When was the last time you got frustrated with the results of your efforts at work or in life? Or you became disillusioned by a decision made by a superior? These are times when we can be tempted to say, “What’s the point?” While the usual intent behind this question is to justify giving up, it can be a great question to ask if you have not spent some time to define the “why” behind what you are doing. Knowing the “why” of your activity can be a great clarifier to hang on to when things get tough.
Knowing the point
Knowing the point of your current endeavor can be a great reminder of the reason you started in the first place and keep you encouraged when it is challenging. Establish upfront the realistic difficulty of the task and set review points to assess progress made as well as adjustments needed along the way. There may be times when discontinuing is best but only when at a review point with some outside input for perspective. It is never wise to throw in the towel when fatigued from the effort. This will lead to future regret.
Your “Why”
Even more foundational is to do some work to discover your own personal “why.” This is your internal operating system that has been in place since puberty and is driving all that you do and say. Common “whys” are things like “to get it done,” “to make an impact” and “to add value.” When you have things like “to be accepted,” “to be understood” and “to connect” driving you, satisfaction can be more elusive since these are dependent on others to achieve. No matter what your “why” is, it is important to develop the ability to sense when it is about to go bad on you. Picture an arc or bell curve. You can overplay your “why” at the peak such that it can start to work against you and begin to go down the other side becoming your greatest weakness. It is important to be self-aware about this so that you can keep your “why” on an upward trajectory.
The Point
To take this to the ultimate level you can answer the question, “What’s the Point?” with a capital “P.” We all serve someone or something. Who or what are you serving? Is it bigger than yourself and will it last? A friend once told me, “You need to find a meaning in life that loss or suffering can’t take away.” If you find this then you can quickly and confidently answer, “What’s the Point?”
