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

---

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. :)