Introduction
A business fable to help you discover your purpose in work and life
New from Jon Gordon, the international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Energy Bus, The Seed takes you on a quest for the meaning and passion behind work. Josh, an up-and-comer at his company, is disenchanted with his job. Challenged by his boss to take two weeks to decide if he really wants to work there, Josh takes off for the country, where he meets a wise farmer who gives him a seed and a promise: find the right place to plant the seed, and his purpose will be revealed.
Through Josh's journey cross-country journey, you'll find surprising new sources of wisdom and inspiration in your own business and life.
Nobody captures the deeper meaning of business like Jon Gordon, and The Seed is his most searching and significant book yet. Whatever your profession, take this insightful look at the purpose behind work, and plant The Seed of inspiration in your life! Q&A with Author Jon Gordon
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| Author Jon Gordon |
What inspired you to write The Seed? I had a vision of a farmer giving a young man a seed and saying ?Find out where to plant this seed and your purpose will be revealed to you.? I think about passion and purpose a lot and was inspired to write a story about the journey and the four stages we all have to go through to find, live and share our purpose in our life and work.
Who do you see as the audience for this book? It's really a story for anyone who wants to live with more passion, purpose and happiness. Whether you are searching for your ultimate purpose, your unique reason for being alive, or simply want to experience more passion and happiness in your every day job, my hope is that this book will inspire you.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to find a bigger purpose in their life or at their job? I believe there's a flawed perception in our society that in order to live a life of purpose we have to leave our jobs and go solve world hunger, feed the homeless, move to Africa or start a charity. While these are all noble causes and many are called to do these very things, for many of us our bigger purpose can be found in the here and now, in the jobs we have, right under our noses. And when we find and live this purpose it will provide the ultimate fuel for a meaningful life. You may not build libraries around the world but you can find the bigger purpose in reading to your children. You may not feed the homeless every day but you can nourish your employees and customers with a smile, kind word and care. And while you may not start your own non-profit organization you can begin a charity initiative at work. After all, "charity" means "love in action." You can make a difference every day and touch the lives of everyone you meet. I have found when you decide to serve in small ways you get more opportunities to serve in bigger ways. When decide to live with purpose, your bigger purpose finds you!
Do you know anyone personally who has found their bigger purpose? If so, what was it? I heard of a janitor who worked at NASA and even though he was sweeping floors he felt his bigger purpose was contributing to put a man on the moon. I met a bus driver who knows his purpose is to help kids stay off drugs. I received an email from a man in the mortgage business who sees his job as a way to help couples save their marriages by keeping their homes. I know a Popeye's Chicken employee named Edith in the Atlanta Airport who makes thousands of air traveler's smile each day. I found my purpose when, at the peak of my unhappiness, I asked ?why am I here and how can I serve.? A few days later, writing and speaking (something I never did before) came to me and I haven?t stopped since.
