MANAGEMENT BRIEFCASE Pursue Your Purpose By Nan Wodarz, EdD What do you
want to be when you grow up?
“
dozens of occasions. Our responses were limited to the few professions we were aware of at the time. That is why many chil- dren’s default answer is a doctor, lawyer, or veterinarian—all noble professions, but as a response, limited in depth. In truth, we have been asking the wrong question. Instead, ask anyone, not just chil- dren, “What problem in the world would you like to solve?” and you will elicit a purpose for work and identify areas that individuals can expand on to discover a career choice.
W Jon Jachimowicz’s October 2019 Har-
vard Business Review post offers a unique, research-based perspective that shifts the emphasis from default answers, discussions about “passion projects,” to a more concrete exploration of real-world issues that require solutions.
For example, as part of a college guidance program, I asked 41 high school seniors to identify problems that they would consider spending their life’s work to solve. The responses were astonishing. Not a single student wanted to a doctor or lawyer. The answers ranged from “I want to revolu- tionize the way archeological artifacts are cataloged” to “I want to help mothers in marginalized communities give birth to more healthy babies,” “I want to help older adults feel needed and useful,” and “I want to help nations see they have more in com- mon with each other than they think.”
hat do you want to be when you grow up?” Almost all of us were asked this question on
Each of the students’ responses created a basis to explore their purpose for advanced education and multiple pathways they might take.
Jachimowicz substantiates this approach by documenting that pursuing something identified as a “passion” often results in tremendous disappointment. Specifically, when people think about passion projects, they underestimate the amount of time, commitment, and sacrifice necessary to reach the level of success they envision. However, when they pursue a purpose, the path to success and rewarding outcomes has many branches.
Unlike a passion, purpose is the reason, or the “why,” behind what we do.
This fact is important because we become aware of nuances and details that we did not initially discern as we explore an area in depth. Consequently, it changes the outcome from black and white—either I became a doctor or I did not—to one in which it is possible to pursue a purpose and be success- ful in various ways.
Differentiating Passion and Purpose
Once we think about it, passion and pur- pose are distinctly different. Passion is based on emotions and focuses on doing something that brings us joy, happiness, or
Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. —Oprah Winfrey
36 APRIL 2022 | SCHOOL BUSINESS AFFAIRS
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