Why Purpose Is Essential For Success

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Dhruti Shah, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.

Purpose is defined as an overarching intention or objective. It serves as a motivator, a guide, and an anchor.

Success is rarely the result of luck, so which factors determine whether or not a person will find success?

There are the usual suspects – levels of motivation, hard work, determination, focus, and then there’s that overarching purpose that fosters and promotes all the above-mentioned traits. One may argue that having goals is what drives success, but a goal is nothing without purpose. Writer and diplomat Washington Irving made an important distinction: “Great minds have a purpose, others have wishes.”

What makes purpose so integral to success?

1. Purpose Fosters Resilience
“To begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment.”
- James Allen

Purpose is important when everything is going well, but it becomes vital when things are falling apart. Without purpose, a failure can become an endpoint that derails your goals. With purpose, though, a single failure transforms into an opportunity to learn, adapt, improve, and move forward. Having a purpose, in this context, is about viewing things holistically. A failure or mishap isn’t goal-shattering, it’s part of a much bigger picture, and hence the effect of that failure weakens. You may lose the battle, but with a clear purpose, you will certainly win the war.

2. Purpose Provides Direction
“The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere.”
– Michel de Montaigne

A person without purpose is easily swayed, distracted, and can lose sight of what’s important. In a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world, as situations evolve constantly, priorities change. It is easy to forget your why when you are expected to continuously pivot and adapt. At times like these, purpose provides direction – it’s like the North Star – always present, always guiding.

3. Purpose Promotes Satisfaction
“No man or woman is an island. To exist just for yourself is meaningless. You can achieve the most satisfaction when you feel related to some greater purpose in life, something greater than yourself.”
- Denis Waitley

For many professionals, work is a way to make money. Each hour, each new contract, each promotion, is quantifiable in terms of income. Most people spend a significant portion of their lives at work, and while money is important, working solely for a paycheck isn’t conducive to enjoyment and satisfaction. After all, there’ll always be someone who is advancing quicker, whose paycheck is bigger, and whose grass is greener. When your purpose is greater, more substantial, there’s joy in every achievement. Setting goals is crucial, of course, but living with purpose can make reaching your goals even more satisfying. When your goals and purpose align, the satisfaction of every achievement is sustained and amplified.

4. Purpose Motivates
“Having a sense of purpose is having a sense of self. A course to plot is a destination to hope for.”
- Bryant H. McGill

Motivation is a tricky beast to tame. Complex, poorly understood, and in many cases, fleeting. There’s an old riddle – what’s very hard to find, very easy to lose, and can be lost before you find it? You’ve got it – motivation.

Motivation is something that comes from within, so it most certainly is a product of purpose – whether or not you are consciously aware of it. A person without purpose who is just going through the motions will likely wind up with many started-but-not-finished projects. They’re more likely to settle for mediocrity. When you have purpose, though, you are better equipped to stay on-task and advance through the stages of achieving your ultimate purpose.

For all these reasons combined, purpose is a critical determinant of success. According to a large-scale study conducted by LinkedIn, employees with purpose reported higher levels of engagement and fulfillment with their work, and they outperformed their colleagues in every measurable category.

While employers and companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of purpose, you certainly cannot force it on someone. To reap the rewards, you’ll need to put forth the effort and find a purpose that’s meaningful and motivating for you.

References:
- James Allen was a philosophical writer and a pioneer of the self-help movement.
- Dennis Waitley is a speaker, author, and consultant who has dedicated his life to identifying the factors that separate “super performers” from everyone else.
- Bryant H. McGill is an author, activist, and one of the world’s most successful social media entrepreneurs.
- Michele de Montaigne was a philosopher, author, and leader.

Sources:
15-inspiring-quotes-about-living-your-life-on-purpose/ Success
Global_Purpose_Index_2016.pdf | CDN Imperative