When you get to the core, what people are actually asking is “What can I do with my time that is important?” 

Purpose in your life and career has many benefits. A higher purpose gives you the energy and strength to go outside your comfort zone. It fuels your motivation. Purpose allows you to stop being focused on what other people think. This gives you the vulnerability and courage you need to achieve your big goals.

Having a purpose larger than me has allowed me to do things, that in retrospect seems effortless to the majority.

I don’t have to do, what I do every day. I choose to. This was a huge turning point for me.

I can’t say that I have always had this view but definitely as I write this, I’m positive that this statement is a true reflection for me.

I have decided to put together a series of my top personal questions to help you identity for yourself what is important to you and what can add more meaning to your life. These questions are by no means exhaustive or definitive.

• When do you most feel alive or in flow?

Think of moments when your heart was singing. Those times when you feel in a state of ease, joy and creativity. What were you doing?

• If you knew you were going to die 1 year from today, what would you do and how would you want to be remembered?

I know this sounds a little morbid and most of us don’t like thinking about death as it freaks us out but thinking about our own death surprisingly has a lot of practical advantages. One of those advantages is that it forces us to pin point in on what’s actually important in our lives and what’s just superficial and distracting. To take this a step further, ask yourself:

• What is your legacy going to be? As for legacy, I consider it the punctuation for purpose.
• What are the stories people are going to tell when you leave the world?
• What is your memorial going to say? Is there anything to say at all? If not, what would you like it to say? How can you start working towards that today?

• What makes you forget to eat or s**t?

I love this one! We’ve all had that experience where we get so wrapped up in something that minutes turn into hours and hours turn into “Oh s**t, I forgot to have dinner or go to the toilet.” Whatever it is, don’t just look at the activities that keep you up all night, but look at the cognitive principles behind those activities that captivate you – because they can easily be applied elsewhere.

• If you had to leave the house all day, every day, where would you go and what would you do – essentially what would you do if you could just do it all the time?

Think of that activity or act you could never get tired of doing or imagine you could wake up each and every morning and create your perfect day, what would you choose to do? What most people don’t realise is that passion is the result of action, not the cause of it. Discovering what you’re passionate about in life and what matters to you is a trial-and-error process. Try something new. Then ask yourself: Do I like this? Yes. No. Get a journal and start putting down your feelings, thoughts, actions, and behaviours. None of us know exactly how we feel about an activity until we actually do the activity.

• How can you better embarrass yourself?

Right now, there’s something you want to do, something you think about doing, something you fantasise about doing, yet you don’t do it. You have your reasons, no doubt. And you repeat these reasons to yourself endlessly. But what are those reasons? I can tell you now that if those reasons are based on what others would think, then you really need to take a deep look at yourself. Great things are, by their very nature, unique and unconventional. Therefore, to achieve them, we must go against the herd mentality and to do that is scary.

Embrace embarrassment. Feeling foolish is part of the path to achieving something important, something meaningful. The more a major life decision scares you; chances are the more you need to be doing it.

• How are you going to save the world?

This is a big one for me and the research also believes it, but to live a happy and healthy life, we must hold on to values that are greater than our own pleasure or satisfaction. Find a problem you care about and start solving it. Obviously, you’re not going to fix the world’s problems by yourself but you can contribute and make a difference. And that feeling of making a difference is ultimately what’s most important for your own happiness and fulfilment.

• What are you AMAZING at?

Think about you’re strongest skills or attributes, what you do extraordinarily well.

Once you have your answers, look back over them and notice if there are any occurring themes or words. What’s interesting about your answers? What is new? Which answers do you feel drawn towards?

Why do you need purpose?

If you don’t have purpose in what you do each and every day then you’re missing out and potentially suffering from burnout, negativity, lack of drive and all the other things that come with it.

When people feel like they have no sense of direction, no purpose in their life, it’s because they don’t know what’s important to them, and they don’t know what their values are. When you don’t know what your values are, then you’re essentially taking on other people’s values and living other people’s priorities instead of your own. This is a one-way ticket to unhealthy relationships and eventual misery.

Discovering one’s ‘purpose’ in life essentially boils down to finding those one or two things that are bigger than yourself, and bigger than those around you. It’s not about some great achievement, but merely finding a way to spend your limited amount of time well. In order to do that you must be able to execute, and take the time to think beyond yourself, to think greater than yourself and paradoxically, to imagine a world without yourself.

When we shift our focus from just ‘having more’ to ‘being/becoming more’, having more just becomes a natural consequence of that. Intentionally adding value to others goes beyond the mentality of just ‘making a living’. It is about adopting a philosophy that helps us ‘make a life’.  

A ‘purpose’ sounds cliché but it really is worth trying to find.

It may take time to uncover what that ‘purpose’ looks like for you, but once you do, everything changes.

If you would like further advise or mentorship, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Skaf directly on 0422 855 868 or email richard.skaf@recodegroup.com.au

Richard’s ultimate passion lies within people through the power of connection. What you hire in Richard is a burning desire to inspire greatness in the world. Richard wakes up every day living and breathing his purpose in life, to leave a legacy and make a profound positive change in people. This forms the driving force behind his passion, values and the work he does. Richard loves being able to practice wisdom to nurture, guide and coach people to be the best they can be. This deep purpose has allowed Richard to build entire finance functions and high performing teams by creating an extensive network and everlasting relationships.

This experience is a commonly made mistake amongst hiring managers who typically regard the interview process as their opportunity to select from among several candidates, forgetting that the best candidates are also selecting from among several options. High-demand candidates are approached regularly, and so are comparing several opportunities to yours; including offers, they have already declined. Even in transition between jobs, candidates have the option to keep looking for alternate or better opportunities.

