Purpose is a Moving Target (and That’s Okay)
Dear Visionaries,
Purpose isn’t a destination — it’s a rhythm we return to.
For so long, I thought purpose had to be fixed. Clear. Unshakable. I believed my “why” was a final answer to be discovered and then defended at all costs. But life has taught me otherwise.
Purpose is allowed to shift. To evolve as we do.
There was a time when my purpose felt wrapped in achievement — degrees, promotions, proving my worth in every room I entered. And in that season, it served me well. But after earning my Ph.D., something shifted. My former “why” didn’t fit quite the same. I started to question: Is this still what I’m called to do? Does this version of purpose still light me up?
The answer was tender but clear: No.
Not in the same way.
And that didn’t mean I had failed — it meant I had grown.
A Mirror I Didn’t Expect
I recently attended a gathering of professionals called the Circle of Excellence. We explored the art of storytelling with impact — and used AI as a tool for self-reflection. By feeding Microsoft Copilot our resumes, portfolios, and personal links, we asked: What is my professional superpower?
When I did this myself, the answer came back with clarity:
“You are a change catalyst.”
That phrase sank in.
Suddenly, I saw my entire story — every pivot, every reinvention — through a new lens. That’s the macro-purpose. I create momentum. I open doors. I shift systems. And that doesn’t have to be confined to one title, one job, or one path. It can evolve. It should evolve.
Your Micro Goal vs. Your Macro Purpose
In a recent episode of The Michelle Obama Podcast (IMO), Keke Palmer made a powerful distinction. She explained the difference between micro goals — clear, focused objectives like writing a cookbook — and macro goals — the larger, evolving essence behind those goals, like telling stories through food.
Your micro goals help you move.
But your macro purpose anchors you.
It’s not stagnant. It’s spacious.
That clarity reminded me: We are allowed to be multi-hyphenate. Multi-passionate. Your cookbook today might become a documentary tomorrow. Your leadership work might evolve into teaching, writing, or coaching. And it’s all valid. It’s all purposeful.
Spilling Tea on Career Highs and Lows with Keke Palmer
A Truth from the Journey
This is echoed so beautifully in one of my favorite books, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. In it, the protagonist Santiago learns that purpose is not just a treasure to be found — it is the becoming along the way.
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
— Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
That “destiny” may not look like the one you wrote in your five-year plan. It might lead you inward, detour you sideways, or call you higher. Let it.
Here’s what I know now:
Purpose isn’t always loud. Sometimes it whispers in stillness.
Your impact doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.
Changing direction isn’t abandoning your purpose — it’s honoring it.
Reflection Prompt:
What does purposeful living look like in this season of your life?
Have you discovered your own macro purpose — the thread that runs through it all?
I’d love to hear how your purpose has changed — or is changing. You can reply directly to this email or share your story with the Visionary Circle.
A Special Note to My Fellow Federal Professionals
To those of you working in federal service — especially in this current climate of uncertainty, restructuring, or stagnation — I see you. I am you.
And I know how disorienting it can feel to tie your identity to your occupation, only to realize that roles shift, agencies change, and what once felt secure may now feel shaky.
But hear this:
Your purpose is bigger than your position.
Your value is not confined to a title.
If the ground beneath your career feels like it's shifting, maybe it’s not a collapse — maybe it’s a call. A call to pause. A call to reimagine. A call to ask yourself:
What is my professional superpower?
Where does my impact feel most alive?
What could my next chapter look like — if I let it evolve with me?
You are allowed to detach your purpose from your occupation.
You are allowed to lead a life that reflects your macro purpose — whether that means staying, shifting, expanding, or starting something brand new.
Take the time to find your truth. Name your superpower. And move with that.
There is no perfect timeline. But there is a powerful unfolding waiting to begin when you do.