If you can’t explain your life’s purpose in 15 seconds or less, you might not have one

It’s funny — I have noticed a remarkable pattern in corporate America: The longer it takes a person to explain a concept, the less that person tends to know and understand about said concept.

There are exceptions, but as a whole, it’s a consistent pattern.

“I’m crafting an innovate software solution designed to disrupt the community by combining differing heterogeneous data sources into a single unifiedpattern that empowers the end user through strategic energy and a robust realignment of disparate data repositories.”

Excuse me, but F-You.

When I ask about your idea, I am trying to understand the problem that you’re solving in plain English. I’m not your high-level corporate manager who is impressed by buzzwords. And, I’ve done this long enough to see through the hollow pit of ignorance that business buzzwords are designed to cover up.

If you can’t explain to me your business idea in 15 seconds or less, I’m inclined to believe that you don’t have any idea what you’re doing.

You have a solution in search of a problem.

Or, you simply don’t understand the problem well enough to design an effective solution…much less describe your intended product in a way that doesn’t make you sound like a career-long corporate talking head.

If you can’t explain what you’re building, you probably won’t succeed.

Know your life’s purpose in 15 seconds or less

The more I thought about this phenomenon, the easier it was to connect to, well, us. Humans. Our purpose in life and why we get up each and every day and do whatever it is that we do.

Whether you work a traditional job or not, are retired, self-employed or just vagabond around the world in search of enlightenment, we all have a purpose. Truly, we do. Each and every one of us has a purpose. I believe that.

But, here’s the kicker: Though each of us has a purpose, I also believe that most of us don’t have any idea what that purpose is. Or, at least a clear understanding of that purpose. We might have one of those “inklings”. But short of that, the majority of the population probably couldn’t recite their life’s purpose in 60 seconds, much less in 15.

This isn’t meant to criticize. Instead, I’m encouraging you to reflect. To think about what gives your life meaning and understand your purpose as deeply and clearly as possible. This shouldn’t take any research on your part. This isn’t a science project or book report. This is life. You.

If you couldn’t tell me your life’s purpose in 15 seconds, spend two minutes and figure out how to make that happen. Jot down notes if you need. Do whatever it takes to:

• Understand what your purpose is, and
• Understand it well enough to recite it quickly and clearly

Buzzwords need not apply.

For me, my purpose looks something like this:

“My purpose is to travel the country in search of new and exciting things; to experience and enjoy as much of this world as possible before I die.”