Last October, I discovered my purpose.
Contrary to what you might think, it wasn’t the answer to “What am I going to do when I grow up?” Rather, as I learned, purpose is our personal superpower, our true essence, the singular quality that we bring to the world.
I didn’t hit upon mine through meditation or counseling, but through a special leadership program created by former Greenville resident, Nick Craig. Nick graduated from Furman University with a degree in computer science and mathematics, then moved to Boston to pursue a tech career only to find his true life calling. Today, he is the founder and president of the Core Leadership Institute, based in Harvard, Massachusetts. Nick travels the globe, guiding executives of companies such as Ben & Jerry’s, Lego, and Heineken to lead from within (see “Core Insight”).
We each are unique. We each have authentic value. When we understand the essential gift we bring to any meeting, conversation, or moment, we’re able to empower our teammates, employees, friends, and family. When we tap into what really drives us, we have the will to manifest our destiny, create our path, and inspire others in the process.
Photographer Allie Monday, who graces the cover of our “Business as Unusual” issue, is a testament to living from purpose. Through her business Ladygroove, she encourages women to have a loving relationship with themselves, uplifting them through her distinctive lens. Artistry and intimacy align in her fine art portraits that are more like conversations (“Bare Essence”). For our feature story, we asked Allie to take the photographs of eight female leaders whose businesses are shifting the face of The Village of West Greenville and impacting lives far beyond its corners (“This Woman’s Work”).
Like each of the remarkable individuals profiled in our March issue, we have an inner calling. To hear it requires the desire to listen—and to live from it the courage to answer.
Blair Knobel, Editor-in-Chief, blair@towncarolina.com
