3 Ways Purpose Supercharges Founders and Entrepreneurs

Everyone who starts a business inevitably faces challenging leadership questions. What are you pretending to be? What are you great at that no one knows? Understanding your purpose brings clarity to these bold life questions. What’s more, having purpose and meaning in your life improves:

  • 1. Well-being
  • 2. Productivity
  • 3. Fulfillment

So, let’s explore these benefits a little deeper:

Well-Being

Studies show that understanding and regularly practicing your purpose leads to happiness and life satisfaction. Purpose even increases health at the cellular level. A Universal of Florida study reports that individuals with purpose cultivate better immune response profiles.


Productivity

We all feel better when we are making progress and moving forward, rather than stagnant or stationary. Researchers link grasping and living your purpose with 1.7x higher levels of occupational satisfaction. Employees and partners are 3x more likely to be loyal to those with a sense of purpose  (source: EY.com).


Fulfillment

Unlocking and living your purpose on a daily basis has been proven to give individuals 64% more fulfillment at work (Source: Imperative). Fulfillment through your own professional career creates an added level that bridges your personal and professional needs.

Defining your purpose, though, can be difficult, because it’s hard to read the label from inside the jar. It's hard to define yourself from outside yourself. So, let’s look at where to start.


Where to start?

Here are three questions to assess your clarity of purpose:

  1. How would you share your purpose in short and simple terms?
  2. How much alignment is there between who you are and what you do every day?
  3. How on track are you to leave the legacy you want in the world?

And for inspiration, below are a couple purpose statement examples from noted leaders:

"To serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and apply ethical principles to make a significant difference."

- Denise Morrison


"To have fun in [my] journey through life and learn from [my] mistakes."

- Richard Branson


So, if you’re starting a company and leading a team, give yourself the gift of the benefits of purpose.

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