Know Your Why by Ken Costa Summary

Know Your Why by Ken Costa is a Christian guide to discovering and fulfilling your calling in life, particularly within the workplace. Costa explores how to align your work with God's purpose by examining your identity in Christ, passions, and gifts. The book addresses practical challenges like fear of failure, decision-making, and waiting on God's timing while emphasizing that work should be viewed as ministry and service for the common good.

Ken Costa is a London-based investment banker with over 40 years of experience in global finance, having served as Chairman of Lazard International and UBS Investment Bank. He is also Dean of Holy Trinity Brompton Leadership College London and Chairman Emeritus of Alpha International. Costa uniquely bridges faith and secular professions, speaking on financial ethics and Christian issues while training young leaders to integrate faith into their workplace.

Know Your Why is ideal for Christians struggling to find purpose and meaning in their work, especially those who view their careers as separate from their faith. The book particularly benefits professionals facing career transitions, feeling disconnected from their calling, or wrestling with "inferiority complexes regarding their vocations". It's valuable for anyone spending significant time at work—Costa notes we spend about 40% of our lives working—who wants to transform their workplace as salt and light.

Know Your Why is considered an inspiring and biblically grounded book that offers practical guidance on decision-making, perseverance, and aligning desires with God's will. Reviewers warn it "might just change the direction of your life" because it deeply challenges readers to discover their God-given callings. The book effectively blends biblical principles with workplace illustrations from Costa's 40-year banking career, making it particularly valuable for professionals seeking to integrate faith and work meaningfully.

The main ideas in Know Your Why center on understanding your core motivation and divine purpose. Costa emphasizes that identity in Christ comes before destiny, teaching that work is service for the common good and transformation of the workplace. Key takeaways include engaging with God through prayer to discern calling, seeking community support and accountability, viewing waiting as spiritual discipline, and overcoming fear by trusting God's guidance. Costa stresses that taking risks is essential to living a life of faith.

In Know Your Why, Ken Costa defines calling as a personal journey shaped by individual experiences, gifts, and relationship with God. He emphasizes that calling is not just about career choices but is deeply rooted in serving others and the common good. Costa teaches that identity comes before destiny—who we are in Christ precedes our life's purpose. He frames calling as "the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet," highlighting the intersection of personal passion and societal need.

Know Your Why contains several impactful quotes that capture Costa's message.

• "You are uniquely loved, known, and called by God" emphasizes each person's divine purpose and identity in Christ.
• "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet" highlights fulfillment through serving others.
• "Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way" challenges readers to break free from self-imposed limitations and recognize their full potential in God.

Ken Costa identifies fear, particularly fear of failure, as a significant barrier to pursuing one's calling in Know Your Why. He offers strategies including seeking God's guidance through prayer and worship, and reframing failure as part of growth rather than permanent defeat. Costa encourages courageous action despite fears, emphasizing resilience and perseverance. He reassures readers that God's grace is sufficient and that mistakes can lead to new paths and insights, urging them to keep moving forward through challenges.

Community is essential in Know Your Why, serving as a support system that provides encouragement as individuals pursue their callings. Costa emphasizes that engaging with others creates accountability, helping people stay focused on goals and commitments. He advocates seeking advice from trusted friends and mentors during the discernment process. The book highlights shared wisdom and experiences from community members as valuable sources of guidance that can illuminate one's path and provide crucial insights for discovering purpose.

Ken Costa uses various biblical stories throughout Know Your Why to reinforce his teachings, with the story of Gideon serving as a prominent example. The Gideon narrative illustrates how God transforms individuals from doubt to confidence, empowering them to fulfill their callings. Costa uses this story to emphasize that true strength comes from God and that divine power enables individuals to achieve great things. He demonstrates through biblical examples how God breaks down personal and societal barriers, enabling people to step into their God-given purposes.

Know Your Why by Ken Costa provides practical guidance for career decisions by encouraging readers to seek God's guidance through prayer and scripture for clarity. Costa advises consulting trusted mentors and reflecting on experiences before taking action based on insights and God's leading. He helps professionals view their work as a calling rather than just a job, seeing workplaces as opportunities for transformation. The book is particularly helpful for those struggling with purpose at work or facing transitions, offering frameworks to identify passions, skills, and desires aligned with God's plan.

Ken Costa presents a three-part framework in Know Your Why for discovering calling:

• self-reflection to identify God-given passions and talents;
• prayer and openness to God's leading in various life situations;
• community involvement through seeking counsel from mentors.

He emphasizes examining the question "What will I do with what I have?" to consider how to use gifts and talents. Costa teaches that calling discovery requires active engagement—not passive waiting—through ongoing reflection, prayer, and action while remaining attentive to where deep gladness meets the world's deep need.