What are you building?

Let’s talk about the power of purpose. Have you heard the story of the three bricklayers? It’s a beautiful metaphor that illustrates how purpose can transform our attitudes and give a whole new experience to our work.

In this story, we meet three bricklayers working on a construction site. For the first bricklayer, building the wall was simply a job to earn a living. For the second, it was an occupation, a way to pass the time and make ends meet. However, it’s the third bricklayer who truly embodies the essence of purpose. For him, laying those bricks wasn’t just a task; it was a calling given he was not merely laying brick, he was building a .

I believe that purpose, or what I often refer to as “vision” , is essential for our sense of fulfillment.

Victor Frankel, in his book “The Meaning of Life,” highlighted how having a purpose beyond oneself can be a driving force even in the most challenging circumstances. He observed that those who found meaning and a reason to live beyond their personal struggles were more likely to survive and thrive, even in the midst of adversity.

The story of the three bricklayers also sheds light on the responsibility of leaders. As leaders, it’s crucial for us to inspire and empower others to discover their own “cathedral”, their purpose, and support them in building it. Each of us is uniquely created with a divine purpose that only we can fulfill in this world.

One question you could begin to grapple with is: How do we guide people from merely doing a job to becoming cathedral builders? How can we help individuals create their purpose at different stages of life and equip them to live it out?

Let’s remember that no one is just a bricklayer in life. While there’s honor in every role, whether it’s sweeping streets or composing symphonies, it’s about doing our work with such excellence and passion that it becomes a testament to our purpose and contribution to the world.

As Martin Luther King, Jr. eloquently put it, “If a man is ‘called’ to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted.” Our calling, our purpose, is what gives depth and significance to everything we do.

So, let’s continue to build our cathedrals, support others in building theirs, and live each day with purpose and vision.

If you want support in creating your vision, try my 5 day Dreamsource Discovery Process and clarify the cathedral you are building.