individuals have is they now
know why they're here. What happens over
507
00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:52.360
time is that when I see them
about two or three years later, it's
508
00:36:52.440 --> 00:36:57.960
like it looks like somebody threw them
in the lake and they're like just coming
509
00:36:58.039 --> 00:37:00.679
out and they're like a little bit
whatever, and I go, so,
510
00:37:00.760 --> 00:37:02.719
what's up with you? And well, it turns out that they forgot to
511
00:37:02.800 --> 00:37:07.559
do one critical thing that if they
don't do then it's not going to work
512
00:37:07.599 --> 00:37:10.840
for a long term. Is they
forgot to apply their purpose to themselves.
513
00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:15.719
And so I talk about this particular
case of the book. I had a
514
00:37:15.719 --> 00:37:20.199
woman who ended up working as head
of HR for the World Food Program,
515
00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:25.599
and she was literally saving women's lives, and her purpose was about helping women,
516
00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:31.920
helping the women inside of us and
we all have that that isn't taken
517
00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:36.000
care of, and helping take care
of that part of us. And she
518
00:37:36.119 --> 00:37:39.039
was doing this in refugee camps and
everywhere else and dealing with all kinds of
519
00:37:39.199 --> 00:37:45.360
amazing turnarounds and things. But the
challenge was is that her physical body was
520
00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:50.519
falling apart. Wow. And what
we realized was is that she was applying
521
00:37:50.519 --> 00:37:54.440
her purpose to every person on the
planet but herself. The other fun example
522
00:37:54.480 --> 00:38:00.960
I have is I had a woman, another lady, who was a sustainability
523
00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:05.480
for a big company and she was
physically falling apart. I said, well,
524
00:38:05.480 --> 00:38:09.360
how sustainable is that? Okay?
And it just goes to reinforce the
525
00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:19.119
fact that the most important and powerful
area of congruency for each of us is
526
00:38:19.400 --> 00:38:22.440
to apply our purpose not just to
the rest of the world, but holdso
527
00:38:22.519 --> 00:38:27.719
to ourselves. And the reason why
most of us don't do that is because
528
00:38:27.719 --> 00:38:30.880
we don't think we deserve it.
It's funny you say this, Nick.
529
00:38:30.920 --> 00:38:35.039
I'm out speaking here in about three
weeks through a group of women who are
530
00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:37.920
in healthcare, and part of the
message is, hey, look, don't
531
00:38:37.960 --> 00:38:40.079
forget to take care of yourself as
you're out there caring for everyone else.
532
00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:44.480
I don't know why. I don't
know if you feel the same way,
533
00:38:44.480 --> 00:38:49.400
but it seems like women are even
more inclined to do that where they're caring
534
00:38:49.480 --> 00:38:52.039
for others at the expense of themselves. Do you agree with that or am
535
00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:57.159
I way off? No? I
think that if we take it outside of
536
00:38:58.400 --> 00:39:04.239
the physical form, when we take
it into the like the sense of masculine
537
00:39:04.320 --> 00:39:10.719
versus versus more feminine, the healer
or archetype is more of a feminine archetype,
538
00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:15.559
you could argue. And I think
with that it is one that tends
539
00:39:15.599 --> 00:39:21.880
to cause the healer is the last
person to get healed. And I definitely
540
00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:24.760
think that. You know, I
know a lot of people, a lot
541
00:39:24.760 --> 00:39:30.679
of women who are just so humbled
by trying to take care of everybody else.
542
00:39:31.239 --> 00:39:36.800
Yes, and it's a friend of
mine refers to it as the big
543
00:39:36.840 --> 00:39:40.000
little one. They were always the
more adult one in the system even when
544
00:39:40.039 --> 00:39:44.800
they were a kid, and they
never learned how to be taken care of.
545
00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:47.280
I have, Well, my wife
is a nurse and she's the worst
546
00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:53.679
person when she's sick. Oh,
I just got access to something for myself
547
00:39:53.679 --> 00:39:58.679
for that. I am the oldest
of four and I just came back from
548
00:39:58.880 --> 00:40:02.519
bearing my mother. She was cremated, and it didn't even occur to me
549
00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:06.199
not to take the helm of all
that and just run with it. And
550
00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:08.800
so you just gave me something.
Thank you, Nick, So welcome.
