During these difficult times, making do with what we have on hand has become even more important. It is human nature to want more than you can have but it is not wise or even necessary.

I, and many others of my generation, grew up with the basics. We did not have what we did not need. Millions of people in the world have no choice for economic reasons to rely solely on basic needs.

However, what some may lack in material things, they more than make up for with their passion and perseverance. I have observed rural artisans since I was very young and have learned so much from these wise people. One of the most important lessons they have taught me is that having clarity of purpose is much more meaningful than possessing anything material.

Weavers, like anyone else who lives in a rural setting, don’t have time to daydream or contemplate all the things that they want to acquire. Sure, everyone has dreams and there is nothing wrong in setting aspirational goals but focusing on a purpose is what leads to accomplishing great things in the long run.

Whenever I would watch the weavers, I noticed that they took full advantage of clarity of purpose. Most had little, if any, formal education but they all were aware of this concept if only through daily necessity. The purpose of a weaver is automatically built into their soul. He or she utilizes a skill that has been passed down from generation to generation in order to support their family. They are also carrying on old traditions that would die out if not for them.

Carpet making is tedious and painstaking work. It takes time and patience and cannot be completed without a clear purpose set before starting. While it may not appear so when observing a weaver creating a carpet, there is a clear plan in place to achieve the final product. He or she is focused on that one goal and that is why they are able to create such beautiful works of art.

The reason why these artisans are able to focus so clearly is because they are working to provide for their families while at the same time continuing an important tradition. This is their clarity of purpose.

Early on in my carpet career, I was living in Gujarat with my young family. Because we were just starting out, we did not have many possessions – just the basics. We would have often have guests come to the house, including the sarpanch (elected head of village). In India, the guest is god, so it was our duty to make sure anyone who visited our house was well taken care of.

My wife has never let me down in these matters. She would cook delicious meals but a dilemma would arise because we only had a couple of plates and bowls in which to serve the food to several people. However, my wife did not let this fact encumber her. She served the guests with whatever dishes she had and when they were done, quickly washed them and served me because I was hungry.

While I could only see my immediate need of hunger, my wife wisely saw the overall goal, which was to make sure the guests were looked after. She quickly took care of the potentially embarrassing situation and dinner was saved!

When you think selflessly and with the end goal in mind, you do not have time to make mistakes and be distracted. This philosophy is very important for businesses to consider now, especially now.

Operating with a clear mission and goal has numerous benefits for society as a whole and even an organization’s bottom line. Employees of such companies know they are working for leaders who care about them. This instills trust and, in turn, imparts a true sense of loyalty on behalf of the employees. They take pride in their work and are eager to produce because of this loyalty to the mission.

A common complaint among people and business owners alike is a lack of time. There are never enough hours in the day to get everything done it is often stated. But that is simply not true. If you have clarity of purpose, then you can plan better and utilize time in the best possible way. You are not wasting time on things that are not related to your mission.

A clear vision serves everyone in the best way because it allows us all to simultaneously focus our collective attention on what is important. When this happens, nothing can stop you from achieving what you want.