Happy new year, friend! 👋

Often the new year is a time of great reflection about who we really are and, sometimes, what our purpose is. So for the first email of 2025, I'd love for us to talk about an alternative to finding purpose in our work.

If you've ever felt like you're on the hamster wheel of not knowing your purpose, this one's for you.

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About this time a year ago I went through a period of trying to figure out my purpose, and, one step further, how my career was part of it.

I was enjoying the sun in Queensland and thought it was just the perfect time for some deep introspection (as opposed to just making the most of the warm weather and drinking margaritas).

So fun 🙃

During the year I had received advice from people about how they found their own purpose, and I wanted to make the most of that by using those tools and tips on myself.

I came up with a purpose statement, but it was flakier than a Partner's calendar and it just didn't resonate. It didn't feel like a true encapsulation of my purpose, and so, after much mental gymnastics, I dropped my pen and called it a day.

Poor Brock still had no high and mighty purpose to explain why he did what he did for a job ❌

I've gone through this exercise a few times now, and to be honest, I plan to do it a few more times yet. While I haven't yet been successful in defining a "purpose", the time I've spent reflecting on what's important to me has been valuable, regardless of the outcome.

But, as it stands today, I write to you still with no defined purpose 🤦‍♂️

Then, recently I read a book which offered a refreshing new perspective...

The main point that Newport pushes in this book is that people have it backwards - they try to figure out what their calling is, and then find meaningful work which aligns to it.

Most of us don't actually know what our "calling is" (e.g. me in Queensland), and often once we do define it it's not something we can readily find a way to get paid for.

Newport's view is that we're better off nailing whatever it is we're doing now, and then using the leverage we inevitably generate (by being useful and valuable) to take more control over our career.

Once we have control, we can use it to make our job more desirable (in our own eyes) by negotiating for things like:

• flexible work hours ⏰
• better projects 🚀
• remote work 🌍
• a different, better job 💼
• etc.

People say finding your purpose looks something like:

1. Find your calling
2. Find a job that pays you for your calling
3. = Fulfilment

In a nutshell, Cal Newport's alternative is the following:

1. Don't stress about trying to find your purpose (unless you already have one)
2. Focus instead on getting really good at your job (this generates "career capital", i.e. leverage)
3. Use that leverage to gradually make your job what you want it to be (trade-in your career capital for whatever would make your work more fulfilling, e.g. flexible work hours, better projects, more influence, a better job, etc.)

So, if you ever feel stuck in the hamster wheel of "I'm not sure what my true calling is", here's an alternative for you: focus on getting good first, and then use leverage to make your job better for you.

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Keen to read So Good They Can't Ignore You? 🏆📚

While today's newsletter focuses on the idea of purpose, this is only one part of the overall book. More broadly, it's a guide on how to take control of your career, how to be so good that they can't ignore you.

Personally, I loved it, which is why I'm keen to share the love.

To get your hands on a free copy, just let me know in the poll below what you thought of this week's email - that's it 😎

I'll randomly select one winner, and I'll be in touch to get the book on your doorstep so you can check it out too.

What did you think of this week's email? 🌟🌟🌟 🌟🌟 🌟

Brock Leydon Senior Manager/Associate Director @ Big Four

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