Purpose isn't exclusive to high-status professions. Any job can become a source of deep purpose by connecting its daily tasks to a larger, positive impact. A NASA custodian can be "putting a man on the moon," and a parking attendant checking tire treads can be ensuring driver safety. Purpose is a mindset.

The best long-term strategy isn't the one with the highest short-term growth, but the one you're genuinely passionate about. This intrinsic motivation leads to sustained effort and eventual success, even if it seems suboptimal initially. It's about playing the long game fueled by passion, not just metrics.

The first half of a creative life is the "Hero's Journey": finding your calling. The second, harder part is the "Artist's Journey": the daily, unglamorous work of honing your craft and asking, "What is my unique gift?" This shift from discovery to execution is a critical transition.

Your core values aren't just abstract principles you admire; they are revealed by the concrete things you willingly give up time, ego, or comfort for. Observing your sacrifices provides a clearer, more honest assessment of what truly drives you.

Discovering what you genuinely enjoy requires breaking out of your corporate mindset, much like physical therapy for a forgotten muscle. You must force yourself into uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations—like free tango classes or random online courses—to build the 'muscle memory' for passion and exploration.

For two weeks, nightly log the five activities that energized you and the five that drained you. This simple practice reveals your core strengths and "gifts." By analyzing these patterns, you can intentionally redesign your role and responsibilities to spend more time on energizing tasks, actively combating burnout.

Instead of adding more goals, use a three-part filter to audit them. A goal must support your nervous system (peace), meaningfully advance the business (profit), or align with your desired impact (purpose). This ruthless audit eliminates energy-draining tasks that were never truly yours.

Executive Coach Matt Spielman uses the metaphor of finding one's "version of Piano Man" to guide clients. This framework pushes individuals beyond conventional career paths to identify their unique, impactful calling, just as Billy Joel found his by writing his iconic song.

We often mistake skills for strengths. A more powerful definition of a strength is any activity that energizes and motivates you. To boost morale and performance, individuals and leaders should focus on aligning work with these energy-giving tasks, rather than just focusing on competency.