{"id":72602,"date":"2022-07-14T14:04:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T18:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=72602"},"modified":"2022-07-20T14:37:56","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T18:37:56","slug":"fulfill-your-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/fulfill-your-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Fulfill Your Purpose & Validate Goals (+Exercise)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How can you fulfill your purpose in life<\/a> when you feel aimless? What first steps should you take to achieve your goals<\/a>? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivational speaker and author Simon Sinek<\/a> believes <\/strong>every person has a true purpose waiting to be found. Sinek developed a simple yet effective method for fulfilling your purpose<\/a> when you don’t know where to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn how sharing your purpose and validating your goals can lead to fulfillment, according to Sinek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Fulfill Your Purpose by Sharing <\/strong>With Others<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sharing your purpose helps validate your ideas with the insights of people who know you well. It also gives you the opportunity to practice using your Why, or purpose, to make more persuasive appeals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sharing process is different for individuals versus teams. For individuals, it consists of refining and validating your purpose statement<\/a>, then sharing it with others. For teams, it consists of holding a group discussion in which you share the purpose statement and practices with additional team members to validate them and encourage wider ownership of the purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Share Your Insights With Others<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sinek suggests talking with friends to check whether your purpose statement is an honest expression of your best self<\/strong>. Ask them what they specifically value in you as a friend. Their answer should echo your purpose statement. If it doesn\u2019t, go back to your discussion partner, and discuss whether your friends have raised any themes worth exploring. (Shortform note: The authors\u2019 suggestion of a collaborative approach applies beyond sharing your purpose. In Designing Your Life<\/em><\/a>, Bill Burnett and Dave Evans argue that you should design your life collaboratively. One way to do that is to create a team of close allies<\/a> and influential people in your life that you share your life project design with, and who give you feedback and support.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, talk to the people you interact with often<\/strong> about both your Why and How<\/strong>. This will help you collaborate more effectively with them because they\u2019ll know where you\u2019re coming from (your Why) and what strengths you can contribute (your How). (Shortform note: Sharing your Why and How with colleagues can contribute to a culture of Radical Candor<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>a management style that focuses on supporting people through personal and professional problems. If you\u2019re a leader, you can encourage your employees to share their Why and How with you. Then you can follow Kim Scott\u2019s advice to support their growth by giving them the feedback and challenges they need<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, fulfill your purpose<\/strong> by leading with your Why rather than your How or What when you introduce yourself to strangers. (Shortform note: Introducing yourself to strangers can be nerve-wracking, especially if you\u2019re sharing something personal like your purpose. To overcome nerves when talking to strangers<\/a>, follow the tips Keith Ferrazzi outlines in Never Eat Alone<\/em><\/a>, including emulating an extroverted role model in social situations and setting small targets for yourself<\/a>, like introducing yourself to one new person every week.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise: Determine Your “How<\/strong>” to Fulfill Your Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This exercise will help you determine your individual How, or the methods that will help you fulfill your purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n