Did you know you have two incredibly powerful forces within you? The first is your mind. It’s the greatest super-computer there is, and it’s in your head telling you what you need to do, how you need to do it and in what order every single moment of every single day!
Your mind cares about one thing above all else: performance, your performance (the first “P”) which is why it’s always pushing you to work harder, reach higher, and always do more, right? That’s why you often feel so pressured against time…
You know you have a “performance” mindset when you’re constantly setting goals and when you reach them you set new ones; or when you’re always looking for ways to be more efficient to increase your daily productivity; or when you’re using the time you save to add more things to your weekly task list…
In the performance-driven world we live in, this mindset makes total sense not least because your performance earns you money to pay your bills. The greater it is, the more you can expect to earn, the more you can provide for yourself and your family. “Performance” is about what you do and how well you do it.
The second incredibly powerful force within you is your heart. Not only is it the “engine” of your body, giving you the gift of life, it’s also the window to who you are. It’s here you’ll find the answers to what matters most to you and what you stand for … it’s also where you’ll find identity and purpose, your purpose (the second “P”).
You know you have a “purpose” mindset when you are clear about who you are, why you do what you do, and more generally, why you matter. Surprisingly, most of us don’t possess this clarity … if I asked you, what are your three core values? Your three deepest aspirations? Your vision of happiness, for instance? Could you answer me…? Purpose is about who you are and why you do what you do.
Between “performance” and “purpose” mindsets, there’s often a big imbalance in each of us, and no guesses as to which one dominates … so if you focus exclusively on performance, you’ll achieve all right, but your successes may not live up to your expectations; they could even feel a little hollow inside. No purpose. On the other hand, if you’re all about purpose, you may have great self-awareness and even greater ideas, but if you’re not expressing them, not achieving by them, you might also feel frustrated. No performance.
The logical solution to any imbalance is re-balance, right? But that implies a compromise or trade-off, when what we really want is to merge performance with purpose, to unlock and unleash the third “P”, potential, your potential…
As an individual, it’s about being a first-rate version of yourself, constantly looking for ways to express who you truly are in everything you do. As a team, it’s about individual team members being empowered to express their talents, and consciously helping other members express theirs. As an organisation, it’s about a culture of individual and collective excellence, where the product or service delivered is a consequence of living a shared purpose.
The “Rule of the 3Ps”, as I call it, is simple: succeed in aligning what you do (performance) with who you are and why you matter (purpose), and you will take your life to the next level (potential), where success and well-being coexist regardless of your job, wealth, status, gender, religion, or anything that might convince you otherwise.