The Next Big Idea Daily The Secret to a Life of Connection and Purpose
26 snips
Jan 28, 2026 
Zach Mercurio, researcher and author who studies leadership habits that create significance. Jennifer Breheny Wallace, journalist and bestselling author who studies why feeling valued matters. They discuss what “mattering” means and a four-part framework for it. They share practical ways to notice, affirm, and make people feel needed in work and life.
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Mattering Is A Core Human Need
- Mattering is the universal need to feel valued and to add value, shaping our story about place and purpose.
- When mattering is met people gain resilience and engagement; when it erodes it fuels loneliness, burnout, and disengagement.
Use The SED Framework
- Strengthen mattering by building the SED elements: significance, appreciation, investment, and dependence.
- Use small everyday actions like asking to learn from someone or closing the loop on impact to grow these elements.
Meet Needs With Your Three Ts
- Notice real needs and meet them using your time, talent, or treasure (the three Ts).
- Match a clear need with what you can give to create tangible ways to add value and matter.
