Purpose and Lift
Dr. Foster Mobley // Quotables, Wisdom Leading
Q: What gives you energy, joy, passion-lift-and when was the last time you fully experienced it? As a leader of others, what does it make possible when you lead from that place?
Academy Award winning film for Best Picture in 1981, Chariots of Fire tells the story of two British sprinters preparing for the 1924 Olympics, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. They have similar levels of talent, but Eric runs with a freedom of spirit, what we would call "lift", that Harold doesn't understand.
Harold is driven to excel, driven to win. His path to the finish line is focused around training and preparation. Eric's energy and inspiration come to him differently; he runs to "feels God's pleasure." Eric trains hard too - but has found something better, for him, than merely striving or pushing - he's found purpose. He's found lift.
As leaders it's unlikely we can provide lift to others unless we can find it ourselves.
