Introduction

The concept of human purpose has intrigued scholars, philosophers, and psychologists for centuries. Understanding one's purpose in life is essential for promoting individual well-being and societal harmony. However, the elusive and multifaceted nature of this construct poses several challenges. 

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Living a purposeful life is the key to health, happiness and longevity. Our findings support that  purpose is at the intersection of one’s strengths and passion. According to Steve Jobs: "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."Many work hard to earn a living and even if they are good at what they do, they may not feel passionate about it. Working simply for money or social acceptance can result in one doing the bare minimum required with little or no discretionary effort as they don't find joy in their work. As a result, the individual, team and company’s performance and productivity is not fully realized; if you ignite a purposeful healthy life for your employees, you could drive productivity gains of over 30-50%, with the same number of people and teams. In the context of growing remote & hybrid work, this is even more relevant, timely and critical.

 

Every person has a passion or interest that brings them joy and possesses a wide range of purpose drivers that define the passions a person has. Purpose drivers could include an interest in music, nature, public speaking, counseling, art, or solving puzzles and problems. Some people are able to channel their abilities and passions into a career as a musician, an accountant, a carpenter, an artist, or a professional athlete. These include skills such as understanding and using language, solving logical problems, recognizing visual and auditory patterns, physical coordination, self-awareness, and empathy for others. These abilities function independently of each other and allow individuals to excel in different domains depending on their particular strengths.  

 

Research has demonstrated that the more a person can tap into their passions the more happy and satisfied they are. These abilities are associated with what many consider their purpose in life. Someone who loves the outdoors may be happiest working as a conservationist or park ranger. A person with the ability to recognize visual and auditory patterns may find the most satisfaction working as an analyst or data scientist. Someone who is very perceptive and insightful may enjoy working as a diplomat or in a role that involves settling conflicts. 

 

Conversely, the less a person’s life provides opportunities to apply their passions, the lower their level of happiness, fulfillment and satisfaction. Someone who enjoys nature but rarely gets to be outdoors, whether it’s hiking or camping, will be dissatisfied with their situation. A person who works as a teacher but dislikes public speaking will likely have a low level of happiness and consequently will rarely be very successful. A lack of purpose can leave a person feeling unmoored and adrift in life.

 

Even if a person’s career is not based largely on their passions, having opportunities to use them can greatly enhance their satisfaction with work and life. Very few people become professional athletes or successful musicians but having the time to play sports or participate in a band can enhance their happiness. A person with strong analytical skills who gets assigned abstract problems may be more fulfilled having the opportunity to apply such skills.  

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We have done extensive global research leveraging existing published work. These findings, integrated with observations & data of thousands of successful and not so successful employees that we have managed in Human Resources for over half a century has led to the development of our proprietary Purpose compass which has twelve Purpose Drivers for all human beings. 

 

This research aims to address the following questions:

• What are the distinct drivers of human purpose?

• How do individuals perceive and pursue their purpose in life?

• To what extent is it driven by skills vs passion?

• How does one assess and identify these purpose drivers?

 

The opportunity hand revolves around the need for a comprehensive and integrated approach to assess and understand human purpose. The absence of a universally accepted definition and the intricacies of individual and societal factors make it imperative to combine quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. This study seeks to bridge these gaps to gain a holistic understanding of human purpose and the drivers associated with it. 

 

Research Methodologies

Qualitative Research

Extensive literature review was conducted in the last 5 years from 2018-2023 to understand existing theories and frameworks related to human motives, needs, purpose etc. In addition, tried and tested specific frameworks with qualitative data which was collected through in-depth interviews with multiple  focus groups. Semi-structured interviews allowed participants to share their personal experiences, values, and beliefs related to purpose in life. In addition, we incorporate the recent work on the Blue Zones and the Japanese concept of ikigai  which was thoroughly researched with visits to the Blue Zones. Ikigai is about finding purpose in your life. The Blue Zones work shows how it drives people longevity and happiness. The following summarizes the Qualitative research methods used:

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Literature review 

Studying and analyzing relevant literature, research, and existing knowledge related to purpose informed the development of our framework.   In sum, , what follows are prominent scientists and their notable works contributing to our understanding of purpose. . This extensive literary research clearly indicates that there is no one framework or theory which brings human purpose to life. In order to understand purpose and fulfillment with rigor, we have incorporated psychological research in the science of motivation, human needs, mindsets, meaning, subjective well-being, happiness, positive emotion, and human development.

 

Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is a foundational theory in psychology and management. It posits that individuals are motivated by a hierarchical set of needs that range from basic physiological requirements like food and shelter to higher-order needs such as self-actualization and self-esteem. 

 

Frederick Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory, also known as the Motivation-Hygiene Theory, distinguishes between "hygiene factors" and "motivators". Hygiene factors, such as job security and working conditions, are essential to prevent dissatisfaction but do not necessarily lead to motivation. True motivation comes from "motivator" factors, including recognition, responsibility, and achievement. 

