Make Your Mark

like the way Richard Leider, one of the world’s foremost experts on purpose, describes how to approach the next step. He defines purpose as being in the right place with the people who matter to you, doing your life’s work. So the endeavor becomes, in Richard’s words, to “pack” and “repack” one’s life—discarding ideas, thoughts, duties, old baggage

product. You get there by starting with people. What do people need, what do they care about, what are their passions and dreams, their desires and fears? Then, and only then, can you begin to understand how your product fits into the equation. By focusing on the problem

you have to keep that “Why are we here?” question front and center at all times

drive to succeed.

you build your product or service, take a two-track approach. Optimize the product experience for the first fifteen seconds as a compartmentalized project. Then, for the customers that actually come through the door, build a meaningful experience and a relationship that lasts a lifetime. In other words, make decisions with the short-term as well as

the first step in living your purpose is to distill it. This very act sets an accurate compass heading. It shapes your choices, tells you what is important, and helps you separate the merely interesting from the truly crucial.

“Aging should be conceived of as an era of continual growth and renewal, rather than a period of decline,”

The data shows that people who are rich aren’t any happier, so you might as well derive your happiness from what you are doing today.

Look for opportunities to lean on familiar patterns or mental models.