Staying True to Your Core Philosophy
Most of us are familiar with the concept of mission statements that companies create to guide their actions and decisions. Similarly, individuals can benefit from having their own personal mission statements or core philosophies. These guiding principles remind us of what truly matters and help us make choices aligned with our values and aspirations.
Whether it’s building a successful international company, raising substantial donations, earning a high income, finding a life partner, pursuing creative endeavors, or achieving personal health goals, we can accomplish these objectives. However, without a core philosophy to steer us towards what is truly important, our achievements may leave us feeling unfulfilled. We risk sacrificing what matters in other areas of life while focusing on a single pursuit.
A Core Philosophy Shaped by Mentors and Personal Inspiration
When I first established my training company, Empowerment, Inc., I operated based on a core philosophy I developed during my time managing a pizza restaurant as an 18-year-old. I learned valuable lessons from my general manager, who served as my mentor. He consistently pushed me beyond my comfort zone, offered feedback on my performance, and aided in shaping my career in the industry. Additionally, I drew inspiration from observing my father’s work ethic, gleaning both positive and negative lessons from his example.
Taking everything I learned, I crafted my own core philosophy for success, which includes the following principles: Integrity, always doing what is right regardless of who is watching; Respect, treating others as I would like to be treated; Truthfulness, being completely honest with oneself and others; Accountability, taking responsibility for one’s actions; Faith, following a spiritual or higher purpose; Simplicity, striving to do one’s best and improve daily, as embraced in the Japanese concept of Zen; Consistency, adhering to a routine; Personal, prioritizing relationships and family; Peaceful, ensuring downtime without interruptions.
I can encapsulate my philosophy with the beautiful Hawaiian term “Kina`ole,” which translates to “Doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, for the right reason, with the right feeling, the first time.” It emphasizes the importance of striving for excellence without demanding perfection, simply doing one’s best.
Empowerment’s Rapid Expansion
In 1997, I assumed leadership of the family business, Empowerment. By 1999, I expanded my responsibilities to include managing a couple of our California-based companies. Within a year and a half, I found myself overseeing five companies. We even ventured into international markets, establishing a presence in Australia and expanding into Europe. I was at the helm of a multinational corporation with offices across three continents and an island, and I had eight trainers spanning the globe. We conducted an extensive number of trainings, surpassing the count of available weekends in a year on four continents. However, upon reaching this level of success, I inexplicably deviated from a couple of my core philosophies.
I maintained all aspects of my core philosophy except for the last two principles of personal and peaceful. Unfortunately, as soon as I achieved success, I sidelined the very elements that had motivated and driven me. I neglected activities that allowed me to recharge my energy, clear my mind, and nurture my emotions.
Balancing Work and Personal Life
In the early days of running the company and serving as one of our lead trainers, I would take Saturdays off and ride my motorcycle to Oahu’s north shore to indulge in pizza. Although this didn’t contribute to a healthy body, it provided an opportunity for me to disconnect completely by leaving my phone behind. I also eliminated distractions when my young son, Ethan, was with me. Sometimes we would do homework together, and I made it a priority to spend quality alone time with him. Additionally, I always scheduled vacations with loved ones to strengthen our connections.
Somewhere along the way, I deviated from that part of my philosophy, and as a result, I lost my wonderful relationship with my father. I nearly alienated my son, and I saw a personal relationship with an amazing woman slip away. These experiences served as wake-up calls, reminding me of the importance of returning to my philosophy. I needed to reconnect with what had made me successful. I needed to reintegrate downtime into my life, create opportunities to connect with myself and loved ones, and prioritize my family and relationships over other matters.
As I write this, I have my iPad open to notes labeled “my personal philosophy.” I frequently remind myself of its principles because they have been instrumental in achieving what is truly important to me.
Your core philosophy should revolve around what matters most to you. By using it as a guiding force, you can not only achieve success but also lead a life that is genuinely fulfilling.
Mahalo,
Dr. Matt
Read the original article on: Phylosophy Today
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