Purpose and Work

Many never connect life’s purpose with their career.  Jobs provide income so that on weekends we do what we really want to do.  Recent discussion at Ohio Valley University have focused on how to connect the two, and not only how to link them, but how to lead college students to live lives filled with purpose.

A blog by Paul Smith, a former director and 20-year veteran of the Procter & Gamble Company, caught our attention.    Titled, “Is it Time for you to quit corporate America?” (http://www.thoughtleadersllc.com), the blog tells of Smith leaving his successful career to pursue something tied to his purpose in life.   He left to do something that met three criteria:

• Something he loved to do
• A task at which he excelled
• Something that touched other people in an effective way

The blog likely strikes a chord with many people.   But it made me see the people around me in a different way.

Those three criteria drive most of those who work in Christian higher education.  The OVU faculty could teach elsewhere, but they teach at a Christian school because it allows them to do what they love, what they are good at what they excel in, and to make a difference.   Our university is not wealthy and our faculty and staff loads are high, but few leave.  Why leave when work and purpose merge so effectively?

During my time at OVU several people like Paul Smith have joined our staff.  Smith’s story reminds me of our Executive Vice President Jeff Dimick, who left a successful career at Boeing to take up our mission.   As I watch this former rocket scientist mingle with the students and lead the staff, it’s clear he’s following his passion – he’s good at what he does and leaves change in his wake.

That’s what we aim to do at Ohio Valley University.  We educate to be sure.  We offer credentials, as do the other 4,200 colleges in America.   But what we seek is to help young people match work and purpose.

We love it.  We’re good at it.  It transforms lives.