The ‘Why’ Elevates My Life!
I have just recently been exposed to a brilliant author, Simon Sinek. I listened to his TED Talk (a great 15 minute investment). I sent for all three of his books, and I am in the middle of his second one.
The premise that has been most valuable to me (so far) is that he feels most people, businesses and charities that have achieved great success emphasize the why over the what and the how. Of course, the what and the how are a lot easier than the why, but the message I received from it was that if you properly understand and express your why, people who feel similarly will buy from you or donate to you willingly, regularly and for a very long time.
What do we do? That’s easy! With God’s help, our generous donors send thousands of containers of food, medicines and other necessary goods to the 17 countries we serve (and occasionally to others). They build sturdy homes, dig wells and purify water. They provide education and healing. They fund many projects of self-sustainability.
How do we do it? That’s easy enough to express (though more difficult to accomplish). Through the expert use of stories and experiences we encounter in the field, more than 10 departments appeal to the generosity of American donors (and sometimes foreign) to provide the funds and the goods that help us to fulfill our mission of easing the extreme poverty we encounter in our countries of the Caribbean and Latin America.
The why is a lot more difficult. I answered the what and the how from the top of my head in a few minutes, but I have been thinking about the why for almost a week. Here’s my why:
I work at Food for the Poor, because I love the poor enough! Enough to make every effort in taking away their almost constant suffering… enough to want to eliminate the shame that they feel for being poor… enough to be cognizant that they are human beings just like you and I are, who love and want the best for their children… enough to recognize that there is a significant element of injustice in their chronic and acute suffering… enough to celebrate their generosity to each other and their faith… enough to appreciate, nurture and cherish those who work alongside me in order to realize the same goals… enough to want to devote the rest of my life to their betterment, which in turn elevates the purpose and quality of my own life.
That’s my why. What is yours?
