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What you’re missing in your job is purpose.

If your company were operating with a clear and present purpose, then you would be telling me how soul-satisfying your work is. You would be bragging on your participation in something bigger than yourself. You would be talking about how meaningful your work is. You wouldn’t be describing a hamster wheel and expressing the need to bail.

Of course you feel the need to bail!

In fact, Sue, you could serve as the poster girl for the 21st-century employee; there has to be a purpose to the work and organization.

“Yours is a common problem these days,” says Haley Rushing. “It’s a horrible state of business when people think they need to leave their passions at home.”

Haley is Chief Purposologist at Austin’s famed marketing/advertising firm, GSD&M Idea City.

You read right. Chief Purposologist. She’s the only one in the world, and she’s the co-author (with Roy M. Spence, Jr.) of the recently released It’s Not What You Sell, It’s What You Stand For.

Haley is passionate about her own work and her purpose: helping organizations fulfill their purpose. “I want my kids to live in a world where organizations are doing the right thing. The sustainability of the planet is determined by the decisions that businesses make. In some small way, I hope I can help transform the consciousness of business leaders to create value where everyone wins.”

Luckily, Haley found a company whose purpose aligned with her personal purpose before she nearly abandoned the marketing profession. GSD&M offered her the opportunity to use her insights into consumer motivation in a responsible, rather than exploitative, way.

“It’s hard to put kids and family on hold. If I weren’t doing something I believe in, I’d be miserable.” Employers, she says, need to “recognize that if they want people to show up for work enthusiastic and engaged, they need to give them something to be genuinely enthusiastic about—something they can believe in.”

The biggest lesson she’s learned?

“Choose your clients [or employer] wisely. You only have so much time and talent to give in this world. Don’t squander it working with people who aren’t as passionate and committed as you are. Look at every potential relationship as an opportunity for both parties to grow. Every one of my great clients has taught me as much as I’ve taught them. We get better together. So if something about a client [or employer] doesn’t feel right to you, listen to your instincts. There are too many amazing people and cool companies in the world to waste time working for those that don’t get it—and won’t ever get it.”

She could be speaking directly to you, Sue: “Listen to your instincts.” Sounds like you already know it’s time to move on. You present pretty strong evidence that your current workplace isn’t ever going to challenge you, develop you, or fulfill you. In the short term, you feel dissatisfied. In the long run, you’ll feel suffocated.

What to do? First, get clear about your own purpose, then find a compatible employer.

Haley offers this advice for women like you who are seeking a purpose-driven workplace: “Ask! If you’re wondering whether or not a company has a purpose, ask them. There is a lot of power in the question: ‘What’s your fundamental purpose in the world?’ or ‘What difference are you trying to make?’ If their answer begins and ends with ‘make money, increase revenue, maximize profit for shareholders,’ that’s a good indication that the organization isn’t purpose-driven. On the other hand, if they come to life and begin to tell you about the values that shape their culture and the difference they’re trying to make, listen up. This may be your opportunity to take up residence working for the ‘good guys.’

“The good news is that while purpose-driven organizations may have been the exception in the past, there are more and more emerging on the scene every day. You can often spot them by the enthusiasm and engagement of their employees if you interact with them as a customer. They may be the retailers that still see a steady stream of customers, while their competitors are hanging up their ‘going out of business’ sign.”

Ann Daly PhD is a life coach, keynote speaker, and author of A Year of Clarity: The Monthly Guide for Women. She helps women get clear about what they want and how to get it. Subscribe to her blog at: www.anndaly.com.

More than living a dream, Lisa is answering her true calling. Raised in Los Angeles, she comes by an appreciation of fine art from both her father, a passionate art collector, and her mother, an interior decorator. Her grandmother was an artist and although Lisa had no artistic ability she developed an appreciation and an eye for fine art. A born merchant, Lisa would set up a store in her bedroom as a child happily selling her “wares”. She was fascinated by the Beverly Hills gallery and the dealer, Michael Schwartz, who helped her father with his collection.

Fast forward to 2000…after receiving her MBA from Arizona State University, Lisa and her fiancé moved to Austin, completely unemployed. “It sounds crazy but the first time I saw the green water and the rolling hills I fell in love with this city. It was nothing like I imagined Texas would be. My husband, Chris is a software developer so Austin was a great fit for us. We bought a house, married and have two children.” Building a Dream that Transcends a Lifetime The Russell Collection Art Gallery

With a little research, Lisa quickly realized that Austin did not have a gallery carrying the museum quality, fine art she was passionate about and in 2002, she opened her first gallery at the Arboretum before moving to her current location at 1137 West 6th Street. Lisa rotates shows that focus on one artist with a diversity that ranges from pop artist Peter Max to contemporary Spanish artist Royo with her permanent collection which includes paintings by Impressionist Camille Pissarro and his descendants; Austin master sculptor Charles Umlauf; and master artists from Rembrandt to Matisse to Picasso. “From the beginning I have been totally committed to developing relationships with my clients and guiding them in developing collections they can completely enjoy. I love the idea of helping someone find a special piece-maybe discovering a new artist or finding a piece they missed out on. I will use all of my resources to find exactly what they are looking for. Serving my clients gives me great satisfaction. I want to know what makes them passionate about art. I know it sounds trite, but I absolutely love what I do.”

Fortunately for serious collectors passionate about art, Lisa Russell found a home in Austin and followed her dream of building collections of art that transcends a lifetime.

