Have you ever found yourself energized, motivated and determined to achieve a result? When there was an inner force driving you to make something happen? Chances are you were being motivated by a ‘purpose’ – a cause or an outcome larger than yourself and wanting to have an impact on the world around you. It’s this ‘sense of purpose’ that gives us extraordinary strength – especially when compared to situations where that purpose does not exist – those times when you find yourself simply ‘going through the motions’ – with no clear idea why? We all yearn to find meaning in our lives, and it’s this ‘sense of purpose’ that generates positive energy and a force that radiates and gives us the strength to do amazing things.
This sense of purpose is seen in many individuals who may come from modest backgrounds but then go on to do achieve unparalleled levels of success in whatever profession or discipline they pursue. One great example involves a young man who grew up in the segregated South. Born in Columbia, Mississippi, as a child he grew up with an alcoholic father and did not seem destined for great things. He had an interest in music, played the drums in the marching band and it wasn’t until his junior year in high school that he found his way on to the football field. But, when he did, he felt he had something to prove. He felt a purpose and it gave him extraordinary strength.
In fact, so much so, that this young man developed a work ethic second to none. During his junior and senior years in high school, he went to establish himself as one of the state’s leading rushing backs. Despite this, he did not get an invitation to play football from any of the SEC college programs. Instead, he had to settle for a college football career at Jackson State, an Historically Black College. And, not surprisingly, while there, he excelled through a real sense of purpose. He became a role model for his work ethic as well as his contributions to the larger community as well.
So, when the Chicago Bears drafted him in 1975, his aspiration, his purpose, was to achieve such a level of excellence that he would be widely recognized as the greatest running back in NFL history and help the Bears win a Super Bowl Championship – an almost unthinkable task, since the Bears perpetually seemed to occupy last place in their Division.
So, to accomplish all this, he took on a work ethic unlike that of any other. He would work out every single day – even during the season. In fact, he would start each day by running an enormously challenging hill – sloped at a 45-degree angle, 92 feet high – and do this time after time. In fact, these workouts became so legendary that after his playing career was over the town of Arlington Heights, Illinois, dedicated the hill in his honor.
Thankfully, all this hard work, driven by strength of purpose did pay off. He did help the struggling Bears win their first Super Bowl Championship in their NFL history.
And, importantly, his dedication to activities off the field was widely recognized as well. He led the way for NFL players in establishing programs and giving back to the community. In fact, so much so, that today, the most cherished and respected award presented by the NFL is named in his honor. The Walter Payton Award is presented each year to the player who distinguishes himself with ‘Excellence on and off the Field.’
So, when you take a step back and look at your own life, it’s a worthwhile exercise to ask: What’s my driving purpose? What is going to motivate me to fulfill the fullness of my potential? And then once settled, watch yourself go after it with reckless abandon. And, like Walter Payton – be the very best you can possibly be.
