The genius of focusing your purpose on just one person

I am constantly amazed at the number of companies that believe pursuing a purpose is out of their reach. Oftentimes it is fueled by a belief that purpose only applies to endeavors like ending world hunger or reversing climate change.

In truth, an organization can adopt a purpose that is aimed at making a difference in just one life. And, in fact, this may be one of the most powerful ways to clarify a meaningful purpose for your organization.

Make a difference for just one person

A purpose is defined as the difference you make in a life, a community, or the world. Even if you’ve adopted a purpose with a global scale, it will always be most powerfully illustrated in a story of the difference that the organization made in the life of one person.

Water.org pursues the purpose of ending the global water crisis. Yet, they bring that purpose to life by telling the story of one mother who was able to get a small dollar loan so she could get running water and a toilet installed in her home. And how those connections helped her improve her family’s health, freeing up time that she used to earn more income for the family, and more. We get to see a picture of her and get to know her by name. It’s a big, world-changing purpose expressed through one woman.