Five Steps to Discover Your Life Word and Purpose
Eager to live a life that really matters instead of just making it through each day? Authors Dan Britton, Jimmy Page, and Jon Gordon say that living an inspired life of purpose, passion, and power comes down to just one small word that carries tremendous possibility.
As the dawn of a new year approaches, you’re most likely busy thinking about all the things you would like to change right now to create a better life for yourself. What you may not be thinking about is your legacy—the impact you will leave on others after you die. Yes, Jon Gordon, Dan Britton, and Jimmy Page say getting clear on your legacy—clear enough that you can summarize it in a single word—is the key to crafting an amazing life.
“It’s so easy to get caught up in the responsibility, stress, and busyness of life,” says Gordon, coauthor along with Britton and Page of Life Word: Discover Your One Word to Leave a Legacy (Wiley, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-119-35145-0, $20.00, www.getoneword.com/lifeword) as well as One Word That Will Change Your Life, Expanded Edition (Wiley, 2013, 978-1-118-80942-6, $20.00, www.getoneword.com). “Over time we lose focus on what’s possible and what we are passionate about. If we’re not careful, we can end up living our whole lives this way.”
“As counterintuitive as it sounds, thinking about your funeral actually helps you understand your trajectory and how it relates to the present,” says Britton. “Asking yourself, What do I want to be remembered for? is a tremendous motivator in honing your purpose. It’s not at all about worrying about the end. It’s about living in the moment with the end in mind.”
The authors also point out that your legacy really isn’t about you.
“It’s about the impact you make on the people around you—the way you touch their lives,” adds Page. “Your legacy is what people will remember.”
But how do you figure out and actually live your legacy? By thinking about and choosing your Life Word, answers Britton. He explains that your Life Word is the word that defines you and drives you to be your best and create the journey you’ve dared to dream of. It helps you maintain long-term focus on your goals, stay on track, and live regret-free.
“The real strength of your Life Word lies in the powerful transformation that takes place not only in you, but through you,” asserts Gordon. “Sure, living by your Life Word certainly benefits you, but it also has the potential to change the world, thanks to the excellence and goodness it will help you achieve and share with others.”
The authors explain that Life Word expands on principles laid out in their earlier book, One Word That Will Change Your Life. While choosing your One Word each year creates short-term focus that leads to long-term impact, your Life Word ultimately helps you shape your legacy over the course of a lifetime. Together these companion books help you bring dramatic transformation to your life.
Ready to discover your Life Word and begin the life you were meant to live? Read on to start building a meaningful legacy in 2017.
Discover your inner superhero. Understanding and harnessing your power is the first step to discovering your Life Word—and your “superpower” doesn’t need to be supernatural to be significant. Everyone is born with unique gifts, strengths, and natural abilities that they can use to serve others, explains Page. What is your superpower? Maybe you’re a brilliant organizer or a gifted communicator. Or perhaps you naturally see the big picture or can find the good in any situation.
“To uncover your natural gifts and strengths, you need to answer four questions,” instructs Britton. “What do I naturally excel at? What unique characteristics describe how I am naturally wired? What strengths have I developed over time? What gives me joy when I do it? Let the answers inform you as you choose your Life Word.”
“Whether you’re naturally born with a gift, or you develop strengths through years of practice, your power is an indication of where you should focus your attention,” adds Gordon. “As you continue to gain clarity, think about how you can use these talents and abilities to serve others.”
Figure out what you’re here for already! “Nothing in life is accidental, and you are no exception,” insists Page. “Still, we don’t always immediately understand our purpose. Remember, it’s the small things in life that lead to your purpose and legacy. So don’t think that living an ordinary life means you’ve fallen short. On the contrary! You have a calling, and you are uniquely equipped to answer it.”
To discover your purpose, ask yourself these revealing questions: What does the world need? What am I made to do to help fill this need? What can I do to make a difference and leave a positive mark? What breaks my heart? What’s at risk if I don’t do what I am called to do? The insights you discover will give you direction and meaning as you further explore your calling and your cause.
Make a passion play. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out what you are passionate about. Just take a look at your life! Passion is what drives you, and it is reflected in how you spend your time, your energy, and your money. Discover your passion and you will understand exactly where your motivation lies—keep this in mind as you ponder your Life Word.
Ask yourself these three questions to further identify your passion: Where do I invest most of my time, energy, and money? What matters to me deeply? What energizes me to take action and motivates me to make a difference?
“When you’re living in alignment with your passion, your efforts are satisfying and sustainable—because your heart is in everything that you do,” asserts Gordon. “This is why it’s so important to pay attention to your dreams instead of tuning them out. That’s your intuition guiding you toward all that you deeply care about.”
