PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

Employee Resource Groups (ERG) have been around for many years, fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with organizational mission, values, goals, business practices, and objectives. A noble purpose indeed. However, their impact is often questioned, and many organizations find it difficult to justify the time and funding necessary to ensure success.

I get asked this question a lot - so I thought I would share my thoughts. I can only speak to my personal experiences but am confident that this applies to ALL parents and guardians.

I remember feeling overwhelmed as a young teenager standing on the grounds of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. I had chills all over my body and a stirring deep in my belly knowing that the life of one of my heroes was tragically taken just steps away from where I stood. Having the chance each year to set aside a day to reflect on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and his leadership is such a gift. When I think back to that moment, of the powerful experience I had as a young woman at that site, as well as what Dr. King was advocating for that day he was killed, something essential about purpose becomes so clear to me: our purposes will take us to different places, sometimes places beyond what we could have imagined. We have to trust it.

Growing up, my mom used to always say, “You should never be bored because you should always have a party inside yourself.”

At the beginning of each new year, I choose one word and allow it to be my guide for the whole year. It makes more sense for me to focus on an intention and integrate it into my life in different ways, rather than making a laundry list of resolutions that I know I won’t be able to keep! This method has really helped me make Purpose part of my daily life.

So you’re really fired up about something. You feel like you’re finally living out your purpose, at least some days, in some ways. That’s so great! You want to welcome your friends, family, coworkers, and even the stranger behind you in line at the coffee shop into your purpose, but where do you start? How can you get someone to care about something that feels SO important to you?

A Purposeful Hustler can do and be a lot of things. There is not one specific type of person who can work hard to make positive change in the world. The fact that we’re so different means we have such a variety of gifts to offer to make the world better. BUT, I have observed that there are some characteristics that most Purposeful Hustlers have in common.

Our purpose doesn’t always show up for us at the most convenient times. But then again, with how busy we are, when would be a convenient time? Do we ever really have time to drop everything and spend all of our time doing directly purpose-related work? For many of us, the answer is no. Those moments of vibrancy, instances of inspiration when we feel pulled into purpose-related work often come in the midst of the chaos of our lives.

There are events that wreck us, things that break us down in ways we weren’t prepared for, that make it hard to show up in the world the same way the next day. I’m sure we all can recall at least one such event pretty quickly. In moments like these, our purpose comes into question, and the thought of hustling may seem unbearable. When tragedy really hits home, it can leave us feeling absolutely powerless.

Tomorrow is election day. And no matter how stressful and exhausting the current state of politics may feel, we as Purposeful Hustlers know that it’s so important to vote. And in true Purposeful Hustler fashion, we know that it’s not only important to just vote, but it’s important that we vote with purpose. Taking action is central to who we are. We know that apathy is not an option for someone sincerely pursuing their purpose.