I was taking part in an interview with a new member of Alpha Phi Omega (APO) recently and I was asked how it was possible for me to do all the things I do. As some of you may know, I am a brother in APO, Alpha Sigma Phi, a Resident Assistant (RA) in Jonas, in the Stevens Choir, on the Stevens Crew team, a writer of the column you are reading, and involved in various activities outside of the Stevens community. Sometimes it seems as if there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, but somehow it all manages to work itself out in the end.
I feel that why I do all these things is much more significant than how I do all these things. Before I started studying at Stevens, I was a student at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts. The Academy’s mission statement is something that has stuck with me through my time in high school and continues to drive me here at Stevens. Thayer aims to “inspire a diverse community of students to moral, intellectual, aesthetic, and physical excellence so that each may rise to honorable achievement and contribute to the common good”. This mission statement is something that I have referred to in almost everything I do.
Having a good understanding of your mission and goals in your life will help you understand what you want to do going forward. Take some time to determine what your personal mission statement is before stepping into any major roles. Once you’ve done that, check to see if what you’re working on fits that mission statement. If it does, then you’re in great shape, but if it doesn’t then it may be beneficial to take a step back and reassess where you are and what you’re doing.
An example of a practical application of these ideas is job hunting. We are all at that time in our lives where most of us will be interviewing with multiple companies, scurrying around to get copies of our resumes printed, and ensuring that all the correct information is on our LinkedIn profile. As you look at the different employers and positions that are available, check to see if the position aligns with your personal mission statement. Does the company explain why they do the things they do? Is it something that you believe in? You may be well versed in multiple programming languages or are able to design powerful and efficient aircraft engines, but if you don’t align with what the company believes in or their mission, why work for them? Your salary at the end of the day is only an outcome of what you do, but it feels amazing knowing that following your purpose fulfills not only your pocket, but your soul.
As Simon Sinek once said, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it”.
