What’s your Why? This is a question that everyone should ask themselves: why do we do what we do, and how did we choose the path that we are on?
I think that stopping or slowing down to contemplate why we do things is important. It is easy to find ourselves on autopilot, just doing, and not necessarily thinking too much about it. This is unfortunate and requires a reminder that we have one life, and we should live every day with some sense of purpose.
Have you thought about your why? Do you have one? Of course, you do, but you must remind yourself what it is. This requires reflection and some level of emotional intelligence. It also requires some grace since not all the factors that drive us are unselfish in nature. Give yourself a break and realize that you must take care of yourself and your family, and when you are able, it is great to give back.
My why and journey into safety began when I was working my way through college. I was a construction laborer and was asked to perform tasks daily that I knew were unsafe and unreasonable. I did what I was told and was very cautious not to get injured. Through this process, I realized that this was not isolated to me and was not right. I discovered the field of occupational safety and health and dove in headfirst, without ever looking back.
It became my mission to educate leadership and to protect workers. I have been doing that for over 30 years now, and I never lose sight of why I am here.
We all got started on our path in life for some reason. It might have been by purpose, and it might have been by chance. Either way, we do what we do for a reason, and it is important that we remember that reason every day.
Know your why and help others to find theirs. Life is very meaningful when we have purpose and can be overwhelming when we lose our way or experience hardship that threatens that purpose.
We will begin a webcast series on this topic and hope that you watch. Our goal is to inspire and motivate by interviewing influential people who have impactful stories to tell. Thanks for following, and see you soon!