Posted on by jstfly21

But… What is Your Life’s Work? by J. William DeMarco

ImageSometime ago I posted a great podcast “No Exit Strategy From Your Life’s Work” with Evernote CEO Phil Libin…a great story, and now something I ponder almost everyday:  What is my life’s work? 

As we advance in age or…possibly face retirement from the USAF…albeit in a few years… the concept of “life’s work” becomes all the more real and important.  Although there could be a lot said for defining it as early as possible as well.

As an individual I refuse to be defined by the U.S. Air Force and I am fairly sure that resonates in corporate America as well, we are not our job tittle or our position…as a leader, I believe I am much more than a Colonel…much more than an Operations Group Commander–If I am just that… how sad that on 14 June 2012, I am no longer an Ops Group Commander… I will then become the USAF ROTC SER/CC or Southeast Region Commander for the USAF Reserve Officer Training Corps… so does that mean I cease being me?  Not at all… so it seems that defining a life’s work is indeed a worthy exercise.

My life’s work:   

“To be highly knowledgeable, capable and hungry in leading and supporting the people I live and work with and to lead others in powerful and effective uses of vision casting, strategy, and history.” 

There are several things I am passionate about that resonate in the above statement–leading, strategy, and creating a vision for the future… other items that I hope are implied in the above are family, God and things of a Christian spiritual realm, physical fitness, charitable activities and self improvement…. I do ponder if those should be move overt?

I put this out there to have any reader snipe at it…this is the only way to make it better and continue adding to a meaningful life’s work… please fire away, what is missing?  What needs to be better?

Further, would very much love to hear other statements of life’s work… please let me know what you are thinking–and remember there is NO exit strategy from your life’s work….

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