Locate your Life Word at the intersection of your Power, Purpose, and Passion. Now that you understand why you are here and what you hope to achieve, it’s time to choose the word that encompasses your legacy. Take some time to quietly look inward and ponder the words that come to mind. For more insight, consider asking a few close friends or family members to tell you the gifts they see in you. Finally, challenge yourself to imagine your funeral some day. What is it that you hope people will say about you? Let your vision for your legacy guide you to your Life Word.
“There is a Life Word out there for every single person,” affirms Britton. “When you do receive it, allow it to be your guiding hand as you live out your calling with joy and enthusiasm. Leave the mark you want to leave on the world—right now.”
NOTE to EDITOR: See attached tipsheet for a list of Life Words.
Immerse yourself in your Life Word. Your Life Word can work only when you keep it front and center in your day-to-day routine. So be sure to put it in the foreground of your life. Find special ways to keep your Life Word close to your heart and mind. For example, you might create a Life Word journal to write down your memories, moments, and milestones. Or you can devote your garden to your Life Word by engraving it on a rock or bench. Consider buying (or creating!) a piece of art inspired by your Life Word. Or recite a daily prayer or meditation based around your Life Word. You can even create a Life Word wall in your home, with the Life Word painted upon it for daily reflection. Finally, don’t hide it from the world; share your Life Word and encourage others to find theirs as well!
“The best part about building your living legacy is that it’s never too late to start,” says Gordon. “Whether you are just past kickoff, finishing up halftime, or are in the ‘fourth quarter,’ you can turn your life around and make a positive impact on the world around you.”
“Let your Life Word be the jumping-off point, no matter where you are along your journey,” concludes Page. “As a new year begins, allow yourself to become inspired and impassioned by your legacy. A lifetime of meaning and mission lies ahead.”
About the Authors:
Jon Gordon is a best-selling author and keynote speaker whose books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous NFL, NBA, and college coaches and teams, Fortune 500 companies, school districts, hospitals, and nonprofits. He is the author of The Energy Bus (a Wall Street Journal bestseller); The No Complaining Rule; Training Camp; The Shark and the Goldfish; Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture; The Positive Dog; and his latest, The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work. Jon and his tips have been featured on Today, CNN, Fox & Friends, and in numerous magazines and newspapers. His clients include the Atlanta Falcons, Campbell’s Soup, Wells Fargo, State Farm, Novartis, and Bayer, among others. When he’s not running through airports or speaking to businesses, hospitals, or school leaders, you can find him playing tennis or lacrosse with his wife and two high-energy children.
Dan Britton is a speaker, writer, teacher, coach, trainer, and marathoner. His passion is to help people live intentionally, maximize relationships, and invest in the next generation. As a lacrosse fanatic, he has played and coached lacrosse for more than 40 years and even played professionally with the Baltimore Thunder. He has coauthored five books including Life Word, One Word That Will Change Your Life, WisdomWalks, True Competitor, and Called to Greatness; and also authored and edited 12 additional books. Dan’s been interviewed by national outlets like FOX News, CBS News, and Fast Company. In his role as the international executive vice president with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he travels extensively around the world training thousands of coaches and athletes and works with more than 60 countries. He is married to his high school sweetheart, and, yes, all three of his children play lacrosse. They reside in Overland Park, Kansas, and have three grown children: Kallie, Abby, and Elijah.
Jimmy Page is a speaker, author, trainer, leadership coach, and Spartan racer. He is passionate about investing everything he has by inspiring others to live their best life. He invests in businesses, sports teams, schools, and nonprofits around the world to create healthy, high-performing cultures that make a positive impact. He has coauthored six books including Life Word, One Word That Will Change Your Life, WisdomWalks, True Competitor, Called to Greatness, and PrayFit. Jimmy has been featured on FOX NY, CBS News, Fast Company, Janet Parshall’s America, and in numerous magazines and on radio shows. As a lifelong athlete and competitor, he’s also a Nike Sports Performance Coach and the featured guest on the FitFridays radio program. He and his wife started an innovative cancer organization called BelieveBig.org following her victory over cancer. He builds leaders and teams as a vice president for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Jimmy is married to his college sweetheart and they reside in Maryland with their four amazing kids—Jimmy, Jacob, John, and Gracie.
About the Book:
Life Word: Discover Your One Word to Leave a Legacy (Wiley, 2016, ISBN: 978-1-119-35145-0, $20.00, www.getoneword.com/lifeword) is available at bookstores nationwide, from major online booksellers, and direct from the publisher by calling 800-225-5945. In Canada, call 800-567-4797. For more information, please visit the book’s page on www.wiley.com.
