{"id":3860,"date":"2014-04-18T08:03:17","date_gmt":"2014-04-18T13:03:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/?p=3860"},"modified":"2023-11-15T09:35:16","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T15:35:16","slug":"the-starfish-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/the-starfish-story\/","title":{"rendered":"The Starfish Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3860\" class=\"elementor elementor-3860\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cbbb4e9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"cbbb4e9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9755a3b elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"9755a3b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" 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data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Starfish Story<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5417b4f elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"5417b4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-545bbe2 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"author\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/author\/lbwebmaster\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" 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class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-b1f0a24 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"commentCount\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/the-starfish-story\/#comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-far-comment-dots\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M144 208c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zm112 0c-17.7 0-32 14.3-32 32s14.3 32 32 32 32-14.3 32-32-14.3-32-32-32zM256 32C114.6 32 0 125.1 0 240c0 47.6 19.9 91.2 52.9 126.3C38 405.7 7 439.1 6.5 439.5c-6.6 7-8.4 17.2-4.6 26S14.4 480 24 480c61.5 0 110-25.7 139.1-46.3C192 442.8 223.2 448 256 448c141.4 0 256-93.1 256-208S397.4 32 256 32zm0 368c-26.7 0-53.1-4.1-78.4-12.1l-22.7-7.2-19.5 13.8c-14.3 10.1-33.9 21.4-57.5 29 7.3-12.1 14.4-25.7 19.9-40.2l10.6-28.1-20.6-21.8C69.7 314.1 48 282.2 48 240c0-88.2 93.3-160 208-160s208 71.8 208 160-93.3 160-208 160z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-comments\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne Comment\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b443e2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"b443e2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-reading-time\"><span class=\"bsf-rt-display-label\" prefix=\"Reading Time\">\n\t\t<\/span> <span class=\"bsf-rt-display-time\" reading_time=\"3\"><\/span> \n\t\t<span class=\"bsf-rt-display-postfix\" postfix=\"mins\"><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73b91e1 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"73b91e1\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9be926b elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-featured-image elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9be926b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-featured-image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/starfish-mso-qon9k0lufspik6b8irzlbfsblh8dae7dionxz0qcxs.jpg\" title=\"starfish-mso\" alt=\"Starfish\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-68ec144e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"68ec144e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-299d0bac\" data-id=\"299d0bac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-26f82e74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"26f82e74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>&#8220;Begin With The End in Mind&#8221;: Pursuit of Purpose<\/h3><p>The <em>purpose<\/em> of this site is to offer <strong><em>thought leadership<\/em> on the topic of <em>leadership<\/em><\/strong>. <strong>Self-leadership<\/strong> is a prerequisite for <strong>formal leadership<\/strong>. Before you can effectively lead others, you have to demonstrate that you can lead yourself. The most common self-leadership challenge is<em> the pursuit of personal purpose<\/em>.\u00a0 We might call this a <strong>lack of self-direction<\/strong>.\u00a0 So I&#8217;m sharing <em>The Starfish Story<\/em> to help with this universal challenge.\u00a0 And, these words from Mark Twain.<\/p><blockquote><p><strong>\u201cThe two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.\u201d<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><h3>Why Pursue Purpose?<\/h3><p><strong>Purpose<\/strong> is one of <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/are-carrots-and-sticks-obsolete\/\">three critical components for <strong><em>personal drive<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. Any of us can <em>get through<\/em> life without a clear sense of purpose.\u00a0 Most do.\u00a0 If you&#8217;re willing to settle for just <strong><em>getting by<\/em><\/strong>, read no further.\u00a0 If you&#8217;d prefer to experience more motivation, meaning and fulfillment, here&#8217;s some <strong><em>food for thought<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p><p>Your purpose <a title=\"Your Ideas: Are They Rented or Owned?\" href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/your-ideas-are-they-rented-or-owned\/\">can <strong>not<\/strong> be rented.<\/a> No one will hand it to you.\u00a0 You need figure it out and then own it. \u00a0 Warning: That requires a higher level thinking that most of us avoid.\u00a0 Why?<\/p><ul><li>It doesn&#8217;t seem important.