A Purpose
Foundation of Values
A Purpose. Illustration by Ira Jaaska.
Emma rushed through Topshop to the accessory section and the necklace she had seen last week was on sale for only 99 pence. Madonna was wearing something similar when she sang “Holiday”. Emma grabbed it and ran back to her mum. With a big smile she dangled it in front of her and announced with trump: “Look mum, it's on sale. Can you buy it, please?”
Her mum looked at her calmly and said: “No! I have already bought you several things”.
Emma objected disappointedly: “But it's ONLY 99 pence.”
Her mum paused. She looked her directly in the eyes and said: “Darling, when you have earned a pound you can say it’s ONLY 99 pence. That day, you have understood the value of money.”
Emma felt her cheeks burning with indignation. At the age of 12, she felt too proud to insist any further because she knew that a “No” from her mother was a definitive NO.
As they made their way back home, Emma was deep in thought. How could she get the necklace? she started to reflect on what her mother had said “you don't know the value of money…”. She wondered if there was some truth to that. Afterall, her mum had bought her many things. She wondered curiously, how hard it would be to earn a pound? More importantly, how could she earn a pound?
She spent the rest of the day wondering and switching from feeling sorry for herself, to irritated and helpless and finally to feeling overwhelmed with the desire to earn a pound. She grabbed her bike and went around the house cycling. As she passed the newsagent, an ad asking for someone to do the Sunday newspaper round grabbed her attention. Suddenly, Emma felt excited! She dropped her bike in front of the shop and ran inside.
Emma: “Excuse me, there is a sign outside asking for a newspaper round delivery. I like to do it.”
The owner, who was a middle aged man and was busy stocking up the cigarette shelves behind him, looked at the small figure of Emma and said with a smile: “You can’t do it.”
Emma: “Why not?”
Owner: “You need to be able to cycle up the main hill on Crescent Avenue.”
Emma: “I can do that"!”
Owner: “You need to cycle up the hill with a big bag carrying the Sunday papers AND the weekly supplements?”
Emma paused. That's one heavy bag! She pulled her hands into fists and looked up with much determination:” I have strong legs. I can do it.”
The owner laughed out loud: “It's very heavy. You are too frail. You can't carry the bag and peddle up the hill.”
Emma: “Let me be the judge of that. I want to try. PLEEEEASE!! Give me one chance?!”
The owner eyed Emma up and down and announced nonchalantly: “Fine but I will pay you after you have completed the paper round.”
Emma: “Deal. How much do I get for doing the round?”
Owner: “One pound.”
Emma: “ONLY one pound??!”
Owner: “It's ONE street! It's only the hill, because no one wants to go up. He then leaned across the counter towards Emma, and said with a smirk: “I told you, it's not a job cut out for you.”
Emma paused. She contemplated: it was a steep hill but there weren't many houses, plus she absolutely wanted to earn a pound.
Emma: “I take it.”
Owner: “Make sure your here on Sunday at 6am.”
Emma: “6am??!! It's Sunday! Everyone is asleep at that time.”
Owner: “If you want to make money, you best learn to get yourself out of bed early. Now make up your mind, do you want the job or not?”
Emma confirmed without any hesitation: “I will be here!”
The sound of the alarm made Emma jump out of bed on Sunday. She hit the alarm on the head before it woke her little brother up and she rushed to get ready. Grabbing her bike she cycled as fast as she could to the shop to collect the papers.
Owner: “You made it! Here is the bag.”
As Emma placed the bag across her small frame, she felt the weight of the bag pulling her down to one side. Sweat started to quickly break across her body as she biked towards the hill, curious if she can actually make it all the way up with the bag.
It sure was heavy! But with every paper delivered, Emma let out a sigh of relief, as the bag was getting lighter. She started to count up her earnings, as she delivered the papers in order to motivate herself: “10 pence, 20 pence, 30 pence,... one pound. Yes, I DID it.”
Emma enjoyed the breeze rushing underneath her T-shirt, going down the hill. She felt proud of herself. As she handed the empty bag to the shop owner, she announced with much glee and satisfaction: “One pound please.”
Owner: “Good job! Here you go. Do I see you next week?”
Emma smiled: “I will be here at 6.”
She cycled back home, to get changed and rush to the shop to buy her necklace. She was relieved when she found the necklace still there and grabbed it happily. She held it in her hands, looking at the colorful beads and the sign showing the reduction to ONLY 99 pence.
Emma stood there, rooted to the spot. Suddenly, she wasn't so sure anymore. She had worked hard to earn a pound. It took 30 minutes to deliver the papers. Was the necklace worth it? Did she really want it? Or maybe she should save up for a walkman?! What did she value more?
Personal:
Identify what do you want most:
What would spark you to take action towards that desire/purpose?
Is it worthy of your time and struggles?
Would the long term reward be meaningful to you?
How do your personal values inform this purpose or vice versa?
Would you cycle up the hill for it?
Parenting:
How can values best be taught to children?
Organisation:
Within your organisation how do you align purpose and values for yourself? And for others?
“Definiteness of purpose is the starting point of all achievement.”
- w. Clement Stone
