Everything You Know About “Purpose” Is Wrong
You don’t find your purpose — you build it
Purpose: The Misconception
“We awaken when we see knowledge being spread that goes against our own personal experiences.” — Suzy Kassem
What if everything you knew about “purpose” was wrong? That your passion isn’t internal but external? What if your calling wasn’t waiting to be found, but wanting to be claimed?
Seth Godin — the entrepreneur, creator of one of the biggest blogs in the world, and author of 19 best-selling books about marketing, business, and leadership, believes the idea of purpose is ludicrous.
“This isn’t about waiting for the right answer because there is no right answer. There are challenges we can sign up for and emotions we can experience.” — Seth Godin
He also suggests the great creatives and innovations in history were subject to their era.
Painter or Author?
“It is with the reading of books the same as with looking at pictures; one must, without doubt, without hesitations, with assurance, admire what is beautiful.”
― Vincent Van Gogh
Vincent Van Gogh — the impressionist-painter — would’ve chosen a different career if he lived today. He selected painting in the late 1880s because that’s what was available to him. Of course, he was interested, but he attributed an extra amount of excitement to the end goal of creating paintings that could be adored.
“I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tenderly’.”
― Vincent Van Gogh
If alive today, his inspirations would be different because of technological advancement; maybe an illustrator?
Perhaps he wouldn’t be interested in illustration; possibly an author? He used to write two letters a day to his brother — Theo. These letters later became published books.
“I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things.”
― Vincent Van Gogh
iPhone or Musician?
“I think great artists and great engineers are similar, in that they both have a desire to express themselves. In fact some of the best people working on the original Mac were poets and musicians on the side.” — Steve Jobs
If Steve Jobs were alive one hundred years ago, he wouldn’t have invented the iPhone because electricity was newly discovered. Jobs viewed technological innovation as art and loved many forms of art.
His favorite musician was Bob Dylan and used to play Dylan’s songs on his guitar.
Jobs also loved reading and writing. He read books about spirituality, philosophy, and personal triumph — 1984 by George Orwell being his favorite. The book inspired the famous Apple “1984” Super Bowl commercial that preannounced the Macintosh.
Perhaps Jobs would have been a musician or author in the 1920s. But one thing’s certain, creating quality art was his passion.
“The older I get, the more I see how much motivations matter. The Zune was crappy because the people at Microsoft don’t really love music or art the way we do. We won because we personally love music.” — Steve Jobs
Passion Isn’t Enough
“The problem isn’t a lack of passion. The problem is productivity.” — Mark Manson
I’ve had jobs and passions that I didn’t stick with because they didn’t “feel right.” Looking back, it didn’t feel right because I would find things wrong with each pursuit. No job’s perfect.
You’re passionate about many things, but you inevitably have to choose and commit to one because your biology would rather conserve energy and avoid stress.
If you look around, there are endless possibilities. So many that it could be hard to choose, and it’s tempting to wait for one that strikes your fancy the most.
I struggled with this when I was in college. I almost had my bachelor’s degree in business management and changed my major to music because I was more passionate about music.
Then realized I wasn’t tech-savvy and changed my major to exercise science because I love lifting weights. Discovered science wasn’t my thing either, so I dropped out of school altogether.
My grandpa, a real estate mogul, convinced me to get my real estate license. I did and quit within weeks.
My grandpa viewed real estate the same way Van Gogh and Jobs saw their work — as opportunities. My grandpa wasn’t much passionate about real estate, yet the idea of working for himself and making more money than he could on salary motivated him to make millions selling houses.
Passion isn’t enough to turn an activity into a career. The desired outcome has to burn brighter than the activity.
Goals: The Fuel of Passion
“Goals. There’s no telling what you can do when you get inspired by them. There’s no telling what you can do when you believe in them. And there’s no telling what will happen when you act upon them.” — Jim Rohn
Last year I went back to school to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. Therapy is something I’m passionate about and grants me the liberty to work for myself while helping people one-on-one.
I also want to be a New York Times best-selling author. I want my words to help hundreds of thousands, if not millions. I know this sounds grandiose or egotistical, but I don’t care.
Maybe my goals will change, but for now, I’m sold on the ability to use the internet to build an audience and help people for practically zero dollars.
I wake up every morning excited to write and create content. It’s my purpose because I say it is. Perhaps I’d be a better Youtuber or podcaster, but I’m unphased. I want to be a writer. Nothing else matters.
Mamba Mentality
“I want to die young. I want to be immortalized.” — Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant, at 41 years old, accomplished more than any of us will ever. He’s arguably the best basketball player of all time and without a doubt, one of the greatest athletes to live. Most importantly, he lived every day with purpose.
Before Kobe died, he stated that if it weren’t for basketball, he would’ve been a storyteller after high school. Writing sports stories with embed messages of empathy, compassion, and discipline became his muse after he retired from basketball. He said that once he decided on a goal, it became his purpose to accomplish it.
Dear Basketball, the short story that earned him an academy award, took him years to create. He nearly didn’t write it.
But his daughter Gianna, the one who was unfortunately on the helicopter with him when it crashed, told him he had to because he said he would.
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” — Kobe Bryant
Your Turn
“Never do tomorrow what you can do today.” — Charles Dickens
A purpose, a calling, can enrich your life. It can give your breath meaning, it can deaf doubt and dull pain, it can awaken your soul.
Life is short. Don’t wait for a purpose to strike you like a lightning bolt. Find it and declare it your life mission. The possibilities are limitless.
“Good things come to people who wait, but better things come to those who go out and get them.” — Anonymous
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