Shift From To Do Toward To Be: Make Sure Your Actions Carry Purpose
Busy is just a four-letter word if it doesn’t carry a purpose for you.
During Women’s History Month when the world looks on women leaders, innovators, inventors, creatives and activists who have changed the world --or just a corner of it-- yesterday and today, it makes sense to examine the mission behind the busyness.
There is a different approach to the mythical work life balance syndrome women—and men—but it is mostly women—are mandated to achieve, which often centers on the 20 or more things on a daily to do list of tasks.
Because historically and globally, in so many arenas, women’s worth is attached to the completed boxes of those lifelong to-do lists. But there needs to be purpose assigned to action.
“Historically and globally, in so many arenas, women’s worth is attached to the completed boxes of those lifelong to-do lists. #WomensHistoryMonth @takeleadwomen”
The world knows and rightfully respects the historic figures of Ida B. Wells, Dolores Huerta, Malala Yousef, Sally Ride, Toni Morrison, Michelle Obama, Gloria Steinem, Eleanor Roosevelt and more who have accomplished so much and contributed to real change.
And also there are those whose names we do not know perhaps, but who are in our lives everyday. Lydia Newman, the Black woman who invented the hairbrush in 1898. Ellen Ochoa, the first Latina in space. Anne Bradstreet, America's first published poet in the mid-17th century.
Read more in Take The Lead on the power of purpose
All of them accomplished a great deal, and each one of them built those activities around larger purpose and mission—from racial freedom to gender equality and a more fair and peaceful world for workers and individuals of all identities.
“Making your unknown known is the important thing — and keeping the unknown always beyond you,” wrote Georgia O’Keeffe, the early 20th century artist who painted and sculpted for more than 70 years and was one of the most famous female artists in history.
“Making your unknown known is the important thing — and keeping the unknown always beyond you,” wrote @GeorgiaOKeeffe, 1 of most famous female artists in history. #WomenshistoryMonth #leadership”
Articulating that unknown into a tangible goal of your path as a leader, individual, entrepreneur or creative, can shift daily action into worthwhile pursuits.
Read more in Take The Lead on purpose as a goal
Gloria Feldt, co-founder and president of Take The Lead said in an earlier Women’s History Month, that the mission of Take The Lead and its 9 Leadership Power Tools is to “challenge women to take the next step: to embrace higher levels of intention in order to achieve gender parity in the next five years, for their own good and the good of the world—and forever. I claim and use the word intentioning to turn intention into an action verb. Because even with big vision and lots of courage, it’s all a pipe dream if you don’t take action.”
Without judging or comparing yourselves to anyone, in order to be the people you intend to be in your work and to stay healthy and full, with generous missions in life, there has to be a shift from just doing to being.
Read more in Take The Lead on the power of purpose
To focus on gaining more knowledge and experience in order to give more to the world, the answer is to consider the efficacy of viewing your life not as a succession of never-ending, to do lists. But to shift thinking to creating and fulfilling a to be list. Yes, there is much to do. And there needs to be a purpose to what you say yes to and what you say no to and why.
“Shift to creating and fulfilling a to be list. There needs to be a purpose to what you say yes to and what you say no to and why. #purpose #leadership #intentional #growth ”
Lynn Johnston, a top literary agent said in a webinar recently, “The difference between I have to do something and I want to do something, is the latter will carry you through and not burn you out.”
Read more in Take The Lead on the power to change the narrative
To honor who you are, it is essential to concentrate on what and who you intend to become. Create your own to be strategy. That your goal is to be a good person, productive and effective colleague, competent team leader. Also a kind parent, daughter, son, sibling, friend. And that what you do in every part of life matters. Make a to be goal. Not at the expense of anyone, including yourself.
Feldt says, “To me the alignment and the integrity between purpose and values stated, and purpose and values acted on, is probably the main thing. It will always come home to roost if your company is not living those values.”
Read more in Take The Lead on purpose
We are living and working at a time, when unlike any other age, there are four generations in the workplace. You are standing and working alongside everyday, people new to the workplace, or new to this field of concentration, then there are those who have been working up to 10 years; then the generation who has been working and growing for 20 years, and the generation, who are looking to bring others up to succeed us.
“We are living and working at a time, when unlike any other age, there are four #generations in the #workplace. #leadership #purpose #generosity ”
And for so many women, there are four generations of gender pay gap experience.
Women of all generations collectively earn just 84 cents for every dollar a man makes. Women of color are among the lowest-paid workers in rural areas, with rural Black and Hispanic women making just 56 cents for every dollar that rural white, non-Hispanic men make. Latinas are compensated just 55% of what non-Hispanic white men are paid in 2024.
Black women are paid 64% of what non-Hispanic white men are paid. Native American women are typically paid only 59 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men. A 20-year-old woman just starting full-time, year-round work stands to lose $407,760 over a 40-year career compared to her male counterpart.
Listen to Take The Lead podcast on purpose
The goal is fair pay across all identities. Working towards that and through that requires focus and purpose.
Speaking at a recent panel on women leaders leading with impact and purpose, Susan Noyes, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of the Make It Better Foundation, said, “We grow the most when times are really tough. It’s easier to find your purpose in response to that.”
“Founder, Chief Visionary Officer @MakeItBetter Foundation @SusanNoyes said, “We grow the most when times are really tough. It’s easier to find your #purpose in response to that.” #leadership #future ”
In these difficult economic and cultural times, what is necessary is a workplace culture that focuses on individuals’ and organizational purpose.
According to Harvard Business Review, “We call it ‘pivot with purpose’: the capacity to constantly and courageously remain anchored in your values while adjusting to meet new realities.”
Read more in Take The Lead on research on purpose
At Cornell University, The Purpose Science and Innovation Exchange “unites the rigorous study and lived experience of purpose to forge pathways to discovery and knowledge sharing.”
Years of research show across generations, identities and gender that attaching purpose to life changes health outcomes and behaviors.
In their new book, “Purpose in Life as Ancient but Nascent,” PSiX Director Anthony Burrow and PSiX Lab of Labs Director Patrick Hill show that “purpose is a central, self-organizing life aim which influences one’s goals, behaviors, and sense of meaning. Studies show that purpose can positively impact one’s health, wellbeing and personal development.”
“Years of research @PSix @CornellU show across generations, identities and gender that attaching #purpose to life changes health outcomes and behaviors. #leadership #growth @takeleadwomen”
”Research suggests that purpose is tied to having better health, longevity, and even economic success. It feels good to have a sense of purpose, knowing that you are using your skills to help others in a way that matters to you,” according to Greater Good Magazine at the UC-Berkeley.
“Certainly for anyone in leadership — and by my definition, that’s everyone in any role — identifying, articulating, and staying true to your purpose are essential to long term success,” Feldt writes.
Read more in Take The Lead from Gloria Feldt on purpose
Aristotle had a philosophy called Entelechy. It is a way of thinking that because of the attributes you recognize within yourself and intend to fulfill, you already have within you the ability to achieve it.
“@Aristotle had a philosophy called #Entelechy; a way of thinking that because of the attributes you recognize within yourself, you already have within you the ability to achieve it. #future #purpose #goals ”
It is not simply potential, it is a conviction that you already are on the way to be what you say you will be. Just as every acorn can become an oak tree, every person can become what they know they have within them.
That you can become whom you intend to be.
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