“When I do anything that no one else can do because they’re not the CEO, I smile and thank God that I am making a difference. I have the worst and best, loneliest and most social, most appreciated and thankless job in the company and I do that job with pride and without complaint because that was what I signed up for even if I didn’t realize until someone told me.”
-Patrick Lencioni
Why do you do what you do? What motivates you to work?
The above quote is from Patrick Lencioni’s new book the The Motive. I have not read the book yet but I heard this quote while listening to The Enterleadership Podcast #363: Why Are You a Leader? and it got me to thinking about this idea of “why do you do what you do?”
For me, I got into ministry because of the experiences of my childhood. When people asked me why I got into ministry I would say, “I came from a divorced, broken family background and said yes to what the world had to offer in high school so I want to help students who are in the same situation(s).” My “why” was that I wanted to help hurting kids know that they are loved by God and there is hope in following Him. That’s why I went to school to become youth pastor and have worked as a youth pastor/now a family pastor for over 10 years.
So let me ask you, “Why do you do what you do?”
Now let’s look at what happens when we lose focus of our why and the impact it has on what we do.
Why do ministries/businesses crumble? I believe because the leader lost their why. They forgot why they got into business in the first place or they lost sight of their why and became focused on something else.
Or their “why” could have been wrong from the start. They could have been chasing the wrong things which led to their downfall because they were a faulty foundation to begin with. And it does not just have to be “bad” things that they chased in the beginning that ruins them. Many leaders have failed because they thought they had to keep going in order to do good.
The thing is that you don’t get lost all of sudden one day.
-James Clear Atomic Habits
“Imagine you are flying from Los Angeles to New York City. If a pilot leaving from LAX adjusts the heading just 3.5 degrees south, you will land in Washington, D.C., instead of New York. Such a small change is barely noticeable at takeoff-the most of the airplane moves just a few feet but when magnified across the entire United States, you end up hundreds of miles apart.”
I share this story to illustrate how we can lose our way without even noticing. All it takes is one small compromise and then another and if you keep heading that direction, you will end up 225 miles away from your intended destination (that’s the distance from New York to D.C.).
I believe one “why” that can cause us to miss our intended destination is affirmation. Now is affirmation a bad thing? No! You should praise others if they do a good job and affirm them. That’s how you keep people happy but the problem comes when that becomes the motivation for the work. When one begins to seek the praise of man as the ultimate goal instead of a by-product, that’s when disaster can strike.
We can get affirmation from others and it can become like a drug.
For example, a pastor may give a sermon and be showered with praise from others. They say things like, “That was your best sermon yet! You are a talented speaker.” If he is not careful these praises can become his downfall. Because the next time he prepares a sermon these thoughts will be in his head and he will be thinking, “What if I don’t live up to their standards? Will they still praise me?” Or “I am pretty talented so I should be praised after every message.”
Or take a business person who closes on an incredible deal. Or makes a great sale. They get praise from their co-workers or boss for a job well done. If not careful they can begin to seek after these affirmations and focus on these instead of their why.
Let’s be honest, no one got into the job they did because they thought, “Lots people will praise me for my work.”
No, they usually start off with humble ambitions. They think they can make a difference. Or they feel pride for being able to provide. Or they just enjoy the work.
Affirmations are good because they can be a sign that you are doing something right but they should not be your end goal. Let me explain.
Why do any job? Business or ministry. I don’t believe there is no need for the dichotomy between the “secular” and “sacred” because both can glorify God.
Work as for the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24
23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Go back to affirmation and why we work.
Work can give us purpose, direction and even identity. These in of themself are not bad things but if they become your driving force then trouble will follow.
My work as a pastor gives me purpose, direction and yes I like being known as a pastor but if this is where I find my “why” then I am in trouble.
Why? Because what happens if I lose my job? What becomes of my purpose, direction and identity, then?
So it all comes back to the “why” and ultimately “Why do you follow God?” because the answer to this question impacts everything you do.
Your purpose, direction and identity should be found in Christ alone.
Out of this relationship will flow your “why” for your work. It will bring new meaning and life to your ministry and business when the reason why you work is to bring glory to God in all you do.