Why Knowing Your Purpose Matters More Than Having All The Answers

Fifteen years ago, I received an email from Guy Kawasaki that created a problem I hadn’t anticipated.

Guy was launching his new book “Enchantment” and said if I was interested in recording a podcast with him that he’d be happy to do it. Now being able to have a one-on-one conversation with a successful leader and entrepreneur like Guy was an opportunity I wouldn’t want to pass on.

But there was just one problem … I didn’t have a podcast.

So I spent that weekend trying to come up with an idea of what my podcast would be about, not to mention what I’d call it. To be sure, at this point, I wasn’t really thinking about who my next podcast guest could be, how long I’d keep at it, or even if anyone other than my current blog readers would be interested in listening to it.

But what did drive me was the purpose that has been guiding my work these 15-plus years – of sharing insights on how leaders can improve their craft to successfully guide their employees and teams.

The fact that this new initiative was tied to my own sense of purpose made it easy for me to take that first step even if I had no idea of where this journey might take me.

But what a journey it has been so far. Thanks to taking that first step all those years ago, I have since been able to sit down for one-on-one conversations with leadership luminaries I never imagined I’d have the chance to sit down with. People like Marshall Goldsmith, Tom Peters, Stephen M.R. Covey, and Robin Sharma.

This podcast also helped to elevate my profile as a leadership expert in ways I hadn’t imagined, with Inc. Magazine recognizing me as one of their Top 100 Leadership Experts and Top 100 Leadership Speakers, not to mention expanding the reach of my award-winning leadership blog far beyond what I could have achieved on my own.

And now looking back on this successful journey, I can appreciate how it’s taught me three important leadership lessons about what it really takes to start new initiatives, navigate uncertainty, and build something enduring even when you can’t see the path ahead.

So for this milestone 200th episode of Leadership Biz Cafe, I’ve decided to share the story of how this podcast got started and what those 15 years revealed about leading through uncertainty with purpose as your compass.

I hope my story and its leadership lessons will inspire you to appreciate how you can successfully lead your team, even during periods of uncertainty and when the path ahead is unknown.