Becoming IronAdam

Ok, so here I am, sitting in my cabin in Lake Arrowhead on the 2nd night of the closing residential, reflecting on my life. Tonight, it came up in class that I have a blog. I started thinking about what I set out to do in this blog, which was to search for meaning in life. To understand purpose and figure out what truly I should do…

This weekend is all about purpose, life, and why we went to school to get these MBAs. Now that we’re done with the degree, what will we do with it? It’s funny that we’re reflecting on this now AFTER we got the degree. Of course, this economy doesn’t help.

So I ruminate. What is my purpose? I can repeat my challenge in life that I may have mentioned six times today, twice to the entire class: what is ENOUGH? If you’re at a comfortable salary level, then what is the point of promotion? What is the point of more money? What is the point of working more hours? When you’re sitting on your death bed, many years from now (did that trigger braveheart anyone), then will you look back at getting promotions, running a company, or making more money as the things that defined who you are? I think several years ago, I would of answered yes. Today this is a resounding no.

I know that in my life, I will die happy if 1) I loved with my entire heart everything and everyone that was meaningful in my life 2) I grew old with a woman that I would do anything for and we continued to love each other through ups and downs  and 3) I positively impacted others to be better people in their lives (can be kids, friends, students, etc…)

I asked Matt and Rishi what they thought about happiness on their death bed (yes, a very deep conversation one night in our cabin), and they felt this came down to leaving a legacy. Legacy could be different for everyone, but it meant leaving something behind, from your name, to teaching kids to be better, to having kids that you did your best job parenting.

Knowing this, I believe that purpose relates to doing what will make me happy in life. And based on what I mentioned above, I know the things that will get me there. So if I start living for this, how does this impact my work? What happens if priorities shift and those things become the most important things in my life?

I guess we’ll find out…