 

Daniel Pink’s work builds on the theories of motivation and identifies three key factors of motivation: autonomy, mastery, and purpose. People are most likely to be engaged and fulfilled when they experience a match and balance of all three components 

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• David McClelland's Theory of Needs proposes that individuals have three fundamental needs: achievement, affiliation, and power. People differ in the strength of these needs, and these differences influence their behavior and motivation. Need for achievement drives individuals to set challenging goals, take calculated risks, and seek feedback, Need for affiliation leads people to seek social connections and positive relationships and the need for power (nPow) has two types: personal power (the desire for individual influence) and institutional power (the desire to impact organizations or groups). 

• Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences challenges the traditional view of intelligence as a single, fixed entity and proposes that there are multiple forms of intelligence, each representing a different way in which individuals can excel. Gardner initially identified seven distinct intelligences: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Later, he added two more: naturalistic and existential. According to this theory, individuals possess a unique combination of these intelligences, and their strengths and weaknesses in each area contribute to their overall cognitive profile. 

• Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist, is renowned for his book "Man's Search for Meaning." He introduced the concept of logotherapy and emphasized the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life, especially in the face of suffering.

• Carol D. Ryff, research on psychological well-being has explored the role of purpose in life as one of the key components of overall well-being. Her work has been influential in the field of positive psychology.

• William Damon, a developmental psychologist, has conducted extensive research on moral and ethical development in children and adolescents. His work includes exploring how the development of purpose contributes to well-being.

• Kendall Bronk, research focuses on youth purpose development and its impact on adolescents' positive development. She has investigated how nurturing a sense of purpose can lead to increased life satisfaction.

• Laura A. King, is known for her research on the pursuit of meaning in life and subjective well-being. Her studies have examined how individuals who find and pursue meaningful goals tend to experience greater happiness.

• Michael F. Steger, research has centered on the study of purpose in life and its relationship to happiness and psychological well-being. He has developed assessments to measure purpose and conducted studies on its effects.

• Barbara Fredrickson, a psychologist known for her work on positive emotions, has explored the role of positive emotions in fostering a sense of purpose and meaning in life, contributing to overall well-being.

• Robert Emmons, has conducted research on the psychology of gratitude and its connection to well-being. Gratitude is often linked to finding meaning and purpose in life.

• Adam M. Grant, an organizational psychologist, has explored the concept of "job crafting," where individuals reshape their jobs to align more closely with their personal values and sense of purpose.

• Emily Esfahani Smith, is known for her book "The Power of Meaning," which delves into the search for meaning and purpose in modern life and how it contributes to happiness and fulfillment.

• Richard Leider, personal coach and author shares that Purpose is fundamental and gives life meaning. It gives us the will to live and to live long and well and offers tools and techniques for unlocking it.

 

Thematic Analysis 

Thematic analysis was applied to the life of various celebrities and actual professionals we had worked with to see how and why they became successful and the impact of pursuing their purpose. While anecdotal the impact of such life transitions is notable and powerful. This included 33 professionals across 4 companies that we had worked with closely who we believe were extremely successful and happy in their careers. In addition we analyzed the following celebrities and their transition from doing a job to pursuing their passion and purpose:

• Julia Child: Government worker to celebrity chef.

• Arnold Schwarzenegger: Bodybuilder to actor and politician.

• Vera Wang: Figure skater and fashion editor to fashion designer.

• Harrison Ford: Carpenter to actor.

• Morgan Freeman: Dancer and fighter pilot aspirant to actor.

• Ralph Lauren: Tie salesman to fashion designer.

• Quentin Tarantino: Video store clerk to filmmaker.

• Mick Jagger: Accountant to musician.

• Ellen DeGeneres: Paralegal to comedian and talk show host.

• Jim Carrey: Janitor to comedian and actor.

• Walt Disney: Newspaper editor to animator and entrepreneur.

• Gordon Ramsay: Football player to chef.

• Chris Hemsworth: Landscaper to actor.

• Alan Greenspan: Jazz musician to economist and Federal Reserve Chairman.

• Tim Gunn: High school teacher to fashion consultant and TV personality.

• Andrea Bocelli: Lawyer to opera singer.

• Clint Eastwood: Steelworker and lumberjack to actor and director.

• Queen Latifah: Burger King employee to rapper and actress.

• Sylvia Plath: Receptionist to poet and novelist.

• Tina Turner: Nurse's aide to iconic singer.

 This approach allowed for a rich exploration of the qualitative data and understanding the connection of purpose and a fulfilled successful life.

 

Grounded Theory

This methodology was used to develop a conceptual framework that emerged from the qualitative data. This framework helped to explain the drivers and factors that influence and define human purpose.

 

Quantitative Research

To quantify aspects of human purpose, we first looked at various existing theories and frameworks related to purpose or multiple intelligences or interests. Thereafter, we conducted a structured survey with a sample of participants. The survey included questions about the Multiple intelligences and unique purpose focus areas. Several quantitative research methods were utilized:

 

Factor Analysis

Factor analysis was conducted to identify underlying dimensions of human purpose based on survey responses. This helped uncover the latent factors that contribute to individuals' sense of purpose.

 

Cluster Analysis

Cluster analysis was used to categorize participants into distinct purpose profiles based on their survey responses, allowing for a deeper understanding of variations in purpose.