【GMBA】Lead with Conscious Purpose by Michael Karbouris, Founder of 7th Floor

國際事務室暨GMBA辦公室

撰文者／GMBA學生Harsh Sharma夏河旭

An insightful LIVE event organized by the GMBA Student Council featured Michael Karbouris as the guest speaker. He began with a fundamental question, “What is purpose?” He clarified that the notion of having a single, fixed purpose is misleading. Purpose, according to Karbouris, is about “doing the right thing at the right place at the right time” and putting “something in front of ourselves.”

The concept of purpose varies from individual to individual. For some, it could be managing a $500 million business, while for others, it might be taking care of a sick family member. Some people may discover their purpose, while others may not. He categorized these different mindsets into unconscious and conscious.

People with an unconscious mindset often chase money, power, and status, which defines their purpose. Such individuals typically exhibit extrinsic self-worth, insecurity, and conditional attitudes, which make them unsuitable for leadership. Conversely, those with a conscious mindset understand that purpose involves authenticity and enthusiasm. These people demonstrate natural curiosity, positivity, and wisdom, and are better equipped for leadership roles.

Karbouris emphasized the importance of self-inquiry in discovering one’s purpose. He described two approaches:
1. Unconscious Mindset: People who believe they “know who they are” focus on their physical existence, emotions, thoughts, and past experiences. They rely heavily on their memories, upbringing, and social influences.
2. Conscious Mindset: These individuals admit they “don’t know who they are” and remain open to new ideas, philosophies, and experiences. They adapt to life’s changes and continuously manifest new purposes.

In conclusion, Karbouris outlined six key points for leading with conscious purpose:
1. Create purpose by acting on your values in any and every situation – being in “a state of purpose” instead of “what specific thing should I do?”
2. Express the values that matter most to you in any situation, and purpose manifests in day-to-day actions.
3. Acting from a state of purpose, over time, helps clarify your direction in life, so it all does come together.
4. Leadership aligned with real purpose can shift the collective energy of organizations toward a positive impact.
5. That creates organizations that contribute to a better society. This ripple effect can address global challenges.
6. To start with, you don’t have to do anything but be aware of it!