When you finally achieve something you’ve desired for some time, it’s difficult to argue that is doesn’t come with a sense of fulfilment. You put in the work .. the reward is a direct result of the effort you committed, but how do you know the reward is enough?
The feeling we feel when we succeed at reaching a goal is unsurmountable. But to ensure we are in the best position to achieve, we must first set ourselves up with the appropriate operating system, as not all effort is equal.
Great fulfilment is only made possible if the effort we put in on a daily basis embodies two key components: focus and habit. From a focus perspective, our efforts need to be in line with our dreams, visions and goals. Ideally, your focus needs to be about what gets you up in the morning .. what makes you smile .. that thing you just can’t get out or your head.
Secondly, we need to establish a solid, robust system that we can develop habits around, supported by the right attitude, so that our efforts generate maximum return. These two things allow us to identify purposeful effort, which ultimately leads to the achievement of our goals.
When the great Vince Lombardi was head coach and General Manager of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s, he believed there were three areas of focus that needed to be had by every man that came into his football club. Firstly, he talked about having faith and secondly about your ability to give and receive love. When these two areas are managed well, the third and final area is effort, based on your willingness to commit.
Although we might take a different approach today, as a result of our lives being so blended, we can still benefit from this same philosophy. I believe we can create a real sense of fulfilment by committing to the purposeful effort identified as a result of the two key components previously mentioned combined with learnings from Lombardi’s approach to help us achieve our goals.
If we break this thinking into four quadrants it will assist us in determining our level of effort and how purposeful it truly is in allowing us to experience a real sense of fulfilment.
Not All Effort is Equal
Firstly, if we develop strong habits, supported by a positive attitude towards our work, but the focus is not our own or is not aligned with ours, we operate at a comfortable, methodical level and although we’re probably good at our job, we will likely suffer a feeling of emptiness. This quadrant sees us commit to immature effort, which requires further refinement to allow us to mature on our journey to fulfilment.
Secondly, if we develop poor habits and a less than ideal attitude, flipping from one idea to the next, we commit under a sense of immediacy, with little or no thought to our focus. Although at times this quadrant can be exciting and allows us to experience a higher level of action, it can also be overwhelming and can see us fall victim to everything being important, which is an impossible state to work in.
In the third quadrant, we are heavily focused and very controlled in our approach. This is one of the most difficult states to operate within and is where the majority of work exists. It requires a lot of willpower to continually form new habits in response to our learnings and development as a result of our failures and identified inadequacies and is hard work. We are in a state of constant planning and thought and are required to step outside of our comfort zones and make sacrifices in order to commit to our focus. Fortunately, we are very clear in this quadrant on what we do and don’t want, but although we are committed to our focus and we enjoy great fulfilment, we are not yet fully rewarded for our efforts.
In the fourth quadrant, we operate in a very well planned and controlled environment. After years of committing to purposeful effort, we experience great fulfilment and reward. We understand and embrace the commitment and sacrifice required to achieve our goals and as a result operate at a level of mastery, which reveals our ultimate purpose. We are in a strong position to help others and have a positive impact on their lives. We appreciate that our life’s purpose is more about others and with this we experience true fulfilment.
Not all effort is equal. Which quadrant you sit in? Do you want to make a shift into a different quadrant? These steps can help you experience the greatest level of fulfilment:
- Understand what your focus is
- Establish processes to control your environment
- Identify and commit to habits that improve your development
- Identify the sacrifices you need to make
- Maintain a positive attitude
- Continually commit to purposeful effort and your focus
If you commit to these steps you can shift from one quadrant to another. Allow yourself to reach a level of mastery. Only then will you experience true fulfilment and understand that your life’s purpose is to be of deep service to others.