551
00:40:08.880 --> 00:40:15.159
I mean I think that the you
know, we see purpose and we see
552
00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:17.320
it as something that we can go
change the world with. But I truly
553
00:40:17.360 --> 00:40:22.280
believe that the world that has to
be changed versus the one that's inside us.
554
00:40:23.079 --> 00:40:28.280
And when we healed ourselves, we
heal other people without actually having to
555
00:40:28.320 --> 00:40:32.360
heal them. So then we have
to put all this effort into it.
556
00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:36.800
We have to make all this noise
and all this it has to be such
557
00:40:36.840 --> 00:40:39.000
a big show, and then we
feel exhausted at the end of it.
558
00:40:39.079 --> 00:40:42.920
I'm like, okay, well,
you know that's not very saying. It's
559
00:40:42.960 --> 00:40:45.159
sustainable. If we look at the
planet and we look at climate change,
560
00:40:45.159 --> 00:40:52.039
and we look at everything at some
level its essence. It's our own inability
561
00:40:52.159 --> 00:40:55.400
to honor ourselves that causes us not
to honor this planet that we sit on.
562
00:40:57.559 --> 00:41:02.519
So it's I've had evening sessions with
people where we really go and look
563
00:41:02.559 --> 00:41:06.079
at where are we leading from our
purpose and where are we not in our
564
00:41:06.119 --> 00:41:09.320
life and ourselves. And I have
gotten more grown men who've never cried in
565
00:41:09.320 --> 00:41:14.880
their life to be in tears as
they finally look at the consequence of the
566
00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:19.559
not having taken care of themselves in
the ways that they need to. Oh
567
00:41:19.599 --> 00:41:22.519
my gosh, how beautiful, Nick, that you can do work in a
568
00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:25.199
way that gives men access to something
like that. I always find it amazing.
569
00:41:25.239 --> 00:41:29.280
And I don't know why we're so
hard at society on men so that
570
00:41:29.320 --> 00:41:31.159
they feel like they can't cry.
But if you can get them to cry
571
00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:36.079
and get that access, Nick,
that's amazing work. I'm the magic of
572
00:41:36.159 --> 00:41:39.880
making people cry. I've gotten better
and I just I just talk right through
573
00:41:39.880 --> 00:41:43.119
it that you know, my mess, scare is running down my face and
574
00:41:43.159 --> 00:41:45.760
I might be sobbing a little bit, but I can get right through it.
575
00:41:45.239 --> 00:41:47.760
Well, I think here's the thing. I think a beautiful thing about
576
00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:52.480
Let's talk about crying for once second, you know, outside of being an
577
00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:54.679
actor or an actress, for the
rest of us, probably one of the
578
00:41:54.760 --> 00:42:01.360
few emotions that truly are impossible to
fake is when we cry. Yeah,
579
00:42:01.400 --> 00:42:07.079
and crying is usually because something really
touches us and it has such really impact,
580
00:42:07.559 --> 00:42:15.039
And I think that in some ways
a purpose is right there, okay,
581
00:42:15.159 --> 00:42:20.719
And so I just think that it's
when people end up crying around me,
582
00:42:20.840 --> 00:42:23.679
is I know that that's a sacred
place, and it's a place in
583
00:42:23.719 --> 00:42:28.559
which something authentic has shown up.
And for the person they always say to
584
00:42:28.599 --> 00:42:30.960
me, you know I never cry, I'm like, that's good. Then
585
00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:35.719
this must be really a good moment
because then let's go find out what's on
586
00:42:35.760 --> 00:42:37.360
the other side of that. You
know, Nick, I so appreciate the
587
00:42:37.360 --> 00:42:42.159
word to use their sacred. Yes. I just did a program on Friday
588
00:42:42.280 --> 00:42:45.639
with some women and all of us
of course shed tears, and it is
589
00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:49.280
it's sacred. It is a beautiful
thing to be able to get to live
590
00:42:49.599 --> 00:42:52.039
and be on that level with someone
and get access and open something with someone
591
00:42:52.119 --> 00:42:55.960
so they can be there for themselves, they can let those tears come down
592
00:42:57.000 --> 00:43:01.000
their face. Absolutely exactly. Well, we're getting close to the to the
593
00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:04.079
end of the show already, and
I wish I could have more time with
594
00:43:04.159 --> 00:43:06.440
you, because I love what you're
up to and how you go about it.
595
00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:07.559
But I have at least a couple
more questions I want to ask you.
