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The sixth distinction:
Self-fulfilling, challenging work
Because of their intrinsic
need for a strong sense of life purpose (SQ), their natural ability to relate to
others, productively (EQ), and their inherent capacity to keep themselves
physically fit (PQ), high achievers of the calibre we allude to here, would
settle for nothing less than a job that fully met all their spiritual,
emotional, physical & intellectual needs.
The essence of self-fulfilling work
The essence of
self-fulfilling work is that it is driven by an inner calling rather than a need
for a job in order to pay the bills, or a career in order to make a name for
one’s self and become a famous person.
An inner calling defined
The high achievers we refer
to here have without exception, either felt, at the core of their being, an
inner calling at a very early stage of their lives, or arrived at it consciously
through much soul searching and self examination. But either way, all truly high
achievers are finely tuned to and perpetually aligned with their deeper inner
calling.
In other words they ensure
that the work they do taps into and is driven by their core values, the source
code to their formulae for achievement.
How do they do this?
Firstly, by never agreeing
to take on any work, support any cause, or be party to any action which fails to
serve all their core values. That is a tough call in today’s fast moving, cost
obsessed, materialistic society but nevertheless, one that only individuals of
very high integrity would be morally equipped to uphold.
Secondly, by developing a
clearly defined hierarchy of their life goals in the form of a structured
framework of headings – for example:
o
Values –
the standards I commit myself to uphold
o
Mission
– the underlying purpose of my life – why am I here?
o
Goals –
my broad aims in measurable terms
o
Objectives – specific targets I need to meet – in measurable terms
o
Plans –
precisely how I will achieve the above, with clear deadlines
o
Future –
my long term aims for the rest of my life
Each of the above would in
turn cascade into measurable
standards of performance and form the framework of their accountabilities.
They work at Maslow’s 5th level
In terms of their work, exceptionally high achievers operate at the fifth level
of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – “self
actualisation”; the drive to continuously realize their own full potential,
through the combined effort of both themselves & the people they lead -
individuals & entire teams.
(Click here to get back to the
profile of a high achiever)
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