The on boarding process of a new employee begins long before they actually join the organisation. Job interviews are a time to set expectations, inform a candidate of resources, and plan early days of the job. This transparency and information can make the difference between your offer and your competitor’s.

Furthermore, you are marketing your organisation at all times, this includes every job interview. The greatest organisations out there treat everyone they interview with respect because that projects the employer brand and creates advocates among candidates and, not incidentally, promotes a brand among customers who buy its products/service.

As a candidate, think back to a time when you interviewed with someone you did not get along with or for an organisation not aligned with your values or goals. What was that like? 

According to Gallup CEO Jim Clifton who has conducted multiple employee engagement studies, he found that the single biggest decision a candidate makes in choosing the right job, is whom they choose as their manager. Around 50% of employees join or leave a company because of their manager.

Just as the client is interviewing you to see if you are a good fit for the company, so you must also interview the hiring manager to make sure the position, the company and your potential co-workers are a good fit for you. Take your focus off from finding any job and put it on finding the right job, one in which you can thrive because it is aligned with your passion, cultural fit and long-term goals.

Good interviewing practise is about setting a professional yet comfortable environment where a candidate’s performance is optimal. Engagement, trust and experience of the potential employee determine the ability to attract the talent required in a highly competitive market place.

As a hiring manager, some of the critical thoughts that you may like to consider when attracting talent include:

• Why would candidates apply to our organisation?
• Are the correct attraction channels being utilised?
• Has the organisation advertised all aspects of the role including benefits and professional development?
• If you are working with a recruiter, are they embedded into the organisation as a true business partner and understand the job requirements, culture and long term objectives?
• Is there a positive interview process?
• Do you provide constructive interview feedback?
• Whether the candidate is successful or not, are they positively engaged by your organisation?

As a candidate and potential employee, some of the critical thoughts to consider when interviewing with an organisation include:

• What is the organisation’s strategic road map for the next 12-24 months?
• What challenges is the business/team facing?
• How would you describe the culture within the organisation?
• How do you help people be at their best? What are the career opportunities within the organisation?
• How would you describe the hiring manager’s successful management style?
• What excites you about this organisation?
• What are the challenges within the particular role?
• What is the structure of the team and the larger organisation?
• How would you describe the current team and what are they like to work with on a day-to-day basis?

Helping organisations attract and successfully recruit the right people has never been more vital. Working with the Accounting and Finance vertical, there is clearly an immediate recruitment issue for most organisations that rely on a skilled workforce. Regardless of an organisation’s size, industry or type of vacancy, we are all in a period of uncertainty and potential skill shortages. Organisations need to prepare accordingly through their workforce, talent and recruitment planning.

Perhaps it is time to include the candidate interview experience in the planning to become an employer of choice, and stay ahead of the competition. Put yourself in the other person’s perspective. How would you assess your approach to the recruitment process?

For further information about this article, to discuss how I can support your recruitment strategy, or for any career assistance, please feel free to contact Richard Skaf on 0422 855 868 or email richard.skaf@recodegroup.com.au

Richard’s ultimate passion lies within people through the power of connection. What you hire in Richard is a burning desire to inspire greatness in the world. Richard wakes up every day living and breathing his purpose in life, to leave a legacy and make a profound positive change in people. This forms the driving force behind his passion, values and the work he does. Richard loves being able to practice wisdom to nurture, guide and coach people to be the best they can be. This deep purpose has allowed Richard to build entire finance functions and high performing teams by creating an extensive network and everlasting relationships.

So often, I meet finance professionals who have been in a job for 10 years or more and have a long-standing career with excellent achievements, yet when they are suddenly made redundant they struggle to find employment. They can be out of work for 6-12 months.

Building strong professional (and personal) relationships is critical to your career and overall well-being.

For the last 10 years, they have not taken the time to create solid, deep relationships with their team, colleagues or recruiters. People often spend years and years focusing on building financial wealth yet forget about dedicating time to focus on the value of relationships. I believe your social wealth and your ability to build a network of genuine personal and professional relationships is the most important asset in your portfolio.

In order to network effectively, you need to move out of your comfort zone and identify people who can help your career. People with highly open and diverse networks are often associated with faster promotions, higher bonuses, and strong performance reviews. Leverage your relationships and always be willing to help and recommend others.

I highly recommend that you set aside time each week to network. Align yourself with organisations and people that have similar values. Keep in touch with former colleagues and bosses, as they already know the value you can offer and can recommend you for new opportunities. It pays to stay in touch. I know from my own experience how important these relationships are.

We are continually told about the importance of networking, yet we are not necessarily educated on how to network in a strategic manner. The most effective way to optimise and electrify your career (and life) is to build and nurture mutually beneficial relationships with people who can speak for you and create the visibility you need to succeed. Whether your goal in life is to focus on increasing your financial wealth, making a difference in the world or giving back to society, building and strengthening your network will help you improve your happiness, productivity and your true net worth.

I strongly recommend that you are always proactive about looking for new opportunities. Be open to the infinite possibilities around you. Know what is out there because people make decisions, not businesses. Start activating your network because it’s not about who you know, but about who knows you.

If you would like further advice on how to utilise the skill of powerful networking or would like any other career assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Richard Skaf on 0422 855 868 or email richard.skaf@recodegroup.com.au.

Richard’s ultimate passion lies within people through the power of connection. What you hire in Richard is a burning desire to inspire greatness in the world. Richard wakes up every day living and breathing his purpose in life, to leave a legacy and make a profound positive change in people. This forms the driving force behind his passion, values and the work he does. Richard loves being able to practice wisdom to nurture, guide and coach people to be the best they can be. This deep purpose has allowed Richard to build entire finance functions and high performing teams by creating an extensive network and everlasting relationships.