Last fall, I was working with a local community, who had asked me to help them become a leading center for entrepreneurs and technology experts worldwide. Their goal is to become a magnet for entrepreneurs and technology specialists currently living elsewhere and to become a center of innovation and excellence. During my work with them, I invited them to develop a clear definition of why they exist, what they stand for and how they will use their gifts to serve – what we call Destiny, Character and Calling. This would describe the uniqueness of their Community and help them to build an international reputation. I also worked with each of the 400 participants to develop their own personal Destiny, Cause and Calling statements to ensure that there was perfect alignment between their own personal dreams and those of their community. This is how we shape teams into greatness.

One of the participants, Leo, was struggling. He was a market researcher. He just didn’t know what his true Calling was. I asked him where his passion lay and he described his love of music. I asked him if he listened or played, and he said he played the piano. During our lunch break, some of the partcipants took me aside and told me what a brilliant musician this man was. So during lunch I asked Leo if he would like to play for the audience at the end of our meal and, reluctantly, he agreed. Since we were in a theater, I reasoned that we might find a piano, and with the help of two stage hands, I found one and lugged it into the lunch area.

Leo sat down at the piano – and he let it rip! I wondered if Jerry Lee Lewis had just set fire to the piano! Leo raised the roof! It was clear this was a moment of pure joy for him as he rocked the room. everyone was dancing, clapping and whistling – inspired grins were evident wall to wall.

I thanked Leo and after the lengthy applause subsided, we returned to the auditorium for the rest of our meeting. Before we began, I asked the audience “Can anyone help Leo define his true Calling?” and they cheered and chanted “Music!”. Then I turned to Leo and said, “Are you still unclear about your Calling?

We can all take our passion and turn it into our Calling. Indeed, living a life where we AVOID or DENY our Calling is an irresponsible waste of our lives. Imagine your organization powered by people, each of whom had each found their calling and were using their finest gifts to serve the world – how extraordinary would your organization be then?

Good luck Leo, as you use your market research skills AND you musical talent to make your Community a worldclass center of innovation and excellence.