Rediscovering Purpose: From Frozen Waffles to Fulfillment

As we enter the year's midpoint, it's a natural time to reflect on our experiences thus far and contemplate what lies ahead. This introspection isn't confined to individuals; it resonates across organizations, regardless of their size or structure. This same exercise happens across organizations of every size and business structure.  

During this evaluation and projection, I want to share a story that encapsulates a profound lesson:

Let Them Eat Waffles! 

This seemingly whimsical phrase emerged from a conversation I had with a plant manager a few months back. He oversees the production of electronic components, vital elements that find their way into countless products, from airplanes to household appliances. Yet, he described his role as mundane, almost inconsequential.

This assertion puzzled me. "Mundane?" I echoed. "Did you say grocery store freezers?" The significance of his work dawned on me. As a lover of frozen waffles, I realized the impact his role had on my daily breakfast routine. His loss of vision and passion could potentially disrupt something as seemingly trivial as my morning meal—a thought that stirred me to action.

Self-Actualization

At the core of this narrative lies the concept of self-actualization, a cornerstone of emotional intelligence. It's about discovering one's purpose and meaning in life, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment. Those who embrace self-actualization find purpose beyond mere occupation; they see their endeavors as contributions to something greater than themselves.

However, many struggle to bridge the gap between what they do and who they are. This disconnection can lead to a sense of purposelessness, overshadowing the significance of their actions.

Who You Serve

It's time to shift our focus from tasks to the people we serve. Whether you're delivering pizzas or managing an entire plant, your role extends beyond its immediate duties. You're nourishing families, fostering social connections, and ensuring essential components reach those who need them.

As leaders, it's imperative to reignite our passion and vision. Our teams rely on us to provide direction and inspiration. By reaffirming the significance of their roles and how they contribute to the greater good, we empower them to rediscover their purpose and drive.

CONCLUSION

As we embark on this journey of self-reflection and goal-setting, let's remember the lessons of the frozen waffles. Let's strive for self-actualization, finding purpose in our endeavors, and recognizing the impact we have on others. Let's redefine success not by what we do, but by whom we serve.

And in doing so, let's create a ripple effect of fulfillment and inspiration that touches lives far beyond our own.

Let Them Eat Waffles!

As we enter mid-year, we may reflect on some of the significant things we have experienced up until now and ponder what we want to try and accomplish for the rest of the year.

This same exercise happens across organizations of every size and business structure.  

As you are evaluating your year and thinking about what you want to accomplish in the next one, here are some words of encouragement I have for you… 

Let Them Eat Waffles! 

What does this really mean? Well, I was meeting with someone a few months ago. As we talked, he described his job to me in some detail. He is a plant manager for an organization that makes all kinds of electronic components. These gadgets go in hundreds of products, everything from airplanes to automobiles to grocery store freezers. His job is to oversee the plant’s manufacturing of these things and to ensure they get to the right customer.  He finished his description of his role simply with this statement, “It is pretty mundane stuff, nothing major.”

Wait! That really struck me and made me stop and ask, “What do you mean nothing major?” The way my brain works (which is quite odd at times, I will admit), I added, “Did you say grocery store freezers?”  I went on to tell him, “To me, and lots of other people too, that is a really big deal!” 

One reason that this is so big to me is that I love frozen waffles. Every time we go to our local grocery store, I take a walk down the frozen waffle aisle to see what is on sale and what items are new, then I decide what I am going to buy. It is rare that I go to the store and do NOT pick up a box of delicious frozen waffles. 

Then it hit me - this guy had lost his vision, his passion for what he does.  His lack of vision could also someday interrupt my breakfast, and I am not okay with that.

Self-Actualization

In the world of emotional intelligence, self-actualization is finding one's meaning and purpose in life. It is the willingness to persistently try to improve and engage in the pursuit of personally relevant and meaningful growth that will lead to a rich and enjoyable life. 

Someone who acts on the idea that what they are pursuing and involved in actually adds meaning and purpose is experiencing self-actualization. For some, it is that they feel they have more of a calling instead of just having a job. For others, what they do is an act of service that fulfills their destiny as human beings.  It is very much more than what they do, it is about the meaning and purpose they have in life and whom they serve. I think the reason behind the struggle some folks have is they have lost the link (or maybe it never existed) between who they are and what they do.

Let’s say, if you deliver pizza for a living, some of what you really are doing is feeding a hungry family or bringing joy to a group of people so that they can socially connect. But it is so easy to get lost in the idea that you are merely transporting a disc of dough with sauce and meat from a storefront to a house, and you have to do at least 100 of them in a night to make any decent money.

It is really easy for us to lose sight of what we do and become defined by our tasks rather than the bigger vision of who we serve. In the example above, you are not merely delivering pizza, my friend, you are feeding people and helping cement relational bonds with family and friends. 

Who You Serve 

Let’s really try to engage in what it is that you are doing with your life. Perhaps as a part of your mid-year review, you should be asking yourself who it is that you serve and how well you have done so.  Let go of defining yourself by WHAT you do and give some consideration to WHO you serve.  

The plant manager at the beginning of the blog post plays a critical role in getting component parts to people who need them. Without him and without his team, a poor schmuck like me would not have my frozen waffles in the morning for breakfast...may it never be so!

As a leader, have you lost sight of the vision and the passion for what you do? If so, the people on your team can usually sense this. You need to make sure that you show them your commitment.

Let's make sure the people on our teams and those around us have a clear vision of what they do and how it links to the people you all serve. This may help them rediscover their purpose and drive, benefitting everyone.