Bradley Wright, Life Purpose Lab

Purpose is usually thought about in individual terms-"What is the purpose of my life?" But, organizations can have a sense of purpose as well. It's their mission. Having a sense of mission benefits organizations in many ways.Jeff Ikler and Kirsten Richert study organizational mission, especially in schools. They have written a book together and host their own podcast on the topic They bring unique insights into what it takes for organizations to develop a sense of mission as well as the problems in getting there.  In this episode, you'll learn about:What is a mission driven organization?Types of organizations by how clearly they understand their missionThe impact of having a clear mission in an organizationBest practices for creating organizational missionThe similarities between individual purpose and organizational mission***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

What prevents us from finding purpose? Knowing this guides us in arranging our lives so that we are able to find purpose. A major barrier to purpose is being overly busy. Busyness diminishes our capacity to find purpose in multiple ways, as explored in this week's mini-lesson.

This time, Nick Kemp, the founder of Ikigai Tribe, shares his profound insights on the true meaning of ikigai, a concept often misrepresented as a simple Venn diagram. He dives into the rich Japanese philosophy behind ikigai, emphasizing its connection to daily life, social roles, and the joy found in small pleasures. Nick also discusses the seven fundamental needs to experience true ikigai and reflects on the importance of emotions in determining one's purpose, shedding misconceptions while inspiring a global community dedicated to this meaningful pursuit.

A commonly expressed reservation about discovering purpose is that it's limited to the well-to-do. This mini-lesson explores how purpose is relevant to the poor and how poverty affects the attainment of purpose.***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

How do you find purpose amid great power and privilege? By using it to help others. Berta Aldrich entered the corporate world with a good heart and more than a little naïveté. She thought people would act ethically and focus on doing great things together. While she was able to climb the latter to the top, she encountered people trying to sabotage her career-both because she was a high performer and because she's a woman. Now, Berta is dedicated to helping other people who are entering business, like her college-aged daughter, to navigate these obstacles as they find their own way forward. In this episode, you'll learn about:How we can be energized for purpose by younger peopleThe value of standing up for the oppressedThe need to figure out our strengths and going with themThe power of a difficult pathWhy we should follow our purpose and not our position***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Knowing what purpose is, and how to define it, makes it easier to discover it. This mini-lesson identifies the five characteristics of purpose found in most definitions of it. It also contrasts purpose versus the larger concept of meaning.***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Can we find purpose in terrible situations that we can't change? If so, how?Have you ever been sentenced to life in prison for murder? Me neither. But Quan Huynh was at age 23. In prison, he only wanted to establish a reputation as dangerous and to be feared. Then, in his eleventh year, something happened. Several circumstances prompted him to reevaluate his reason for being. He committed himself to living as purposely even single day, even if his legacy never left the prison yard. Eventually, he was paroled. Now he's living a deeply purposeful life helping others, including recently released prisoners.  In this episode, you'll learn about:How purpose can be found even in antisocial behavior such as gang activitiesHow reinterpreting our circumstances can change our whole lifeThe power of creating a legacy where we're atThe need to let go of other people's expectations for usThe goodness in life that arises when we do the right thing***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

Adolescence is a turbulent journey of self-discovery filled with options. Research reveals three pathways where youth find purpose: through random meaningful activities, awareness leading to action, and positive peer influence. For instance, a job in childcare can evolve into a deep commitment, while concerns about issues like gun violence can inspire activism. The power of friends showing purpose can also guide adolescents toward meaningful pursuits. Understanding these pathways can help us nurture purpose in young lives.

Would you like to have more clarity about your purpose in life? Would you like to better understand the process of finding purpose?Gabrielle Bosche is an expert on purpose. She has studied it. She has lived it. She helps others to find it. Along with her husband, Brian, she wrote the bestselling book The Purpose Factor. She has a wealth of knowledge that she shares about finding purpose. She brings a clarity of thought to what is often a murky subject. Her principles for finding purpose are both clear and actionable. In this episode, you'll learn about:Giving yourself permission to pursue purposeWhy living our purpose usually requires lots of hard workFour key elements of finding purposeWhy picking "who" to help is more powerful than "why" to helpThe biggest barriers to living a purposeful life***Want to connect? Have a question? Just want to say "hi"? Send me an email at bradleywrightphd@gmail.com. Would enjoy hearing from you.Want to start your own podcast? This podcast is edited and produced (and music too) by Josh Gilbert. He does a great job and is a joy to work with. Contact him at   joshgilbertmedia@gmail.com

How can we help children discover their life's purpose early on? Focus on nurturing their interests rather than asking them about abstract goals. Engaging in activities like arts, nature, and volunteering can ignite their 'purpose sparks.' Parents should model exploration and support their sustained engagement. The key takeaway? Expose kids to varied activities, observe what excites them, and encourage their continued involvement to lay the groundwork for a meaningful future.