During the past two months I have had the privilege of engaging in depth-conversations with three different school leaders: a public school superintendent, a headmaster of a private school, and a principal of a faith-based school. I cherish depth-conversations. A consistent by-product is that my thinking continues to be stretched and challenged. Another by-product is that a burning question or two will eventually emerge into my consciousness. Among others, the following question emerged for me: ‘What motivates and sustains the leader so that he/she can engage the challenges – the difficult work – that present themselves?’
The response to this question depends upon a number of factors. Does the leader view his/her role as ‘a job,’ or ‘work,’ or ‘a career,’ or a ‘call’? Is the leader focused on ‘externals’ to motivate and sustain him/her? Is the leader focused on ‘internals’ (i.e. the ‘Inner Dimensions’) to motivate and sustain him/her? Does the leader seek a balance between the ‘internal’ and the ‘external’?
So far I have spent more than 47 years intensely observing and learning from a wide-variety of role-defined leaders. I have observed leaders who view their role as a ‘job’ – ‘I have a job to do!’ I have observed leaders who view their role as ‘work’ – ‘I work hard every day!’ I have observed leaders who view their role as a ‘career’ – ‘I am a professional!’ And I have observed leaders who view their role as a ‘call’ – ‘I have been called to serve!’ The externals and the internals that motivate and sustain each of these varies.
I have decided to focus on the leader who views his/her role as a ‘call.’ I have also decided to focus on the ‘Inner Dimensions’ that help motivate and sustain this leader [by the by, the three leaders mentioned above all view their serving as a ‘call’]. The number of inner dimensions is not infinite but is legion; hence, I will address a finite number, smaller than ‘legion’ I might add. Given this, I am not sure as I put finger to key how many postings will emerge; there will be more than two as far as I am able to discern this morning.
For some, one’s ‘Call’ and ‘Life Purpose’ are the same. For others they are quite distinct, yet complementary. For example, I knew when I was 16 that I was called to be an educator (i.e., one who calls forth; as contrasted with a ‘teacher’ one who ‘puts in’). The context within which I have ‘called forth’ has taken a number of forms. I was ‘informed’ when I was six years of age that my ‘life’s purpose’ was ‘to serve’ (I finally affirmed this when I was in my late twenties). So, for me, my ‘Call’ and my ‘Life’s Purpose’ are powerful complements. So, gentle reader, what is your ‘Call” – Do you have one? What is your ‘Life’s Purpose’ – We each have one, do you know yours?
Consider that one’s ‘Call’ is also an expression of who one is at one’s core (and, as I just noted above, ‘Call’ and ‘Life’s Purpose’ can be the same or they will be at their most powerful ‘complements’ of one another). My ‘Call’ is motivated and sustained (sustained = nurtured more than depleted) by ‘Inner Dimensions.’ Before I name and we briefly explore some ‘Inner Dimensions’ I invite us to consider the following; these support and frame one’s ‘Inner Dimensions:’ core values, core beliefs, core guiding principles, core virtues, core vices, deep tacit assumptions, certain prejudices, stereotypes, and judgments, certain perceptions and views of the/my world and ‘entheos’ (the animating spirit that sustains us).
Thousands of years ago the Oracle at Delphi advised: ‘Know Thyself’ and Socrates noted that ‘The unexamined life is not worth living.’ Hopefully our exploration will help those of us who are searching and seeking to know ourselves a bit better and help us examine ourselves a bit more fully.
Searcher-Seeker 
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