<\/li><li>You don&#8217;t know how to begin.<\/li><li>You haven&#8217;t been taught.<\/li><li>It seems too <em>touchy-feely<\/em>.\u00a0 That statement is <em>code<\/em> for the uncomfortable feeling caused by the other three reasons.<\/li><\/ul><p>Without internal motives, we allow our drive and motivation to come from external sources; other people, organizations and situations.<\/p><h3>It&#8217;s Not Too Late to Start<\/h3><p>When you discover purpose, you&#8217;re like that lost traveler that suddenly finds a compass and a map.\u00a0 Or those who discover how to use the GPS navigation app on their smart phone.\u00a0 Here&#8217;s some guidelines.<\/p><p>Pursuit of purpose requires introspective thinking.\u00a0 Seems simple enough.\u00a0 But how does that work?\u00a0 One definition of thought:<\/p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Thinking is about the questions that you ask yourself.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote><p>And to go one step further:<\/p><blockquote><p>&#8220;As you improve the quality of the questions that you ask yourself, you will improve the quality of your life.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote><figure id=\"attachment_3866\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3866\" style=\"width: 288px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3866 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/EnergyPool.jpg\" alt=\"Your Energy Pool\" width=\"288\" height=\"168\" title=\"\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3866\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Your Energy Pool<\/figcaption><\/figure><p>While I can&#8217;t supply you with our answers, I give you some questions to jump start your personal pursuit:<\/p><ul><li><strong>What is your purpose in life?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li><li><strong>What is the difference that you want to make in the world?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/li><li><strong>When your eulogy is read, what would you want said about your life?<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>As you consider the difference you want to make in the world and struggle to believe that you can, consider&#8230;<\/p><h3>The Starfish Story<\/h3><blockquote><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-3867 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/starfish-mso.jpg\" alt=\"Starfish\" width=\"280\" height=\"220\" title=\"\">A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean.<\/p><p>\u201cWhy are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,\u201d he asks.<\/p><p>\u201cBecause the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don\u2019t throw them further in they will die.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cBut, old man, don\u2019t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can\u2019t possibly save them all, you can\u2019t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won\u2019t make any difference at all.\u201d<\/p><p>The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. \u201cIt made a difference to that one.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><hr \/><h3>Where are YOUR Starfish?<\/h3><p>A life without purpose is like a ship without a rudder.\u00a0 Are you ever deterred from improving your surroundings by the size of the beach? You have unique talents and interests and they can make a difference.<\/p><h3>Karma<\/h3><blockquote><p><em>And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make<\/em>.\u00a0 &#8211; The Beatles<\/p><\/blockquote><p>As you take your first steps toward discovering your personal compass, allow me to\u00a0 paraphrase another Beatles line:\u00a0 &#8220;<em>All you need is <strong>thought<\/strong>.&#8221;<\/em><\/p><p>.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Related Articles<\/h3><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/curly-the-trail-boss-and-the-secret-to-life\/\">Curly The Trail Boss and the Secret to Life<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/are-carrots-and-sticks-obsolete\/\">Are Carrots and Sticks Obsolete?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/the-3-cs-of-success\/\">The 3 C\u2019s of Success: Don\u2019t Leave Home Without Them<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Purpose is one of three critical components for personal drive. Any of us can get through life without a clear sense of purpose.  If you&#8217;re willing to settle for just getting by is OK, read no further.  Or, if you&#8217;d prefer to experience days with more meaning, fulfillment and perhaps, here&#8217;s some food for thought.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"The Starfish Story and Your Personal Drive http:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-10g","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[23,29,14,211,33],"tags":[233,40,232,231],"class_list":["post-3860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attitude-development","category-leadership-development","category-motivation","category-personal-purpose","category-self-leaderhship","tag-personal-clarity","tag-positive-attitude","tag-pursuit-of-purpose","tag-the-starfish-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-content\/uploads\/starfish-mso.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1I2Yr-10g","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chicagoexecutivecoaching.com\/smartleadership\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}