HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose

by John Coleman

Overview

Stop searching for purpose. Build it.

We're living through a crisis of purpose. Surveys indicate that people are feeling less connected to the meaning of their work, asking, "How do I find my purpose?"

That's the wrong question. You don't find your purpose—you build it. The HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose debunks three common myths about purpose: that purpose is found, that you have only one, and that it stays the same over time. Packed with stories, tips, and activities, this book teaches you how to cultivate more meaning in your life and work and endow everything you do with purpose.

You'll learn how to:

• Find the reason behind your work
• Identify what makes you feel happy and fulfilled
• Use job crafting to transform your role
• Build positive, fulfilling relationships
• Connect your work to service

Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633699830
Publisher:	Harvard Business Review Press
Publication date:	01/11/2022
Series:	HBR Guide Series
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	628,174
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 5.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

John Coleman is a senior executive in financial services. He is the coauthor of two books, including Passion & Purpose: Stories from the Best and Brightest Young Business Leaders. He is a regular online contributor to Forbes Leadership Channel and Harvard Business Review, where he focuses on personal development and leadership issues. His writing has been published in dozens of other outlets.

You can find John Coleman at:
johnwilliamcoleman.com twitter.com/johnwcoleman linkedin.com/in/johnwilliamcoleman

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Section 1 Getting Started with Purpose

1 Purpose, and Why It Matters 11

We're experiencing a crisis of meaning.

2 Identifying Your Starting Point 19

An exercise for focusing your efforts.

Section 2 Redefining How We Think About Purpose

3 Dispelling Three Common Myths 31

How do you find your purpose? You don't.

4 Mining Your Life for Meaning 39

Where to look for what moves you.

5 The Many Sources of Purpose in Your Life 63

Six spots purpose can live-at the same time.

6 Embracing Shifts in Purpose 83

Learn to let go.

Section 3 Building Your Purpose

7 Craft Your Work 101

Turn the job you have into the job you want.

8 Make Work a Craft 119

Aim for self-improvement and task mastery.

9 Connect Your Work to Service 133

At work, at home, and in your community.

10 Invest in Positive Relationships 153

Elevate connections with those in your network.

Section 4 Purpose in Your Organization

11 Creating a Culture of Purpose 173

You don't have to be a top leader to have an impact.

12 Living into Corporate Purpose 191

Help colleagues understand and act on the mission.

Conclusion: A Call to Action 209

Index 213

About the Author 223