Why? by Ps Jacob Cunningham

Why do you do what you do?

Why do you roll into the carpark at work each day?

Is it because you have to balance the books and make sure the PnL spreadsheet is up to date?

No, sorry. That's what you do.

Is it to teach your anatomy students the origin, insertion, action, blood and nerve supply of each muscle in the body?

No, sorry. That's what you do.

Maybe it's to make the best tasting single origin latte on the Peninsula?

Sorry again. That's what you do. 

When is the last time you stopped and asked yourself, "Why do I do what I do?"

If I mention the name Samuel Pierpont Langley, I'm guessing you've never heard of him?

How about Orville & Wilbur Wright?

Back in the early 20^th century, the pursuit of “powered flight” was huge – everybody was trying it.

Samuel Pierpont Langley had what was assumed to be the recipe for success.

He was given $50k by the American government to figure out this “flying machine” conundrum – money was no problem for him - $50k was a lot back then.

He also held a seat at Harvard University and was extremely well connected. He managed to hire all of the best “minds” of the day to work for him.

The New York Times followed him around everywhere and everyone was on Langley’s side.

So how come we’ve never heard of Samuel Pierpont Langley?

Down the road at Dayton Ohio, Orville & Wilber Wright had nothing of what Langley had. They had no money, and paid for their dream from the proceeds of their bicycle shop.

Not a single person on the Wright brothers team had a college education.

The difference between the Wright brothers and Langley was that the Wrights knew their 'why'.

They were driven by a purpose. They were driven by a call. They were driven by a belief. They actually believed that if they could figure out this flying machine, it would change the course of the world. Their 'why' was to change the world by allowing people to fly around it. Their 'what' was the flying machine they were creating. 

Langley was different. He was solely pursuing the 'what' because it was a very lucrative business.

The people who worked with the Wright brothers worked with blood, sweat and tears because they were focussed on their 'why'.

The people on Langley’s staff just worked for the pay check week to week, focusing on the 'what'.

On 17 Dec 1903, the Wright brothers took flight, and no one was there to see it.

When you know your ‘why’, your ‘what’ becomes more impactful because you’re walking towards or in your purpose.