Jordan is a great author. I enjoyed reading this book and felt that much of it spoke deeply to me.
Little p purpose resonates and is important. However, Jordan also states that without deep meaning in your life, we simply try to achieve our way out of a lack of meaning.
I see this is myself and many of the docs and other high achievers I am surrounded by.
This is a great point... without that internal sense of meaning, we seem to default back into that "extrinsic motivation" that others signal is important. This is a topic that my next interview guest hits really hard!
This one was really great. I’m one of those guys who hit enough and thought I knew was my big-p Purpose was … only to find that I was wrong. Now I’m fiddling around, finding purpose in all kinds of different things. I think I’m still looking out for Purpose … but maybe a bunch of purpose is enough? Thanks to both of you for some interesting insights.
Yeah, I think I’m much the same. Building this endlessly adaptive risk-based training model was Big P for me. And my Little P’s are similar to yours … and yet much of the time, they don’t feel like enough. But I”m still tinkering, trying to find the right balance here. I’ve only been at it 3 years, after all.
Interesting... I feel like what I'm doing is "enough" for me. I wonder what makes us different? Or maybe I relapse at some point with another existential crisis later (likely)?
I found this piece really interesting, I struggle with Big 'P' Purpose a lot, I haven't had any roles that felt purposeful to me yet, so I've only had the anxiety
Are there any things that feel purposeful to you, inside or outside work? Even if they are tiny slivers of purpose. And even if people would frown on that as your "purpose."
Jordan is a great author. I enjoyed reading this book and felt that much of it spoke deeply to me.
Little p purpose resonates and is important. However, Jordan also states that without deep meaning in your life, we simply try to achieve our way out of a lack of meaning.
I see this is myself and many of the docs and other high achievers I am surrounded by.
This is a great point... without that internal sense of meaning, we seem to default back into that "extrinsic motivation" that others signal is important. This is a topic that my next interview guest hits really hard!
This one was really great. I’m one of those guys who hit enough and thought I knew was my big-p Purpose was … only to find that I was wrong. Now I’m fiddling around, finding purpose in all kinds of different things. I think I’m still looking out for Purpose … but maybe a bunch of purpose is enough? Thanks to both of you for some interesting insights.
I think Jordan's distinction between the two types of purpose is spot on based on my own experience. For me:
- "Big P" = start a company, be CEO, big impact on healthcare (felt endlessly unsatiated and never enough)
- "Little P" = writing, contemplating meaning, helping people with real problems (feels more fulfilling, excited for days, zero dread)
What has it been like for you, even if you're trying to figure the latter?
Yeah, I think I’m much the same. Building this endlessly adaptive risk-based training model was Big P for me. And my Little P’s are similar to yours … and yet much of the time, they don’t feel like enough. But I”m still tinkering, trying to find the right balance here. I’ve only been at it 3 years, after all.
Interesting... I feel like what I'm doing is "enough" for me. I wonder what makes us different? Or maybe I relapse at some point with another existential crisis later (likely)?
I’m going to answer part of this in a piece I’ve been working on (influenced by what you’re doing, partially). We’re all so damned different!
Looking forward to it!
I found this piece really interesting, I struggle with Big 'P' Purpose a lot, I haven't had any roles that felt purposeful to me yet, so I've only had the anxiety
I and a lot of other people hear you, Jack!
Are there any things that feel purposeful to you, inside or outside work? Even if they are tiny slivers of purpose. And even if people would frown on that as your "purpose."
i.e. you just like DOING the thing
I guess I like reading books and taking courses to learn new things, even if I don't know exactly how they will pay off.
I also love biographies of scientists, not sure these count aha
You have the inklings of a good purpose somewhere in there.
My main question would be: how could you amplify or double down on this activity?
Do you have any suggestions?
You just said "I don't really have capacity," so I'm not sure I can help you unless you first find ways to create capacity 😅
Throwing out random ideas here:
1/ don't restrict yourself to "what will make me money?" instead, cultivate the interest first
2/ if you could spend unlimited money on your interest, how would you spend it? Everything won't be possible, but it may reveal opportunities.
3/ look for ways to add other people to your interest (e.g. book clubs, online communities)
4/ ask yourself: who are you "ahead of" that wants what you have? Even more simply: who really could use your help (the less fortunate)?
5/ learning independently usually isn't fulfilling by itself, but learning-then-teaching can be. Or more subtle: helping others learn.
Yeah that's my bad, yeah loads to think about here, thank you
Could I follow up after having a think please ?
I don't know, I mean writing and sharing about it maybe, but I don't really have capacity