The Connection Between Impact & Longevity

 Today I want to give you a framework, a principle, and an implication of that principle to help you have lasting meaningful impact.

I have a good friend whose job is to oversee US AID in Asia. Anytime there is a natural disaster, like an earthquake or tsunami, his job is to distribute food, water, medicine, and other supplies to people who are in desperate need. Because of that he's lived most of his life overseas.

So when Kim and I moved to Mongolia for the first year and a half of our marriage because she was in the Peace Corps, my friend pulled me aside and he said, "Look, I know that you're gonna go through these phases as you live overseas so I'm gonna pass these on to you."

A Simple Framework

1. First month is just your honeymoon phase where everything is exciting. All you can see are all the things that are new and thrilling about the place that you live.
2. Second phase is around month three to month six, and that's where the honeymoon phase wears off. All you see are all the things that really frustrate you. Why do they drive like this? Why is there food like this? You're comparing where you are to what you once had.
3. Third phase is around month eight or so; you start to explore and ask questions. You're curious, you start to understand a little more. Why is it like this? Why do people live like this? You start to gain some empathy and then around,
4. The last phase is about one year in when you finally, by growing in that empathy, find your place in the new community in which you live.

From Framework to Principle

Now, why am I telling you this today? 

I was doing some client work last week, helping a client identify, what we call, their core conviction for their business -- What is their why? What is the thing that they believe most deeply that, that underlies why they started this business in the first place? What is the truly meaningful and enjoyable work they want to do?

We landed on this statement:

The greatest factor for impact in a community is longevity.

That's the why behind their recruiting business. They want to find, employees, team members, for businesses who will stick around and make a lasting impact. They were tired of the hiring process - perhaps the most important process for any business - being treated by some companies as mechanical or like a big box retailer might.

I think that is a fantastic core conviction and it made me think of this framework above.

Lastly, the Implications

It made me think about what happens if you pulled out of three months into living somewhere and you never made it to that one year mark where you actually found your place.

What happens if you leave the place that you live, the place that you work, the people that you work amongst, the people you live amongst, and you never make it to that time period where you can have some lasting impact.

The thing is, oftentimes we get frustrated or disappointed or bored and we chase excitement or distraction or new things. By doing that we end up sabotaging ourselves from the lasting impact we want to have.

So, think about this. If the greatest factor for impacting the community is longevity, think about how that core conviction would guide how you run a business -- it would affect your values, how you operate, the people that you hire.

If you believe that was true for your family, think about how it would affect your rhythms, where you live, the, the friendships that you have, the investments that you make.

That principle has implications cascading all around it. That's why this core conviction work that we do at Integrity Growth is so fun and so enjoyable cause it helps someone say, "Yes, that's what I want to give myself to. That's my best work."

This principle was really helpful reminder for me and I hope it's a helpful reminder for you as you look to make lasting impact.

We can help you find your Core Conviction as well. Let's talk!