What is Your Life’s Purpose?

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May 20, 2010

Inspiring Legends

I recently had a near death experience that made me re-evaluate aspects of my life. They say that your life flashes before you just before death. It was not quite like that for me. My mind froze. I did not have the luxury of watching the movie of my life in an instant. Nevertheless, that scary event raised my level of awareness and clarity. Life is temporary and I cannot afford to just drift along.

My life’s purpose is to be a positive change agent in the lives of millions. I hope to inspire you to be the best you can be through the power of positive thinking.

I do not stand on a high horse and pretend to be better than you. I am quick to remind my readers that I am not an expert or guru in the area of human psychology. All I am is a guy willing to learn from the best about successful living and share my lessons with you.

I want to grow as a person and at the end of life look back and say that I made a positive impact on the lives of others. But today’s blog post is not about me, so let me get back on track.

Inspiring Legends

In this series of articles, I continue to shine the spotlight on legends that have inspired me. These are the legends on whose giant shoulders I stand. They are the people that have enabled a regular Kenyan guy living in Western Australia to bring a message of hope to you.

We previously looked at the life of Richard Branson. His family had three generations of lawyers and he would have been expected to follow suit. But he had other plans. He discovered that being an attorney was not his calling. He charted his path and found success in business.

Many people go through life without ever finding their calling or defining their purpose. They blindly eat what is served to them instead of looking at what else is on the menu of life.

Today’s Inspiring Legend is the late Steve Irwin. This was a man so full of life and passion for what he did. Steve was a wildlife warrior that left a powerful legacy. His work endures. His life was not in vain.

Discovering Your Purpose

Before we dig deeper into the life of Steve Irwin, I want to focus on you. Take a piece of paper and write down the names of ten people who know you well. Leave a gap of about 3 lines between each name. Ideally those names should be people from various aspects of your life e.g. sports team, family, workmates, neighbors etc.

Now put yourself in the shoes of those ten people and describe YOU. If for example you have a friend called Jane, write down what you think Jane would say about you on your obituary if lying and sugar-coating was not an option.

Are you happy with what they would honestly say? Do they really understand your life’s purpose? Have you been spending time pursuing your life’s purpose or have you been too busy making a living? If you have never really sat down and thought about your purpose in life, now is a good time.

A Generous Purpose in Life

I like a quote by President Barack Obama: “Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential”.

When discovering and pursuing your purpose in life, remember that quote. Regardless of what success means to you, you can attain it faster by building others up instead of bringing them down. Give and it will come back to you. Align your purpose in life with sharing with others and the floodgates of blessings will open on your life.

Few people exemplify a generous purpose in life than Steve Irwin. Let us zoom in on the man!

Tears for a Legend

It may have been crocodile tears by some people, but the world grieved on 4th September 2006 when Steve Irwin died. He had a cult following around the world. Millions in 130 countries followed his “Crocodile Hunter” documentaries and visited Australia Zoo to see him and his conservation work in action.

His daughter Bindi Irwin, then aged 8, wrote and read the following statement at his memorial service on 20th September 2006, to an audience of 300 million television viewers around the world.

“My daddy was my hero – he was always there for me when I needed him. He listened to me and taught me so many things, but most of all he was fun.

I know that Daddy had an important job. He was working to change the world so everyone would love wildlife like he did. He built a hospital to help animals and he bought lots of land to give animals a safe place to live.

He took me and my brother and my mum with him all the time. We filmed together, caught crocodiles together and loved being in the bush together.

I don’t want Daddy’s passion to ever end. I want to help endangered wildlife just like he did.

I had the best daddy in the whole world and I will miss him every day. When I see a crocodile I will always think of him and I know that Daddy made this zoo so everyone could come and learn to love all the animals. Daddy made this place his whole life, now it’s our turn to help Daddy”.

Lessons from the Crocodile Hunter

  • Early is Better – Steve Irwin started his love for animals at an early age. He learned from his mum and dad, and volunteered for government conservation efforts. Today is better than next week when it comes to discovering your purpose in life and giving it your best.
  • A perfect partner is worth gold – He found his perfect match in Terry Irwin. Together they built Australia Zoo into one of Australia’s favorite tourist destinations and as a conservation haven. She supported him in his work in life and continues to work to uphold his legacy. Surround yourself with people who understand and support your purpose in life. It makes life easier.
  • Leverage – He discovered that he was a natural with a Video Camera. He used broadcast media to his advantage, helping him connect with over 500 million people in over 130 countries. Build on your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses.
  • Enthusiasm is contagious – Whether talking to Jay Leno or visitors to Australia Zoo, Steve was always hyper enthusiastic about his love for animals. His enthusiasm helped pass on the conservation message faster. Are you excited about what you want to achieve in life? Are you happy to share your purpose in life with others?
  • Put money in its place – Steve Irwin once said “Every cent we earn from Crocodile Hunter goes straight back into conservation. Every single cent”. He was not making chump change. Money was never the reason Steve did what he did. And that is why he was able to do it so well. Yes he made money, but money was never an end on itself. Don’t let money (or lack of it) come between you and your passion.
  • Know your stuff – To be at the top of his game, Steve mastered his craft, learned a lot about the animals he was fighting for. What do you want to do? Dedicate time to ferocious learning and gaining experience.

Learn More about Steve Irwin

I have only scratched the surface of the topic of discovering your life’s purpose. This is probably a topic I will come back to at a later date. For now, as we have done with the other legends, take time to learn a little more about Steve Irwin.

Summary

It does not matter who you are, where you from, or what you do for a living. Age, Race, Gender, Location, and Circumstances etc should not stop you from achieving your true potential. Take a moment to reflect on what makes you “YOU” and what you can do to better align your life with your true purpose on planet earth.

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Character Development, Personal Development
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