596
00:43:07.679 --> 00:43:12.440
One. This is kind of a
burning question for me. You warn
597
00:43:12.559 --> 00:43:15.159
us somewhere in your book and forget
where to be careful to not let our
598
00:43:15.199 --> 00:43:19.639
strengths get in the way of our
purpose. What what do you mean by
599
00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:23.159
this? How would our strengths be
detrimental to our purpose? Yeah? I
600
00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:31.239
didn't particularly like this chapter, and
so you know, here's what I've discovered
601
00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:37.760
is, look at there's a lot
of narrative around, you know, focus
602
00:43:37.800 --> 00:43:42.559
on your strengths and so forth.
You know, Purpose is bigger than our
603
00:43:42.599 --> 00:43:49.639
strengths are, and in some sense
we will work use our strengths in spite
604
00:43:49.679 --> 00:43:52.119
of our purpose. And I think
that some sense, Purpose is going to
605
00:43:52.159 --> 00:43:55.840
have us go places that our strengths
might not have us go, and may
606
00:43:55.880 --> 00:44:00.159
have us work on things that for
the most part we don't even think as
607
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:04.960
a strength. But in some sense
a purpose doesn't care about that. I
608
00:44:04.960 --> 00:44:10.360
mean, I have certain strengths,
and you know, one of the stories
609
00:44:10.400 --> 00:44:15.719
I tell is about I raised two
girls, and I'm really great at being
610
00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:22.159
on stage and running around teaching all
this stuff, and being at home and
611
00:44:22.199 --> 00:44:25.800
being just slapping the kids around was
never a strength for me, right,
612
00:44:28.719 --> 00:44:30.280
And so I went and did all
my strengths. And the problem was is
613
00:44:30.320 --> 00:44:35.800
that then at some point the girls
we had one of those evenings in which
614
00:44:36.119 --> 00:44:38.960
everything went wrong and the girls are
yelling and screaming at me because I picked
615
00:44:39.000 --> 00:44:43.480
them up too early, and then
I'm yelling and screaming at them and everyone,
616
00:44:43.519 --> 00:44:45.239
and it's just so awful. And
the next day they say, you
617
00:44:45.280 --> 00:44:47.519
know, Dad, we don't want
to come. We don't want to spend
618
00:44:47.519 --> 00:44:52.000
any more time with you. Now
I'm divorced, so this is a slight
619
00:44:52.239 --> 00:44:54.719
dilemma here. I am teaching programs
on purpose and my two girls are like,
620
00:44:54.760 --> 00:44:58.840
Dad, we don't want to hang
out with you, right, And
621
00:44:59.119 --> 00:45:00.199
you know, in that moment,
and I realized, you know, if
622
00:45:00.199 --> 00:45:04.360
I was going to live my purpose, it wasn't about well my you know,
623
00:45:04.960 --> 00:45:07.480
focusing on my strengths wasn't going to
get me where I needed to go.
624
00:45:08.280 --> 00:45:10.639
Well, I think you say it
really beautifully in the book. If
625
00:45:10.679 --> 00:45:14.239
I'm sure I'll pusher this so you
can you can fix it for me.
626
00:45:14.320 --> 00:45:16.360
But you say that, really,
purpose is the foundation on which we can
627
00:45:16.400 --> 00:45:22.119
then use or work and add leverage
our purpose, our values something like that.
628
00:45:22.239 --> 00:45:28.400
Yes. Yeah, And in some
sense it's that place that you know,
629
00:45:28.599 --> 00:45:31.039
all these other things we can develop. The purpose is the one thing
630
00:45:31.079 --> 00:45:36.639
that is always there. Okay,
I love that. So I think this
631
00:45:36.679 --> 00:45:38.079
is probably be one of our last
questions here, Nick, And this one
632
00:45:38.119 --> 00:45:42.840
is very very very important too.
It's the mastery question. So, once
633
00:45:42.880 --> 00:45:45.480
we have found our purpose, how
do we continue to master it and live
634
00:45:45.559 --> 00:45:49.360
from it across all parts of our
lives. How do we make sure it
635
00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:54.679
doesn't go away? Yeah, and
so I think this is wait. The
636
00:45:54.800 --> 00:46:00.800
challenge about your living your purpose is
that you mostly when you're living in your
637
00:46:00.840 --> 00:46:07.320
purpose, you don't notice it.
