HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose

Stop searching for purpose. Build it.  We're living through a crisis of purpose. Surveys indicate that people are feeling less connected to the meaning of their work, asking, "How do I find my purpose?"  That's the wrong question. You don't find your purpose—you build it. The HBR Guide to Crafting Your Purpose debunks three common myths about purpose: that purpose is found, that you have only one, and that it stays the same over time. Packed with stories, tips, and activities, this book teaches you how to cultivate more meaning in your life and work and endow everything you do with purpose.  You'll learn how to • Find the reason behind your work • Identify what makes you feel happy and fulfilled • Use job crafting to transform your role • Build positive, fulfilling relationships • Connect your work to service  Arm yourself with the advice you need to succeed on the job, with the most trusted brand in business. Packed with how-to essentials from leading experts, the HBR Guides provide smart answers to your most pressing work challenges.

Introduction  SECTION ONE  Getting Started with Purpose  1. Purpose, and Why It Matters  We’re experiencing a crisis of meaning.  2. Identifying Your Starting Point  An exercise for focusing your efforts.  SECTION TWO  Redefining How We Think About Purpose  3. Dispelling Three Common Myths  How do you find your purpose? You don’t.  4. Mining Your Life for Meaning  Where to look for what moves you.  5. The Many Sources of Purpose in Your Life  Six spots purpose can live—at the same time.  6. Embracing Shifts in Purpose  Learn to let go.  SECTION THREE  Building Your Purpose  7. Craft Your Work  Turn the job you have into the job you want.  8. Make Work a Craft  Aim for self-improvement and task mastery.  9. Connect Your Work to Service  At work, at home, and in your community.  10. Invest in Positive Relationships  Elevate connections with those in your network.  SECTION FOUR  Purpose in Your Organization  11. Creating a Culture of Purpose  You don’t have to be a top leader to have an impact.  12. Living into Corporate Purpose  Help colleagues understand and act on the mission.  Conclusion: A Call to Action  Index  About the Author.