What's Your Why?

 "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." - Robert Byrne

Here at Jeem we aim to inspire peace, purpose and productivity. The three are exquisitely connected but pose a bit of a chicken and egg dilemma: which one to focus on first?

We strongly feel that taking a step back to focus on purpose is the key to peace and productivity.

Daniel Pink, in his magnificent 'Drive', pitches purpose, autonomy and mastery as the keys to productivity. He describes purpose as the "yearning to do what we do in the service of something larger than ourselves".

I first stumbled across the notion of purpose somewhat unknowingly as a child through the notion of niyyat or intention. At Sunday school we were encouraged to make an intention before any religious devotional act like salat.

I must admit to not really revisiting my understanding and application of niyyat and intentionality for quite some time thereafter. It was only while reading Simon Sinek's 'Start with Why' on a leadership course several years ago that I started to join some dots.

Sinek captures it perfectly with his concentric circles of meaning:

Many of us know WHAT to do. Fewer know HOW to do it. Very few of us know WHY.

The magic lies in the WHY.

Regularly revisiting our personal WHY re-invigorates and has the power to make the mundane meaningful. Adding intention to anything and everything potentially converts it into devotion and worship. A sense of purpose becomes the building block, the cornerstone, the foundation of all subsequent actions.

The magic formula:

Intention = WHAT + HOW + WHY

Let's pledge to revisit our purpose and lead a life with meaning.