Purpose over Money

Eastern culture has given the world many ways to live more fulfilling lives. From yoga, meditation, natural medicine, nutrition, and living simply.

I recently came across the term Ikigai. It is a Japanese concept meaning to discover your purpose or reason for existence. It is often seen as the motivation to get up each day, offering a sense of direction, purpose, and personal fulfillment. Ikigai involves balancing what you excel at, what you enjoy, what the world requires, and what you can earn from it. Identifying your Ikigai can help you live a more fulfilled and meaningful life.

Western culture programs us to pursue wealth through hard work and sacrifice. They tell us this is the pathway to happiness and success. It expects working 40-plus hours per week, being dedicated and loyal to the company, and always exceeding expectations. In return, you get a paycheck, some vacation, and sick days. Many have families, and the pressure to make a decent living is even more intense. Imagine going to school since the age of four or five, graduating from high school, going to college, and working for forty-plus years. You retire and likely have a few decades of life left. Illness may or may not visit your life. I realized when I turned forty that I had embraced this model along with many Americans at the expense of my happiness and my ability to live my life to the fullest. I always gave 200% to every job I had. Invariably, my hard work was taken for granted; I was expected to do more without extra pay and then treated as someone who wasn’t a team player when I said no. After college, I stayed in most jobs for five or six years, got tired of the politics and bullshit, and found another job. The same pattern always ensued.

I was raised to always give my best, and I was committed to the position entrusted to me. Before I left Florida to come and work in Kansas City, I had a conversation with my older sister Anastasia. It was a life-changing and insightful conversation that helped me shift my thinking toward a more purposeful life. What she said during our conversation resonated with truth: “The bosses are the puppet masters, and I have been the puppet.” That was a lightbulb moment for me because I realized that some industries only view you as a utility to their success and profits, and expect you to say “yes, sir” to whatever they ask of you. Those “duties, as assigned” clauses in job descriptions are code for being exploited. Very few employers are interested in your advancement, mental health, or personal growth.

A colleague of mine was recently told he could no longer work remotely. The key term his boss used was “presence.” There was no interest in discussing the scope of his work or the additional assets that remote work brings to the company. He is a dedicated person who always goes the extra mile to achieve excellent results in his department. Now he is an hourly employee who has to clock in and out. He also shared that the HR department told him that if he attends a convention, he can only be compensated for hours actually spent in workshops or presentations. Way to go for personal and professional growth opportunities! Musicians, especially, know that conversations and networking over lunch and dinner are usually where you gain the most insights and ideas from colleagues when you attend a conference. I have been fortunate to do most of my work remotely, and the amount and quality of my work are exceptional compared to driving back and forth to an office and sitting there, facing countless interruptions and distractions.

Despite the horrific stories of HR and managerial control and micromanagement, a paradigm shift toward prioritizing purpose over money often leads to a more meaningful life. When you focus on purpose, you’re more likely to experience fulfillment, happiness, and satisfaction in your work. Purpose provides direction, motivation, and resilience, helping you handle life’s difficulties. Although money is necessary for basic needs, overemphasizing it can cause stress, anxiety, and a sense of emptiness. Many individuals discover that following their passions and values offers a sense of purpose and joy that cannot be achieved solely through a paycheck.

Over the past 20 years in my current position, I have faced many challenges, heartache, anger, and frustration. I now embrace that “yes” and “no” are complete sentences! With a few years until retirement, I choose to be reflective and grateful for the many positive aspects of my work life - and there are many. A tenure of more than twenty years in the same position shows that I have learned to live more purposefully, and I can go into the sunset knowing my work life has had meaning for me and others. The purposeful nature of my work and life has also brought financial stability because I never chased money. I chose to chase passion while being smart about money, and I think I have achieved both!