In this episode of Meaningful Work Matters, Andrew Soren sits down with William Damon, a pioneering developmental psychologist and one of the world's most senior purpose scholars. Damon shares insights from his decades of research on purpose, positive youth development, and the "triple helix" of good work.
Key Topics Explored:
- The "triple helix" of good work: excellence, engagement, and ethics
- Defining purpose as an active commitment with personal meaning and societal impact
- How purpose evolves throughout one's career and life stages
- Critical mindsets for cultivating purpose: gratitude and service
- Balancing meritocracy, equity, and the potential dark sides of meaningful work
Quote from the Episode:
"Purpose is an active commitment to accomplish something that is both meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self." - William Damon
Key Takeaways:
- Purpose develops gradually over a lifetime, requiring adaptation to changing circumstances.
- Gratitude and a sense of service are crucial for fostering purpose, especially in younger individuals.
- The pursuit of excellence through hard work remains important, even as workplace values evolve.
Resources Mentioned:
- "Good Work: When Excellence and Ethics Meet" by Howard Gardner, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and William Damon
- "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren
About Our Guest:
William Damon is a Professor of Education at Stanford University and Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Hoover Institution. He is one of the world's leading researchers in human development and a pioneer in the study of how people find purpose.
Damon has authored numerous influential books, including "The Path to Purpose," "Greater Expectations" (winner of the Parent's Choice Book Award), "Good Work" (with Howard Gardner and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi), and "Some Do Care: Contemporary Lives of Moral Commitment" (with Anne Colby).
His most recent book, "A Round of Golf with my Father," explores narrative methods for fostering positive identity, gratitude, and redemption of regrets.
Damon is a Fellow of the National Academy of Education and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has spent his career advancing our understanding of moral development, purpose, and positive youth development.
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