Purpose is What Fuels Perseverance
I talk about purpose in most of my keynotes, and I almost always include the story of my friend Sarah Nauser, a former police officer, diehard Royals fan, and one of the bravest people I've ever known. Sarah has been battling ALS for the last eight years, and in the course of her advocacy she has become very close with everyone in the Royals organization. She authored a letter to her favorite team as part of a feature that we aired on our Opening Day broadcast, voiced through AI cloning technology. Even as ALS has taken her physical voice, her platform has only grown louder.
Last week on Lou Gehrig Day, Sarah and her husband Lonnie made the trip to Cincinnati. The Reds honored her for her advocacy. And the Royals returned the opening day favor, writing a letter back to Sarah as part of an inspirational piece telling her why she matters. We even had special polos made with Sarah's logo that we wore on the broadcast, and as the piece ended, the players filtered in behind her and Lonnie in solidarity.
I've been in and around baseball for 32 years. That exchange is one of the most powerful things I've ever witnessed.
Purpose isn't something you find on a good day. It's what finds you when you need it most. Sarah has given that gift to an entire organization and anyone else willing to receive it. I am so proud of her and inspired by her resilience every single day.
Question: What does it mean to matter in your work? Sarah already knows the answer. As she often says, purpose is what fuels perseverance.