For more information go to: www.russell-collection.com

After 75 years of service, The Junior League of Austin (JLA) celebrates “the strength of women and the power of community.” Since its inception in 1934, the JLA has been committed to making a direct impact in Austin by promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.
 

Through the combined efforts and generous support of the volunteers, partner agencies and donors the JLA is able to strengthen the Austin community. On an annual basis, the League contributes more than $1 million to the Austin community, and its members volunteer more than 100,000 hours to support 24 local nonprofit agencies and eight League programs. In addition to these incredible annual contributions, in 2005 the organization pledged gifts to be paid out over a five year period to two significant community endeavors: the Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas and the Long Center for the Performing Arts. Beyond the donation of money and time, the JLA takes measures to perpetuate the positive impact of service, placing focus and energy in preparing its members for serving the community outside the League. The training members receive through their volunteer service with the League enables them to become positive agents of change in the community, serving as board and committee members in their businesses, schools and other nonprofit work. “As we take a look at everything The Junior League of Austin has done for the community over the last 75 years, I am filled with an overwhelming sense of pride,” said JLA President, Melissa Greenwood Morrow. “Taking time to appreciate the tremendous progress we’ve made since our beginning and the countless people and organizations we’ve impacted is profoundly inspiring. I can’t wait to see how this inspiration drives the League for the next 75 years.”

1930’s

February 9, 1934 – The Junior League of Austin was admitted to the Association of the Junior Leagues of America. Under the leadership of the first president, Gladys Greenlee Bowman, 50 members worked to form volunteer bureaus to recruit, train and place much-needed volunteers in the community. 1934 – The JLA selected its first undertaking, the Settlement Home, a facility that housed underprivileged children. Volunteers’ duties ranged from daily errands, to assisting in the clinic, and even serving as Board members. September 6, 1934 – The JLA opened the Thrift Shop, a venture designed to raise funds that supported other projects in the community. Just like today, members donated merchandise and volunteer hours each year.

1940’s:

1941-1945 – Like the rest of the nation, the JLA saw tremendous change when the U.S. entered WWII. War efforts consumed everyone’s volunteer time, but The Junior League of Austin continued to serve 12 civic agencies. 1945 – The successful radio program and award-winning JLA project, “Leather Breeches,” began as a Saturday morning series called “Books of Adventure” and evolved into a listening aid for public school teachers. The program won a National Radio Institute Award.

1950’s

1950-1954 – The fifties saw an increase in arts sponsorship by the JLA, including the Children’s Symphony Concerts, the Austin Symphony Orchestra and UT’s Fine Arts Department. 1954 – The first Charity Ball touted Johnny Long and his orchestra fresh from Meadowbrook, New Jersey, one of the nations top dance spots. Fundraising efforts associated with the ball nurtured local talent and even a future Broadway star: a tall, talented Texas by the name of Tommy Tune.

1960’s

1960 – With a growing membership, the JLA needed a home of its own to hold meetings and conduct business. The Texas Fine Arts Association offered The Gatehouse at Laguna Gloria Art Museum in west Austin. After an extensive renovation the Gatehouse became the JLA’s first headquarters. In the early 60’s the JLA’ s fundraisers netted record dollars. With an excess of funds in its coffers, the JLA created the “Project Funding Committee,” the precursor to today’s Researchers Committee, to look into local agencies and programs that would benefit from additional funding.

1970’s

The 1970’s marked the creation of the Grants Committee, a group of members that hosted training seminars in grant writing for nonprofit agencies – yet one more way to strengthen the community. 1976 – The JLA’s first cookbook, The Collection, was introduced to the public. November 1976 – “A Christmas Affair,” the JLA’s largest annual fundraiser, was first held at the Driskill Hotel. It has become the largest holiday marketplace of its kind in the country.

1980’s

May 16, 1983 – The JLA purchased the Square at Parkcrest as its permanent headquarters. Plans for renovations, leasing and fundraisers immediately ensued. 1984 – For its 50th Anniversary project, the JLA assisted in establishing Austin’s Ronald McDonald House.

1990’s

1991 – Alarmed at the high percentage of Hispanic girls who dropped out of high school, the JLA created the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program to educate and empower Hispanic girls to complete education and continue on to college. The college preparatory program serves girls in 6th through 12th grades. ***In 2007, the JLA officially launched the Hispanic Mother-Daughter Program and successfully established Con Mi MADRE… Mothers and Daughters Raising Expectations – as an independent nonprofit in order to ensure additional growth to meet the growing needs of our local Hispanic community. 1994 – To commemorate its 60th Anniversary, the JLA committed to support the People’s Clinic, a nonprofit primary heath-care facility that serves low-income families. The JLA provided $250,000 over a three-year period that helped fund the construction of a new building and improved services. 1997 – Coats for Kids was adopted by the JLA when its original sponsoring agency could no longer commit the resources to continue this valuable service. From its inception, Coats for Kids has been an extremely touching and rewarding project for both volunteers and recipients.

The New Millennium

2001 – The JLA sponsored its first “Girl Fest,” an event that allowed girls of all ages to learn about programs throughout the community. The half-day event culminated with Space Shuttle astronaut, Mae Jemison, giving an inspirational talk on the infinite opportunities for women today. 2005 – The JLA pledged community gifts over a five year period to two important organizations in Austin: The Dell Children’s Medical Center of Austin and The Long Center for the Performing Arts.