Purpose in Action: Choices That Transform

Returning from a brief vacation and motivated by the spirit of a new year, I resume my reflections with renewed joy. At the end of 2024, I proposed recapping achievements as an exercise in motivation and gratitude. Now, with 2025's dawn, it is time to look ahead. Standing before a new chapter to be written, we are invited to set goals and objectives to achieve dreams, seize opportunities, and grow. This is a fertile moment to not only define "what" to do but also to reflect on the "why" behind our choices.

In this sense, some of Simon Sinek's reflections can be valuable for decision-making in professional and business contexts. In 2009, Sinek wrote the book Start with Why, and in his famous, intriguing, and still relevant TED Talk of the same name, he introduced the Golden Circle, a diagram of three concentric layers representing questions. The outermost layer is "what?" followed by "how?" and, at the core, "why?". Sinek argues that inspiring companies and leaders who stand out think from the core outward. The "why" represents purposes, causes, and beliefs; through these, people connect: "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it.", Sinek stated. He also parallels the brain's structure and the Golden Circle: the limbic brain (responsible for emotions and decision-making) connects with the "why." In contrast, the neocortex (responsible for rational thought) processes the "what."

On a personal level, discovering this "why" can be translated into the Japanese concept of Ikigai, representing our reason for being and the great motivator of our accomplishments. In the book Ikigai – The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, Héctor Garcia and Frances Miralles explore the philosophy of Ikigai alongside other factors that explain the longevity of the Japanese, particularly on Okinawa Island. They cite Dan Buettner, whose findings can also be seen in the Netflix series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones (I wrote about this in this article ). The authors also delve into the experiences of Austrian neuropsychiatrist Viktor Frankl, with logotherapy (a psychological approach that helps people find meaning in life), and Japanese Shoma Morita's therapy (which proposes the natural acceptance of our feelings).

I acquired and read Ikigai during my last year's trip to the PMI Global Summit in Los Angeles. I'd like to highlight two presentations from that event that engagingly addressed this theme*. In the opening, Afdhel Aziz, one of the authors of Good is the New Cool, explored the power of purpose. He asserted that we live in the "Age of Purpose," which presents opportunities (such as the "decarbonization" of everything), acting as a growth driver and competitive advantage. On a personal level, purpose serves as both inspiration and direction, resulting in various physical and motivational benefits for individuals, others, and the world. He proposed a "GPS" for Purpose, translated as Gifts (what you are good at, your "superpowers"), Passions (your passions related to solving problems), and Service (how you can contribute to something beyond yourself). At the intersection of these three lies your purpose.

In the energetic closing presentation, "The Fallacy of Impossible," Mick Ebeling shared the origins of his company, Not Impossible Labs, and how it has positively impacted many lives over the years, such as through developing devices for people with disabilities. Nonconformity with certain situations catalyzes action. He proposed a model: identify an absurd (problem), commit to solving it, and then think about how to resolve it, based on the reasoning that things we have today were once considered impossible. He concluded his presentation with a call to action, urging us to consider humanity's problems and how our abilities can be used to address them.

Defining and embracing our purpose can be challenging, whether in the business, professional, or personal sphere. However, it is through purpose that we find the energy to accomplish projects and stand out as professionals and human beings. In a fully interconnected world, where the effects of our actions echo without barriers, reflecting deeply on our impact is a responsibility we cannot neglect. As we begin the new year, the invitation is clear: let our choices be guided by what we want to do and the why that drives us. By doing so, we can pave a more meaningful path for ourselves and the world around us.

*Presentations available on demand at www.pmi.org, My Events, until January 31, 2025.

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