Talent and resources in support of a mission

❔ What's your mission?

Yesterday I had to get up two hours earlier than I usually do. By evening, I was feeling tired. Later, I got a second wind — energized by a really good conversation. Perhaps you know the kind? When I went to bed, I was physically tired, but my mind was so excited.

This morning, I woke up an hour before I usually do. I got up and it was dark and foggy outside. I went back to bed. Before I fell back asleep, words and ideas inspired by elements of my day yesterday and the conversation danced around my brain, making new connections and insights; synthesizing. I tried to remember them all.

Photo by Cole Keister on Unsplash

The ones I remember will inform some future issues here. Today I want to briefly share one because it struck me and it may be helpful to you as well. Last night, I was explaining why I love business and said something in a way that I’d never said it before. As I grow older, I sometimes find myself synthesizing complex things into simpler descriptions in ways I wasn’t able to do when I was younger. I’m reminded of a quote I’ve referenced often in life:

“For the simplicity on this side of complexity, I wouldn't give you a fig. But for the simplicity on the other side of complexity, for that I would give you anything I have.”

― Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Here is what I said: combining talent and resources in support of a mission is … exciting, fulfilling, worthwhile, a lot of things. As soon as I said the first part, I realized that it wasn’t only applicable to for-profit businesses. It could be government, too. Any organization, actually. The key idea for me was the combination of talent (people) and resources (money, facilities, time) to support progress towards a goal. But I didn’t call it a goal. I said mission. For me, it’s a higher purpose than gaining another percent of market share.

This morning I realized this simple framework applies to us as individuals, too — and that’s when I got excited to share it with you because I believe it can help one of you.

We each have many talents and gifts. We each have different resources.

Combining talent and resources in support of a mission. 

What is your mission?

I would love to hear from you and happy to discuss with any of you in the subscriber chat.

For me, a few things became clear. I want to use my talents and resources in support of creating:

• Better relationships (tip: try an 8 minute phone call)

• Better communities

• A better built environment

• Better customer experiences and

• Enhanced personal effectiveness (read this 3-part series on productivity)

These are things that I believe in and I want to further them to the extent I can.

Long-time readers may recall earlier this year when I worked through the five Ws (who, what, where, when, why) and one H (how) in an effort to find the focus of this new publication and this insight feels like a further crystallization of that earlier effort.

If you haven’t been reading since February, you might enjoy reading the series now:

5W1H

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As 2023 begins to wind down, I want to personally thank each of you for joining me on this journey. I’m excited for what we may create together in the year ahead.

I am still planning to write the series on Urban Environments I mentioned recently. Look for that in the new year.

I hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for spending a few minutes of it with me.

Be well,

-Bryce

PS: If you know anyone you think would enjoy Bryce's Blog, it would mean the world to me if you introduced them. While this has never been about numbers, secretly it would make me smile if we crossed 100 by the one-year anniversary in January (that’s just seven more good people). Thank you. :)