Personal Philosophy vs. Mission
Dr. Michael Gervais: Is This How I Want to Take This Hill?
2 min read · 5.7.2025
“When we look back at the most influential people on the planet, it’s three general sources:
thinkers, activists, and scientists.
“When you examine Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s approach to life—
he had a very clear philosophy—
I bet without any big discovery you know what it is, right?
“What would you say his philosophy is, if you were a reductionist about this amazing man’s life?
“Non-violent grit towards equality.
“And so the purpose was to create a world where there was equality.
“And his approach towards that, his unique tone was about non-violence.
“And then he had all this passion and perseverance against it.
“So I call passion and perseverance—those are more skills,
and then the philosophy is a non-violent and equatable world that I am looking for.
“The mission is day in and day out to live in lines with that, to go into every room that I can possibly be in and talk about it and be about it, and demonstrate it, and mobilize toward it —that’s the mission.
“The philosophy is love, equality—those are philosophical notes; non-violence is a philosophical note.
“So philosophy is about guiding principles, the mission is the activation of it.
“We can get outside of it and talk military—the mission is to take the hill.
“For what?
“The purpose, the bigger thing.
“The purpose would be to protect the lives of the native country that we are protecting.
“And then one step up—vision—what does it look like, feel like, sound like if that thing were to happen?
“This sounds like we are thin-slicing but these are very different words and meanings.
But the philosophy are the guiding principles that you bounce up against to say is this how I want to do this?
It ‘s the how. Not the mechanical goal how, but the tonal.
Principles are tone-based, not action-based.”
References:
Dr. Michael Gervais. Uncovering Peak Performance and Maximizing Human Potential with Dr. Michael Gervais. Flow Research Collective. Apple Podcast. Episode 10. 2021
Dr. Michael Gervais. Develop a Peak Performance Mindset with Dr. Michael Gervais. YT Channel: Steven Kotler. 2023.
