Know Your Why
Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life
- Work, Money & Leadership
- Christian Living
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
“Challenging, inspiring and practical.” Bear Grylls “I can’t think of anyone more qualified to write about the significance of knowing your purpose than my friend Ken Costa… His new book, Know Your Why, is absolutely foundational to living a purpose driven life.” Rick Warren “Among the crush and the rush of life, there's no better guide in the pursuit of getting it right than my friend Ken Costa… I highly recommend Know Your Why, and am confident you will see more clearly and live more purposefully after absorbing the wisdom in its pages.” Louie Giglio, Pastor, Passion City Church, Passion Conferences “This is an important and timely book. In a world of seemingly endless options, discerning the voice of God can be an increasingly difficult task. Ken draws on decades of experience to help Christians cut through the confusion and distractions and live lives in tune with God.” Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries “There are few people on this planet that I find more fascinating than Ken Costa. His capacity for business is only outweighed by his affection for the local church; and he has beautifully modelled to a generation what it means to live out your calling and build the Kingdom.” Brian Houston, Global Founder and Senior Pastor of Hillsong Church Are you working for cash, a career, a cause—or a calling? “Why do you do what you do?” People work for a variety of reasons. For many, the primary purpose of their work is cash. Their principal motivation is the paycheck that funds their everyday needs. Their work is a means to an end. Others are motivated by ambitions for a career, to move up the professional ladder and expand their experience, becoming more skilled in a particular area. Still others work for a cause, believing in the wider purpose of their work, attempting to make a difference in the world—to leave a mark in some way. All of these are legitimate motivations. However, missing from all three is any sense of the value of work itself. The focus is on the output of the workplace, rather than valuing the input. What we need is calling. Those who see their work as a calling experience a rich integration in their lives. They sense a purpose, a direction to their activities. Work has intrinsic meaning, rather than being simply a means to an end. In many ways this is precisely what the Spirit of God does in our lives. When we are in the flow of the Spirit, we are cooperating fully in our God-given callings. When people embrace their callings, they love their work, can manage inevitable tensions that arise, and are welcomed by their colleagues, who sense that there is something beyond the cash or career objectives. But how do we get there? Know Your Why is written with one objective: to help you find your life’s calling so that you can be more satisfied, fulfilled, and happier at work. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” —John 15:16 NIV
Endorsements (27)
“Ken Costa is one of the most dynamic and inspiring Christian influencers in our country today. His passion to see young people grow strong in their faith—particularly in the workplace—has been a constant stimulus throughout his life. As one of the most senior bankers in the City of London, his commitment, drive, and vision to see the church in the UK become a force once again in our nation has contributed to the growth of Leadership College London, Alpha, and numerous other initiatives which have revitalized the church. Know Your Why is about calling, and there are few people more qualified to address that subject than Ken Costa.”
“There are few people on this planet whom I find more fascinating than Ken Costa. His capacity for business is only outweighed by his affection for the local church; and he has beautifully modeled to a generation what it means to live out your calling and build the kingdom—even when they are seemingly in competition with one another. Ken’s life experiences and heart for people to flourish in their faith make him an expert on this topic, and I know that his forward-thinking, straight-shooting, and humorous ways will enlighten and encourage you.”
“Ken Costa’s new book Know Your Why is such a powerful description of the beautiful call that God has placed on each person’s life. In this noisy world it is so easy to feel lost in your calling and true passion. Ken does a wonderful job explaining how to find your ‘why’ in life and how it aligns to God’s plan for you all along. I am honored to call Ken a friend, and I recommend everyone read this book!”
“God gives everyone a calling, but how can you know for sure what it is? In Ken Costa’s new book Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life he adapts forty years of research into a practical, day-to-day guide that explains how you can hear God’s call in the midst of a noisy and distracting world. I believe this book has the potential to transform your life as you begin to walk in the God-given calling only you can fulfill.”
“No matter your age or stage of life, Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life will illuminate the path between where you are and where you want to be. With practical wisdom and timeless truth from Scripture, Ken Costa draws on his renowned international career in the corporate, academic, and ministry arenas to show you the way. Know Your Why is an instant classic, a guidebook for living authentically, one to which you will return again and again.”
“It’s amazing how much more you can accomplish or endure when you understand the ‘why’ behind what you are doing. That’s why Ken Costa’s new book Know Your Why is so important. If you’ve ever wondered why you’re here and what your purpose is, pick up this book. Ken will guide you step by step to prayerfully discover your calling so you can live every day on purpose.”
“I can’t think of a more pressing or significant conversation than the one you will have in this book as Ken Costa helps you discover the reason you are on earth and how God wants to fulfill his calling for your life. Almost every person I talk to wants clarity concerning his or her purpose. People want to know that they are maximizing their brief time on planet Earth by doing well the things that God has uniquely wired them to do. Among the crush and the rush of life, there’s no better guide in the pursuit of getting it right than my friend Ken Costa. Not only is he an all-star guru with a stellar track record in the highest ranks of corporate banking and finance, Ken loves Jesus and lives with extraordinary purpose so the world can come to know him. I highly recommend Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling In Life and am confident you will see more clearly and live more purposefully after absorbing the wisdom in its pages.”
“This is an important and timely book. In a world of seemingly endless options, discerning the voice of God can be an increasingly difficult task. Ken draws on decades of experience to help Christians cut through the confusion and distractions and live lives in tune with God.”
“Life, at least as I know it, so often rolls out like a complex and curious process of circumstance and collision—questions begging more questions, answers often more complicated and incomplete as the curiosity that sought them out. “In my own journey Ken has been a constant voice and ear of encouragement when it comes to navigating the madness of it all. His wisdom and humility, and his rare balance of sage experience (not to be confused with age) and youthful optimism, have helped peel back the layers of construct, opinion, and pretense in a way that has immensely helped refine my own worldview and calling. That Ken has written this book is a cause for celebration for those like me who have benefitted benefitted from the ‘rooftop conversations.’ This book won’t answer all of your questions, but that is not what Ken does—it is more profoundly a wealth of wisdom and encouragement in how to tackle life and all its curious complexities and find clarity and joy in the process.”
“Transformed people transform their surroundings. We often get this backward, as people try to fix things in their churches or communities that are not yet repaired in their own hearts. Know Your Why is a wonderful book, filled with wisdom and insight, enabling the reader to truly become free. Each chapter steps through a key area of breakthrough that every believer needs to have in order to experience the full transformation and freedom of living in the kingdom of God. As these freedoms become a reality in us, they become a reality around us. In Know Your Why, author Ken Costa has given us an invitation to intentionally say yes to this divine process. In doing so, we will learn to partner with this work of the Holy Spirit for the journey of a lifetime.”
“To be effective, to make a difference, and to change the lives of others, it is vital to be sure of your life calling. No easy task. That’s why Know Your Why is such an inspiring read. I have known Ken for many years, and he writes as he is: in a lively and incisive manner, biblical and practical. It will be an invaluable help for many who are trying to navigate the complexities of modern life. I was particularly pleased that Ken stresses the fact that calling is not pietistic—only for those wanting to hear God’s voice for their personal needs—but powerful to those who wish to follow God’s healing ways in a broken world.”
“We have known Ken Costa for almost forty years, and he has been an inspiration in many ways: provocative, imaginative, always challenging us to think better and live more Christianly, even when one disagrees with him. This book has all of Ken at his best. It is rooted in Scripture, candid in acknowledging his own developments and weaknesses, passionate about how people find their way in obedience to Christ amidst the great practical decisions of life, and compassionate for those struggling. Written from his own experience, it speaks to the concerns of young professional people everywhere.”
Archbishop. Justin Welby
“One of Britain’s most influential and respected leaders, Ken Costa, has spoken wisdom more precious than gold in his latest book, Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life. This book is compelling reading, especially for young people who struggle with knowing what is their calling and purpose in life. Ken’s love for God and his Word flow through every page. His spirit is contagious; this book will change your life by setting you free to serve God in the secular world as well as in the church.”
Dr. R.T. Kendall
“An excellent book . . . easy to read and very practical . . . Ken Costa throughout shows the relevance of his faith to the personal challenges of everyday life but always relates it to the person of Jesus and his kingdom.”
“In a world awash with books on purpose and fulfillment, Know Your Why stands out because of who Ken Costa is and where he has been in the world of high-altitude finance. Few can match the seasoned richness of his experience and his wisdom.”
“Know Your Why will become a life-defining book for many, as Ken Costa addresses the issue of vocation, sharing hard-won insights garnered from the coal face of business and ministry over many years. If you are looking for direction and purpose, this book will help you move beyond the mundane ‘what’ and ‘where’ questions to discover the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of a truly fulfilled life.”
“I’m really grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Ken Costa over the past few years. His financial and business success has run parallel to his commitment to a deep faith. I turn to him for advice, encouragement, and sometimes, just to hear his soothing British accent. For the first time, he’s releasing a book in the United States, and I’m eager for leaders in my generation to consider with him how to find a worthy ‘why’ to drive our pursuit of success.”
“There is probably no area that gives us more frustration than questioning God’s will, but one of the problems is that we often focus more on ‘what’ than on ‘why.’ My friend Ken Costa teaches us to remember our identities so we can live out our destinies rooted in who we are and why we’re here. You are anointed and appointed—God has called you, and it’s time to take your place, fulfilling your calling and changing the world.”
“Ken Costa is a leader among leaders with decades of insightful wisdom that comes only from faithfully living a life of integrity. He brilliantly conveys the path to purpose in his book Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life. Ken has been an example in my life of what it means to prioritize a life of prayer. You will be encouraged and inspired to seek the voice of God in the midst of a world full of distractions.”
“Ken speaks not only out of theological reflection but also from a life of practical application. I believe this will be a helpful book to many young adults who seek to make godly choices in a multichoice world. I commend it to you.”
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