Working on Purpose

Purpose Is Personal

I didn’t always know my purpose. But I did know when I was done working without one.

That kind of misalignment doesn’t announce itself with a dramatic gesture. It trickles in. At first, it’s just a little unease in your chest during a leadership meeting. Then it’s the voice in your head asking if this next big strategy session is even worth getting excited about. Eventually, it’s a quiet retreat from the work—because what once lit you up now just… flickers.

And that’s when it begins. That’s when you realize you’re no longer content being a worker. You want to be a leader. And more than that—you want to care again.

But that shift doesn’t come from a new title, a better manager, or even more inspiring goals. It comes from something deeper. Something no org chart can assign. It comes from purpose.

More Than Mission Statements

Let’s get this out of the way: I’m not talking about the corporate kind of purpose that gets painted on a wall and then slowly becomes background noise. That’s mission. That’s values. That’s important—but it’s not the engine.

Purpose isn’t a slogan. It’s a summons. You don’t chase purpose because you’re looking for a noble tagline. You chase it because something inside you is tired of doing great work without a great reason.

And no, you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. That’s not how it works. Purpose often shows up as a tug in your chest. A voice in your head saying, “There’s more for you than this.”

Purpose isn’t a statement. It’s a calling. And it doesn’t care if you’re fully ready—it just wants you to answer. The beautiful thing is: once you do, it changes everything.

People. Place. Paradigm Shift.

I believe purpose tends to reveal itself in three core ways. Most of us are drawn to one more than the others—and sometimes, it’s a mix.

First, People. This is the purpose rooted in relationships. It says: I’m here to uplift others. I’m here to mentor, guide, care, raise up, and pour into the next generation. If this is your lane, you probably feel most alive when someone lights up in your presence. You thrive in teams. You coach instinctively. You notice people. You help them grow.

Second, Place. This is the stewardship purpose. You feel called to take care of what we’ve been given—our land, our systems, our communities. You want to leave things better than you found them. People with place-based purpose often see the whole playing field and act with long-view wisdom and local love.

Third—and maybe the most powerful of all—Paradigm Shift. This is the kind of purpose that breaks open the way people think. It’s not just about helping or protecting. It’s about changing the lens completely. People who are called to paradigm shifts lead by reimagining what’s possible. They show us the world from a new vantage point. They don’t just speak. They reframe.

I know this one intimately. Because it’s what I’m building with Leaders Uplifted.

The Lens Shapes the Story

When I launched this company, I didn’t just want to help people lead better—I wanted to help them see differently.

That’s why the Leaders Uplifted logo looks the way it does. Have you noticed it? There are two brackets on either side of the words. It’s subtle, but it’s intentional. Those brackets create a frame. A lens. A way to view the world—and your place in it.

I see it like the frame of a camera. Or even simpler—hold your hands up in front of your face, thumbs and forefingers making a rectangle. There it is. The shot. The scene. Your frame. And that frame is yours to choose.

You can frame yourself as the victim or the victor. You can frame your role as small—or as the catalyst for change. You can focus on the lack, or zoom in on the abundance of possibility. That’s why I say purpose is personal. Because it starts with how you see yourself—and how you choose to see the world.

The frame doesn’t just shape the picture. It shapes the story. And the story is how your purpose comes to life.

OK, Let’s Play
This week’s game is about the power of perspective—how the lens you choose reveals the purpose you live.

Ready: You don’t need perfect clarity to start—just a willingness to zoom in on what matters.

Set: Try shifting from “What do I do?” to “What do I choose to see?”

Go:

• Grab a sticky note and write down one perspective that empowers you—frame it, and stick it where you’ll see it
• Take a screenshot of something inspiring, then crop it to highlight the part that moves you—notice what happens
• Pause during your next team meeting and reflect: how am I framing this moment right now?
• Ask a friend or colleague, “What do you think I see differently than most people?”—then really listen
  
  

The world may not change overnight. But your view of it can. And that’s where the shift begins.

When Purpose Calls You Forward

When I started this company, I didn’t have a grand plan. What I had was a pull—a sense that something bigger was waiting on the other side of courage. A feeling that if I stayed where I was—just performing, just showing up—I’d never know the kind of impact I was truly capable of.

I followed that feeling before I had proof. And it turns out, that’s the exact order of operations. Because once I took the leap, the signs started to show up. The ideas started to crystallize. The people I was meant to work with found their way to me—and I found my way to them.

That’s what happens when you answer the call of purpose. The clarity doesn’t precede the decision. It follows it.

So if you’re in a season where you’re feeling something stir… if you’re questioning the work or dreaming of something more… I want to remind you: that call isn’t a glitch. It’s your guide.

You don’t need to have the whole path mapped out. You just need to take one step toward what feels real.

Purpose is personal. It’s powerful. And when you decide to pursue it, your life—and your leadership—start to align.

You’re not behind. You’re not too late. You’re right on time.
You’re already leading. Now lead with purpose.
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Hey there! I’m Blair Bloomston, author of UPLIFTED WEEKLY and your friendly consultant, facilitator, and game-based educator on-call, bringing a passion and penchant for all things play (I’m also alliteratively all-in). As the founder of Leaders Uplifted, I help leaders like you tap into creativity, connection, and confidence to make work feel less like a grind and more like a game. Keep reading with me— I’m here to be your business best friend. Let's go!