Understanding Your Purpose

"He who has a why to live can bear almost any how."
- Friedrich Nietzcshe

A recent USA today poll revealed that 53% of American workers are not happy with their jobs. It is amazing to think that over half of the workforce in the United States does not enjoy going to work. Our jobs require that we spend more time performing our jobs than any other activity that we engage in when we are awake. There are a variety of reasons why a person may not be happy with their job. The main reason that people are not satisfied with their jobs is not related to money, time, responsibilities, coworkers or supervision. It is related to a lack of an understanding of their purpose in life. You see, most people are working in jobs that do not fulfill their purpose in life. If you understand your purpose in life and can work in a field that supports that purpose, the issues related to money, time, responsibilities, coworkers and/or supervision become unimportant. Why? Because you work fulfills your purpose. When one understands his/her purpose and works and lives in a manner to fulfill that purpose, he or she finds happiness and success.

My father understands his purpose in life and lives his purpose. I consider my father a simple, but successful man. He lives a simplistic life and has never sought out an elegant or stylish lifestyle. He does not possess material wealth and never has. He has a high school education. He owns one suit. He doesn’t travel outside of Michigan. He has never been on an airplane. He prefers casual dining over fine dining.

Yet, my father is a successful man. He understands his purpose in life. He has been a coach/athletic director for 52 years. During those years, he has coached and mentored thousands of children and adults. He can’t go anywhere in Jackson without a player, former player, parent or community member greeting him and thanking him for the positive impact he has had on youth and the sports community. My father is a well respected man. I have heard from people time and time again that my father is a great person as well as a great coach.

My father success is rooted in his understanding of his purpose. His purpose in life emerged from a tragic event that occurred when he was 6-months old; his father was killed in a train accident. Having grown up without a father, my father always yearned to forge a father/son relationship. Life dictating otherwise, my father was determined to be the best father that he could be, not only to his own children, but to several children. At the age of 18, he began his coaching career. At the age of 70, he is still coaching and serving as an athletic director. A coach has a unique opportunity to be a father figure to his players. Coach Dillon has been a father figure to many. He has spent nights in hospital rooms with injured players, attending court proceeding with players/former players, counseled players, stood in for fathers, who were either unable to or refused to attend the sporting/school/social events of their children. He has attended far more milestone events of players and former players than one could ever imagine. .

My father has many great virtues, but perhaps his best is humility. You see, it has never been about him; it has always been about kids. A reporter once asked me, why I thought my dad was so successful. I replied, “It’s a simple equation, he loves kids plus he loves sports.” If a reporter were to ask me that question today, I would reply, “He is living his purpose.” Awhile later, I was asked, “What was it like growing up with a dad who was as a coach and father figure to so many kids?” I replied, “I really didn’t mind. I’ve been the fortunate one. They only get him for a couple of hours a night. I got him for a lifetime.”

This weekend, find a quiet place and begin some serious introspection concerning your purpose in life. Once you understand you purpose, and begin living your life according to that purpose, happiness and success will naturally follow.

By the way Dad, thanks for another of the many lessons in life you have taught me

Have an AWESOME Weekend.
It's your life; live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD