Discovering Your True North

I had the privilege to attend the Global Transformational Forum 2015 on October 2015. It is a forum where the leaders of delivery units and subject matter experts have gathered on the same stage to share their perspectives on operationalising transformational initiatives and programmes.

Amongst the featured speakers are Helen Clark, the Administrator of United Nations Development Programme, Goh Chok Tong, former Prime Minister of Singapore, Arnold Schwarzenegger, former Governor of California and Dato’ Sri Idris Jala, the CEO of PEMANDU & Managing Director of BFR Institute.

In the Discipline of Action segment, which Arnold spoke at, he said if you don’t have a vision and if you don’t know where you’re going, then everything you do become a chore.

“How did I become the greatest bodybuilder who had ever lived by becoming the youngest man who ever won the Mr Universe title at the age of 20, and the four times after that?” Arnold said.

Former Governor of california and action movie star Arnold Schwaxenegger during
Global Transformation Forum at KL Convention Centre: Courtesy of BFR Institute

“I became all these not because of sheer dumb luck but because I have a vision and I followed that through to the very end. I do not have a Plan B, I only have Plan A and I was sure I will follow it through,” Arnold said.

“You must discover your vision and the rest will follow,” Arnold said.

Here are some of his quotes which are really memorable. 

After realising the importance of defining our true north I decided to figure out some reflection exercises which could help us to discover our purpose in life.

I had the privilege to interview the manager of Life Skills Development of Taylor's University Lakeside Campus, Janaronson Nagarajah, who has years of experience in leadership development and character building initiatives on ways to discover our true purpose.

Interview with Janaronson Nagarajah

He shared some simple steps that students could do to discover our purpose in life, The first question that said we should ask ourselves is:

‘Imagine that you are on your dying bed, and maybe within 30 seconds they will disappear from planet Earth forever, how would you want to be remembered by your family, friends and your community?’

The continued by stating the second question that we should ask ourselves is that, at our last breath, what would we want accomplish at the end?

He added that by answering those questions, it can be the first step to discover their true purpose in life.

The second step is finding our own passion.

‘What are the things that I will do even if I do not sleep, but it makes me happy?’ Janaronson asked.

The final step is to be strong in spirituality regardless of our religions, which can be a good guide to find our purpose in life.