E3. Finding Passion and Purpose at Work

Boi Carpenter

Welcome to the Inquisitive Leader podcast! My name is Bowie Carpenter. I am a visionary, advisor, strategist, and executive coach, bringing over twenty-nine years of professional experience as an individual contributor, manager, and leader of large-scale teams. I'm also the creative architect of this podcast.

Boi Carpenter

It is such a pleasure to welcome you into the Inquisitive Leader community. Today's episode is about finding passion and purpose at work.

Boi Carpenter

Feeling disconnected from your work, it's not just common; for most people, it's an everyday reality. In fact, if I’m being honest, I’ve been there too. It's this truth that, well, I think it's what makes so many of us a little uneasy when we hear it out loud, you know? But here’s the thing—we’re not alone in this.

Boi Carpenter

Let’s take a moment to think about some numbers. According to a recent Gallup study, 69% of U.S. employees report feeling disengaged at work. That's not a small statistic—it’s the majority. So, this feeling that many of us hesitate to admit? It’s actually, kind of, the norm.

Boi Carpenter

And honestly, we aren’t really prepared or told how to navigate these ups and downs, are we? Just like any relationship, our connection to work has its highs and lows. And those highs, yeah, they make it easy. But the lows? That’s when it gets tough to stay engaged, to find meaning in what we’re doing day in and day out.

Boi Carpenter

So, if you’ve found yourself questioning, “Why don't I feel that spark anymore?”—please know it’s not a failure. It’s more like a call to examine what’s going on. Because maybe, just maybe, there are some steps we haven’t considered yet.

Boi Carpenter

Let’s just pause for a moment to consider this: ninety thousand hours. That’s how long, on average, each of us spends at work over a lifetime. Ninety. Thousand. Hours. It’s an almost incomprehensible amount of time, isn’t it? And it really brings up the question—how much of that time feels meaningful?

Boi Carpenter

Now, here's where it gets interesting. Marcus Buckingham, in his book “Love + Work,” talks about the importance of understanding what truly energizes us—our weird, as he calls it. It’s that unique essence, you know, the thing that makes us distinctly ourselves. He argues that when we lean into our strengths, the things we’re naturally good at, we open the door to finding satisfaction in our work. It’s not just about what we do well, though. It’s about what makes us lose track of time—those moments when we’re so engaged that everything else sort of, well, falls away.

Boi Carpenter

And honestly, that’s not something many of us take the time to figure out. We're often so focused on meeting expectations, aligning ourselves with what’s asked of us, that we forget to ask: What do I love doing? What, in my work, actually excites me?

Boi Carpenter

That’s where curiosity comes into play. Self-awareness, too. You know, taking a step back and exploring, “What am I doing when I feel energized, when I feel connected to my work?” Because, for me, those are the moments that matter. The ones where time just slips away, like, you’re in flow, and what you’re doing feels right—not by someone else’s standards, but by your own.

Boi Carpenter

Let's get practical for a moment. When you find yourself falling out of love with your job—because it does happen—how do you find your way back? Well, it starts with these six simple but profound questions: What am I feeling and why? Am I connected to the mission of my organization? What inspires me about it? How can I discover new points of inspiration? Have I built a network within the organization? And, here’s a big one: How am I investing in the relationship with my manager?

Boi Carpenter

Now, each of these questions might feel like, well, like they’re asking a lot, right? But I think they’re less about perfection and more about peeling back the layers to see what’s really driving us—or holding us back. And when we take the time to reflect, it’s amazing how much clarity we can gain. It doesn’t fix everything overnight, but it does give us a sense of, I guess, direction.

Boi Carpenter

And—and let's look beyond just the individual, because workplace disengagement isn’t happening in a vacuum. Organizations have an equally important role to play. Studies have shown that relationships, purpose, and mission are foundational to happiness at work. It’s why companies with strong cultures, ones that emphasize connection and shared values, often see higher productivity and fulfillment among their employees. It’s a balance, you know? A kind of give-and-take between individuals and the workplace environment.

Boi Carpenter

Here is an example of what I have witnessed in the workplace with a team struggling with low morale. They turned things around not with some massive overhaul but by focusing on personal connections and aligning daily efforts with their broader mission. They started, simply, by sharing stories. Stories about why they joined the organization, to begin with, and what kept them going. And you know what? Those conversations ignited something. They reminded everyone that they weren’t just completing tasks; they were playing a role in something much bigger. It was, well, it was powerful.

Boi Carpenter

Ultimately, the path back to loving your work? It’s not always straight, and it’s not always easy. But it is worth the effort. Because when we recalibrate, when we reconnect with what matters most to us, we don’t just improve our own experience—we, kind of, lift those around us too. And that ripple effect? That’s where the real magic happens.

Boi Carpenter

On that note, let's call it here for today. Remember, it’s not about avoiding the struggle completely—it’s about meeting it with curiosity, with intention, and with a little bit of grace. Thanks for joining me here on the Inquisitive Leader podcast. Until next time, take care of yourselves and keep asking the important questions. Goodbye for now.