Your WHY - the dreaded “what’s your purpose?” question. It feels so…BIG. What if I get it wrong? What if I can’t figure it out - is there something wrong with me? What if it changes? Then is it not really my why? Why does it seem so easy for some people?We’re in the job of social impact - and the hardest part about impact is there is no one size fits all. No “Do these 17 things and you will know you are making the most possible impact in the world.” You can’t google the answer. The key to a successful social impact strategy? It starts with YOU.And you know what? That’s also the good news! You don’t need to do a bunch of research. You just have to do a little self reflection. Now, there is no right or wrong way to do this - however you choose to identify your purpose is the right way. Whether it’s broad or really specific, that’s up to you.And if you’re feeling stuck, here’s a suggestion for one potential way. I’ll share how I came up with mine - then I’ll walk you through the steps to do this yourself.Let me tell you about my journey from Numbers to Humans.- I started my career as a CPA. This was what I was “supposed to do.” I was good at it, it would provide a stable career path, my parents could easily explain what I did. All good. But I hated it. I am a Highly Sensitive Person, and that environment was NOT for me. An environment full of fear, perfectionism, and a desire for profit above all else. My big heart couldn’t take it.
- So I decided to go work as an accountant for mission-driven companies. Because I was good at accounting, I just needed to use those skills to do good in the world. Or so I thought. I quickly found that the impact and mission part of those organizations lived with one person or one team, and big surprise - it wasn’t the accounting team. I still didn’t feel connected to the impact, and I really struggled.
- So then I decided to get my MBA. At first, I thought I’d pivot to finance, where I could have a hand in the strategy part of those mission-driven organizations, and help them make decisions about how to make an impact. I happened to be in my first finance class the night of the 2016 election. I remember watching the results come in, watching the seemingly impossible happen. I was rattled, scared, in shock. Then I looked around. No one cared. They were engrossed in some spreadsheet or something (I honestly don’t remember). I just remember feeling very alone. And it occurred to me that I would never feel like I belong with those people. My big heart still felt like an outsider. I never took another finance class again.
- That’s when I discovered the Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship program. And I learned about B Corp certification. The big AHA - when I realized I could use my skills in business and finance to do good in the world. My heart was happy! And I’ve been doing social impact consulting ever since.
- Then came my last stop on my journey to Humans - I was using numbers a lot in my work, but what I was really passionate about was humans. So I decided to become an Integral Coach, so I could coach social impact leaders to find their own purpose, their own why, and use that to guide how they want to make an impact in the world.
So how does that lead me to my own WHY? I’ve realized there is one VERY RED thread throughout my journey - and that thread is love. I have felt the pain that comes from working in an environment where workers are seen as just that, and not the humans that they really are. And I have felt the great healing that comes from being seen for your whole self in a work environment. So my WHY? My personal mission is to bring more love into the corporate world.I do this in all of my work - consulting, coaching, teaching, facilitating. And I have a special focus on numbers - I use numbers to impact humans and I bring more humanity to numbers. My story has informed my purpose.Your turn. Your story is one of the most impactful ways you can determine your why. No googling required. So why not try it? Grab a journal, light a candle, and set aside 20 minutes or so for the following exercise. Set a timer and don’t overthink it!- 5 min: Write out your story - pick 5 key points (this can have a professional focus or a more personal focus, or both!). As a guide, try dividing your age by 5, and pick a key event or milestone in each of the five segments of your life.
- 3 min: For each event/milestone - write a word, draw a picture, grab a prop or use a color to represent that point for you. Get creative!
- 2 min: Now, take a look and see if you notice any patterns. What themes emerge? Take a couple minutes to jot those down.
- 1 min: That’s right - 1 minute! Constraints can foster creativity. :) Write a phrase to represent your WHY. What has guided you throughout your journey?
- You did it! You have your WHY. Now put it on a post-it somewhere where you can see it. Write it down every day in your journal. Sit with it and see what emerges. It will likely change (and that’s ok!) See what happens. What happens when you use your WHY to guide your decision making?
We host workshops for organizations committed to helping employees discover their why. If you're an individual struggling with this question, I offer Integral Leadership Coaching for individuals! Reach out to learn more.
We’d love to hear more about your WHY and talk about ways you can operationalize that in your work. Reach out to hello@theimpactcollectivepdx.com and let us know how it went! 
