I struggled with purpose when I started my career in 2016. I worked in a high-stakes, high-pressure investment firm and was just aiming to survive day by day. When I became an economist after that, I thought I finally found my purpose in life as I got to live out my dream of becoming one.

As the title suggests, realizing my dream and purpose didn’t feel like it. I felt like I was just a small cog in the machine and many of the things I did, didn’t really matter. After working for 8 years now, I would like to let you know that figuring out how to solve problems and contribute to other people is more important.

#1 You would find yourself, facing a lot of problems at work that makes you want to pull your hair out

I hope I don’t get bald by the time I turn 40. The reality is that work and life are just filled with problems. Some are important, some are just created by other people for no reason, and some are only problems cause your employer makes it so.

The latter two will undoubtedly make you question your purpose in work.

Why am I doing this? Because your boss told you so.

Does this matter in the bigger scheme of things? Yes, because your boss said so.

Not all bosses are like that but you generally have to tow the company line or you risk being ostracized and passed over for promotions.

#2 Focus on solving problems and your purpose will eventually align.

This might sound counter-productive but solve the problems at work first. People won’t listen to you until have proven to be able to solve their problems too.

Then, they are forced to sign to listen to you. And when they are, you can communicate your views and purpose about the task at hand.

You show that you are just not someone who only talks but is also able to put in the work.

Getting heard by others will eventually align with your purpose in the company. They might not change their stance but they will be forced to consider yours.

#3 In the long-term, you need to contribute to something to reaffirm your purpose

It’s good having a purpose. But if you can’t meaningfully contribute in concrete terms, then you will eventually your purpose and motivation.

Let’s be real. Working in corporate and for companies generally mean that your work contributes to generating profits for them.

If you are working in a company that emphasizes contributing to certain causes and you are aligned, great!

If you are not, think of how you can contribute to others. By then, you would have to decide whether working for a company or going on your own is better.

Conclusion

Back up your purpose in life and work bv solving problems and contributing in a concrete manner.