🎬 Rather watch or listen instead of read? Now you can!

👉 Click here to Listen

Your meaning makes a difference.

Maybe I'm amidst a "mid-life crisis," or perhaps I'm a walking definition of an entrepreneur.

These feelings could be triggered by the fact that my boys are graduating from High School next month or that I've almost completed another trip around the sun.

It's also possible that as I'm preparing to visit my practically 87-year-old grandmother, that I expect to be reminded that there is still so much life to live.

Or, I'm delirious because of the cognitive load that sending twins to college entails.

Have you ever paused to question the meaning of life while filling out a FAFSA form?

Regardless of what it is, the reality [1] is that "meaning" has repeatedly shown up for me, so

Welcome to the Curated Conversation for April 2024.

As usual, let's begin with the dictionary definition. The book that defines the meaning of 470,000+ words [2]

Um, ok, so we might be talking about this topic for years to come 🤯

We search for meaning in our lives, our work, our relationships, and often in other humans' behavior. We yearn to understand why. What is the purpose? We give meaning to shapes and call them letters, which create words that can turn into sentences and paragraphs within objects we call books.

These can shape the input our brain receives and spit it back out as meaning—for you.

We're all out here trying to figure out what it all means, right?

My intent this month isn't to have an answer for you but for you to take a pause from time to time and consider the meaning of what you are doing—as a friend, family member, or entrepreneur—while also not getting yourself so stuck in the "why" that you're hindering action and progress.

We don't need to spend our time, energy, and attention on which humans woke up one day and said, "Let's make the FAFSA better," and then did what they did.

It's more important we remember to feed and water ourselves.

Finding meaning in life comes with recognizing your ability to shape and redefine that meaning.

And to quote our dear friend and colleague Virginia L'Bassi [3],

"You have the power to change because you have the power to choose."

Let's unpack this thought around our topic of meaning and our knowledge that with 8.1 billion people on this planet, countless possible combinations can create a person's meaning.

But you have the power to change…yourself, your home, your work, your passion, your situation, your community, your state, and your country.

You also have the power to change its meaning for yourself and to inspire others.

This is why I'm an entrepreneur.

I thrive on meaning and purpose in my work. To make a difference in the lives of other entrepreneurs and the work they are motivated by. We collectively bring their purpose to life, their people, and the world.

Your meaning makes a difference.

I didn't set out to have twins, and in reflecting back on our journey, I'm not sure I expected to be sending them both to continue their education. (I want to thank the government for "improving" the FAFSA form and no longer considering that we are sending TWO kids to college simultaneously. [4])

*sarcasm

Finding meaning is an ongoing journey filled with unexpected twists and turns.

I'll leave you with a calendar page from Seth Godin's Page-A-Day [4.5], which was on one of the last days of our topic of Pride [5].

Another breathtaking moment crossing my eyes, mind, and heart led me to bring this topic of "meaning" to you.

How do you define meaning in your own life, and what factors contribute to shaping that definition?

The answers you need for your business are already within you.

If you’d like support in pulling them out to build a business you are proud of, I’m here to help.

Book a free consultation

Was this blog forwarded to you? Sign up!

[1] Miss our month on "Reality?"

[2] How many words are in the current version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary?

[3] Virginia L'Bassi

[4] I genuinely appreciate all the work being done to streamline the FAFSA for parents in America. I wish they had done it last year for my benefit. ;)

[4.5] Seth Godin’s Ship It Calendar

[5] Miss our month on "Pride?"

Want to see every Weekly MindSweep in one place?

Where to find me

Collaborations!

In other news…

Feeling #FOMO about Curated Conversations? Join us!