How I Help Leaders Build Their Purpose, Vision, and Principles (PVP) (020)

How I Help Leaders Build Their Purpose, Vision, and Principles (PVP)

From my experience and through my lens, Ron Boire

If you’re leading anything right now—a business, a team, a family—you’re likelybeing pulled in a dozen directions. That pressure to perform, to adapt, to notscrew it up? It’s real. And if you’re like most of the executives I work with, there’s a good chance you’re living someone else’s strategy and being controlled by the world, rather than controlling your own.

That’s where the PVP comes in.

YourPersonal Vision and Principles aren’t some branding statement or motivational poster. They’re the foundation of your internal operating system.  And when they’re clear, they change everything, from how you lead a boardroom to how you say goodnight to your kids.

Let me walk you through the process I use with myself and with every leader I coach.

1. Start with Purpose

We begin by asking the most important (and most uncomfortable) question:
Why do I exist?  

I frequently tell the people I'm working with that your purpose is what they'll talk about at your funeral. It is the product of your life.  It's what Steve Jobs called “your dent in the universe.”  This isn't about accolades or material wealth; it's about the impact you've had on others, the values you embody, and the principles you live by.

At the end of your days here on earth, what do you want to be remembered for?  What core message do youwant to resonate through the eulogies and reminiscences? This isn't a morbid exercise, but a clarifying one. By contemplating your "defining output," you gain a sense of direction and clarity for your present actions.

Your purpose is the thread that weaves through every decision, every interaction, everything you do.  It's the "why" behind your"what." When you understand your purpose, your actions become intentional, aligned, and more powerful.  It provides a compass in moments of uncertainty, a wellspring of resilience in the face of adversity, and a constant reminder of what matters.

The work we do in defining your Personal Vision and Principles(PVP) isn't an intellectual exercise; it's the foundation of your legacy.

Not“what’s my title” or “what’s my next move”—but why am I here?

For me, my purpose is this:

To create meaningful impact for future generations of my family, my community, and the world, leaving each better and more hopeful than I found them.

That purpose keeps me honest and grounded.  It reminds me that I’m not just building a business, I’m building a legacy.

Ask yourself:  Who benefits from the way you live and lead?

2. Define Your Vision

This is where we talk about who you’re becoming.

Your vision should be aspirational—but it better be real. It’s not something you borrow from a book. It’s the clearest, most honest version of what it looks like when you’re at your best, over time.

Mineis simple:

To solve the biggest leadership problem facing the world; leaders who’ve lost their soul by awakening them to their humanity and restoring their ability to see and feel the impact of every choice, ultimately saving humanity itself.

That’s my North Star. If an opportunity doesn’t align with that vision, it doesn’t make the cut, no matter how “great” it looks.

3. Anchor with Principles

Here’s where the rubber meets the road.

YourPrinciples are your daily playbook, your core values, and moral compass for decision-making and leadership behavior.  They define your ethical leadership,building trust and integrity, essential components of enduring leadership and personal growth.

They’re the rules you write for yourself, so you don’t get hijacked by other people’s urgency, fear, or agendas.

Asa thought starter, here are mine. Feel free to use, modify, or simply reflect on ones that resonate, but make them yours:

1.    PrioritizeHealth: I will dedicate my time and energy to engaging with healthy individuals and organizations and supporting those striving to improve their health.

2.    DoWork that Matters for People who Care:I will work with leaders genuinely committed to change, focusing my energy on those ready to do the hard work of transformation.

3.    DreamBig: Lions don't hunt mice. I will pursue transformational impact, not incremental fixes.

4.    CommunicateTransparently:I will be honest about what I see, what I think, and what needs to change, even when it's uncomfortable.

5.    CultivateCuriosity:I will choose questions over assumptions, learning over lecturing.

6.    CreatePositive Impact:I will leave every person and situation better than I found them.

7.    ContributeGenerously:I will give my knowledge, time, and resources freely to those ready to use them well.

8.    I will work my plan every day.

4. Live It. Test It. Revisit It.

YourPVP isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it thing.  Mine has evolved as I have.  It won't radically change, but it will continue to reflect who you are and how you act.

So, here’s my ask:

If you don’t have a PVP, start.
If you have one, test it.
If you’re in transition, burnout, or crisis, come back to it.
And if you want help creating yours, let’s talk.

This work matters. It’s how we reclaim control. It’s how we Lead with Purpose™.

And it’s how we make sure we don’t leave our future and our legacy up to chance.

If you would like help building your leadership strategy and plan, I’d love to assist.  I can be reached at ron@ronboire.com

Be well,

Ron

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