Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life by Ken Costa Summary

1. Your identity in Christ precedes your calling.
2. Your calling lives where deep gladness meets the world's deep hunger.
3. Work occupies forty percent of life, so make it meaningful worship.
4. God genuinely cares about your passions, dreams, and unique gifting.
5. Fear of failure blocks calling, but faith always requires taking risks.
6. Waiting on God's timing is active discipline, not passive avoidance.
7. Community provides accountability, wisdom, and support for discovering your calling.
8. Christians must engage and transform workplaces, not withdraw from society.
9. Know Your Why addresses the purpose crisis in a rapidly changing workplace.
10. Your workplace is worship continuation, not an interruption of Sunday service.
11. Gideon's story demonstrates how God transforms doubt into confident purpose.
12. True calling means serving others, not just achieving career success.

About the Author of Know Your Why

Ken Costa is the author of Know Your Why: Finding and Fulfilling Your Calling in Life and an internationally renowned investment banker with over 40 years of experience in the financial sector. This personal development and Christian living book explores how to discover purpose and meaning in work, drawing on Costa's unique perspective bridging faith and high-level finance.

Costa served as Chairman of UBS Investment Bank for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and later as Chairman of Lazard International, advising on major global deals including the sale of Harrods to the Qatari royal family in 2010.

Born in South Africa and educated in law and theology at Cambridge University, he is now Emeritus Professor of Commerce at Gresham College and Chairman Emeritus of Alpha International, which has reached over 27 million people worldwide. His other books include God at Work and The 100 Trillion Dollar Wealth Transfer, which examines how generational change will revolutionize capitalism.

FAQs About Know Your Why

What is Know Your Why by Ken Costa about?

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.

Who is Ken Costa, author of Know Your Why?

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.

Who should read Know Your Why by Ken Costa?

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.

Is Know Your Why by Ken Costa worth reading?

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.

What are the key takeaways from Know Your Why by Ken Costa?

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.

How does Ken Costa define calling in Know Your Why?

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.

What are the most powerful quotes from Know Your Why by Ken Costa?

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.

How does Know Your Why by Ken Costa address fear and failure?

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.

What role does community play in Know Your Why by Ken Costa?

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.

What biblical stories does Ken Costa use in Know Your Why?

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.

How can Know Your Why help with career transitions and workplace decisions?

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.

What framework does Ken Costa present in Know Your Why for finding your calling?

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.