Just a Job, or a Purpose?
And How Do You Know?
Here’s How to Determine if Your Daily Tasks Align With Your Purpose
The alarm rings. Another workday begins. But here's the real question: Are you dragging yourself to a job, or pursuing your purpose?
You're not alone in wondering. Gallup's latest research reveals a startling truth: 76% of workers aren't fully engaged at work. They're showing up, but they're not truly present. They're earning a paycheck, but not thriving.
I discovered that the difference between just working and living with purpose comes down to understanding where your Minutes go. Every minute falls into one of three buckets:
Bucket One: You're fully engaged and energized.
Bucket Two: You're going through the motions.
Bucket Three: You're completely disengaged.
Ask Yourself These Three Questions
1️⃣ Do you feel energized or drained after work?
2️⃣ Are your daily tasks aligned with your values?
3️⃣ Would you do your current job for free?
These questions are simple, I get it. But the answers might be signals that you might need something more because they reveal where most of your minutes lie.
A Personal Wake-Up Call
I discovered this the hard way. It took a video my husband recorded of me at dinner—showing how disconnected I'd become—to realize I was living in Bucket Three. That moment changed everything.
Let’s dig in deeper. Here are two simple yet powerful ways to start this process.
Living with purpose isn't about finding the perfect job; it's about making conscious decisions about how you spend your minutes. Every day, you have a choice: Will you be All In or All Out?
Consider these steps:
Revisit Your 'Why': Before major tasks or projects, ask yourself how this contributes to your larger mission.
Align Daily Actions: Ensure they reflect what truly matters to you—integrity, creativity, leadership, etc.
If your values don't align with your role, it might be time to pivot.
Purpose Is a Choice
The truth is, purpose isn't just something you find; it's something you create. Aligning your actions with a deeper mission can transform your work from a series of tasks to something truly meaningful. Instead of feeling drained, you'll feel energized. Instead of dreading Monday morning, you'll look forward to it.
Whether you're in a leadership role or simply aiming for more fulfilling work, the key is intentionality. Choose work that aligns with your values and find ways to make necessary tasks more meaningful.
My upcoming book, The Three Bucket Leader, takes a deep dive into these issues, providing practical steps for assessing your situation, recognizing the difference between being busy and being engaged, identifying the root causes of dissatisfaction, aligning decisions with your true desires, and seeking help when needed.
This book is designed to help leaders and employees alike create a path to more fulfillment and purpose. I hope you'll join me in this journey toward meaningful work.
Remember, purpose isn't about waiting for the perfect job to come along—it's about creating a job that reflects who you are and what you value. When we align our actions with our true purpose, work becomes more than just a means to an end: it becomes a place to come alive.
Let's transform your minutes at work into something that truly matters.
Learn more about why I wrote The Three Bucket Leader here.
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Karen Gilhooly
Author of The Three Bucket Leader
Host of the Make Minutes Matter Podcast
You can pre-order The Three Bucket Leader here.