It's only when you throw it when you
638
00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:12.239
were not and it starts to really
get to be awfully painful, that you
639
00:46:12.360 --> 00:46:15.559
realize that you're not and you step
back in. So it's a cycle.
640
00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:19.719
Now, when you know what your
purpose is is the cycle takes a lot
641
00:46:19.800 --> 00:46:23.280
less time, and you iterate through
it. And you know, I've had
642
00:46:23.320 --> 00:46:32.559
a number of executives that I've worked
with in leaders where helping them see where
643
00:46:32.559 --> 00:46:37.039
were they leading from purpose and where
were they not and how would they bring
644
00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:42.519
it into that situation was the biggest
transformation in their lives. And one of
645
00:46:42.559 --> 00:46:45.159
the stories I told in the book
was of a guy who was a senior
646
00:46:45.239 --> 00:46:49.760
who ran a business. It was
very successful. He was a high flyer
647
00:46:50.440 --> 00:46:52.000
and he was great at being in
front of a room or one on one,
648
00:46:52.039 --> 00:46:55.599
but when he was managing his team, he would answer the questions before
649
00:46:55.599 --> 00:47:00.440
anybody would even know what the question
was. Wow. And you know what
650
00:47:00.519 --> 00:47:05.480
he realized was that if he was
going to live his purpose, he really
651
00:47:05.519 --> 00:47:13.360
had to bite his tongue and allow
others to really give their gift. And
652
00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:16.400
it was a It was an incredible
insight for him to see how this patterns
653
00:47:16.440 --> 00:47:22.440
fills around the discipline and the rigor
required to learn this process of being this
654
00:47:22.920 --> 00:47:28.039
deeper, fuller, wiser part of
his his purpose. Said to him,
655
00:47:28.440 --> 00:47:35.239
that's great that you but if you
really want to master purpose, here's the
656
00:47:35.440 --> 00:47:38.960
here's the dark place you have to
go through. Wow. Wow, Let's
657
00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:43.760
do the hard stuff that we wouldn't
do otherwise, right, and that is
658
00:47:43.800 --> 00:47:45.760
a beautiful way for us to finish, Nick, I really want to thank
659
00:47:45.800 --> 00:47:49.960
you so much for taking time out
of your crazy, busy schedule to join
660
00:47:50.039 --> 00:47:52.440
us for this conversation. I was
so looking forward to sharing it with my
661
00:47:52.480 --> 00:47:55.679
listeners across the globe. So thank
you for being on Working on Purpose.
662
00:47:57.320 --> 00:48:00.639
Well, it was wonderful being on
this call with you. I just love
663
00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:06.639
your level of energy and what you
bring to this dialogue about purpose. So
664
00:48:06.679 --> 00:48:08.599
at least, thank you so much
for allowing me to participate with you on
665
00:48:08.639 --> 00:48:13.280
this journey. Thank you, Nick. It is a great journey, one
666
00:48:13.360 --> 00:48:15.920
well worth going after. So if
you want to learn more about Nick Craig,
667
00:48:16.039 --> 00:48:20.280
his book Leading from Purpose, or
the work Keenness Team are doing to
668
00:48:20.280 --> 00:48:22.800
help leaders discover and lead from their
purpose, visit their website. It's core
669
00:48:23.079 --> 00:48:29.119
leader dot com Again core leader dot
com. If you missed last week's show,
670
00:48:29.159 --> 00:48:30.599
you can alway catch up your recorded
podcast. We were on the air
671
00:48:30.639 --> 00:48:35.599
with Max Hanson of Why Scouts.
They are a recruiting firm that focuses on
672
00:48:35.679 --> 00:48:39.000
placing executives with purpose. Next week, we'll be on the air with ron
673
00:48:39.000 --> 00:48:44.000
A Zia about talking about her book
Your Hidden Light, A Personal Guide to
674
00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:46.360
creating your Desired Life. See you. Then remember that work at least one
675
00:48:46.400 --> 00:48:54.480
third of our life. So let's
work on purpose. We hope you've enjoyed
676
00:48:54.480 --> 00:48:59.920
this week's program. Be sure to
tune in to Working on Purpose, featuring
677
00:49:00.079 --> 00:49:05.440
your host Alis Cortes, each week
on the Voice America Empowerment Channel. This
678
00:49:05.599 --> 00:49:07.519
week, find your life's purpose at
work.





















































