The Peace Index

CHAPTER TWOPurpose: The Reason You Get out of Bed

As I was writing this chapter, I paused for a few hours for some regularly scheduled coaching sessions. The topic for this specific executive was her lack of Purpose. I couldn't believe it. It was perfect timing as I had been researching Purpose for weeks.

My client has worked as a sales executive for the past 17 years but feels trapped in her current role. She is friends with her company's founder but believes that her skills are much higher than her position. The problem is that she has spent her years helping this entrepreneur fulfill his dreams but doesn't have a vision for herself. She has lost her passion and can't see the vision for her life. Her current dream feels more like a nightmare at times, and she knows she can't continue to fake it.

She aligned her job title and position so close to her Purpose that her identity would be negatively affected if she were to leave. Therefore, she thinks she will lose momentum if she chooses a better Peace. I showed her that she had already lost the internal momentum—her Purpose.

This identity issue happens frequently. I have coached executives in globally respected businesses who have worked over 20 years in the company and realized that their Purpose became grafted into the company.

I have seen this happen within strong company cultures as well as those who have strong loyalties to the founders. I have met with several owner–operators of the successful Chick‐fil‐A organization ...