If you have spent much time looking at our website, seen our posts, or received an email from us, you will have seen the phrase “Living a Life of Meaning”.

What do these 5 words mean?  Well, that will depend on who is answering the question, which is perfectly fine. 

Back when I was a hiring manager for a large manufacturing company, I would often end up having a conversation with some of my team members.  The conversation usually started when they were upset because of something the company or a teammate had done, they didn’t get the bonus, raise, or promotion, or because their work wasn’t up to standard, and it hurt to be told that their efforts weren’t good enough.  The conversation usually ended with me saying, “Life is too short to be miserable.”  To some that may sound really harsh, but being mean wasn’t my intention.  I really wanted them to think about how they were living their lives, so that they could make the decisions which would lead to a more joyful and fulling life.

In many ways, I understood how they felt, because when I was working for those big businesses, I wasn’t living the life that I wanted either.  I laughed when hiring managers offered 20% performance bonuses, because from experience I’d seen few companies actually follow through with such a bonus.  I hated the fact that I would have to work a lot of extra hours before and after my vacation, just so I wouldn’t have to work during my vacation (and sometimes that wasn’t even good enough).  I missed way too many family activities because there was a last-minute project or deadline that really didn’t need to happen.

When I started this business, I wanted to create a place where I and my team members wouldn’t be miserable.  If fact, we want it to be one that allows each of us to live a life of meaning.

This is what “Living a Life of Meaning” means to me.

• Making meaningful memories with those that I love and nurturing and supporting my wife and children in those things that are important to them.
• Creating a workplace where we can all grow to reach our potential and allows us to integrate our work lives with our personal lives, so we can actually participate in what is most important to us.
• Supporting our clients’ activities so that their businesses provide them with the means and opportunity to live a life of meaning.
• Strengthening local communities by creating more successful businesses that provide satisfying employment opportunities and business owners that have the time to be part of their community and not shackled to their business.

I would encourage you to figure out what will make your life a life of meaning.  It could be spending more time with friends and family, travelling and experiencing the world.  It could be volunteering with a charity or organization.  It could be creating a business that provides a critical need for society.  The options are limitless, just like our ability to have an impact.  We just need to decide what it is and stay focused on what will bring meaning to our lives.  Do it now, because life is too short to be miserable.

We would love to hear what brings meaning to your life.  Please share it with us and allow us to help you on your journey.