The Legacy JourneyExemplo

All Your Heart

I once heard a talk from business thinker Simon Sinek that had a profound impact on how I think about careers. In the talk, Sinek said people and businesses succeed when they understand their purpose. The ones who dig past the what and the how can get to the why—and that makes all the difference.

As an example, Sinek pointed to Samuel Pierpoint Langley. In the early 1900s, the federal government gave Langley $50,000 to build the first airplane. He had all the best people and materials at his disposal. He even had newspapers following his every move. But in the end, he failed.

Why? He didn’t have the passion. He didn’t have a sense of a higher calling. It was just a job to him—a chance at fame and fortune.

In contrast, Orville and Wilbur Wright had little money and support. They had no college education and relied on what they had learned in a bicycle repair shop. Every day, they would crash. And every day, they would make repairs and try again. They refused to give up, and all that hard work paid off with a 12-second flight that covered 120 feet in December 1907.

The Wright Brothers succeeded where Langley failed. Why? They had a passion—a higher calling. They knew they were working on something bigger than themselves.

As Christians, we are called to work for a higher calling. Paul defined it in Colossians 3:23. Ultimately, we work for God, not for any human boss. And that truth should change the way we approach our careers.

Like the Wright Brothers, you’ll face a variety of challenges along The Legacy Journey. Never go down without a fight! Whatever you do, work at it with every ounce of energy and passion you can muster. If you do that, you’ll find purpose, and you’ll please your human boss.

More important, you’ll bring a smile to your heavenly Father.

Need more inspiration? The Legacy Journey covers purposeful living, mastering your talents, and living a generous life. To learn more, visit daveramsey.com/legacy.