What is Your Definite Major Purpose?
I know that I’ve talked about Think and Grow Rich
One of the most important lessons that Think and Grow Rich teaches us is that to be successful (the term “success” being defined by you), you must have a definite major purpose. Until you’ve determined what that purpose is, it’s going to be a struggle when it comes to reaching your goals. Why? When you think about it, you’re facing a losing battle if you lack a purpose to push all of your energy and momentum towards. Hill goes on to say “What a different story men would have to tell if only they would adopt a definite purpose, and stand by that purpose until it had time to become an all-consuming obsession!”
Interestingly, sometimes our purpose is right in front of us, but we haven’t opened up our senses enough to realize it.
When I was four, I told everyone who would listen that I wanted to be an artist. After high school, when I was applying to colleges, I realized that being a fine artist might be too risky if I wanted to earn a good living. So, I did the opposite and went to school for business. What happened? I struggled harder than I ever had, but kept working until I was finally finished.
What’s the lesson here? Sometimes, we have to work at things that don’t come naturally but in the end, they will make us appreciate the things that we do excel at so much more.
After taking a year off, I still had the itch to do art. Going back to school for graphic design was beyond rewarding; it just felt right. And, having the business background helped me all along the way because I now thought strategically about what I was designing. Instead of thinking only about what I wanted as an artist, I was able to more clearly focus on the client’s needs. It took me way longer to complete this path, but looking back, it was totally worth it. I learned that though life isn’t always easy, there’s always something to learn along the way.
Once you discover your definite major purpose, life won’t feel like such a struggle any longer. Because, even if it is hard, even if you work long hours and morning quickly fades into night, you’re doing what you love. And, that is what will pull you through while others around you are giving up.
Hill notes that “Psychologists have correctly said that when one is truly ready for a thing, it puts in its appearance.” So, sometimes you may know what you’re meant to do, but it takes awhile to fall into place. The point is, if you feel strongly enough about your vision, you won’t give up. You’ll keep your focus, even through the times that you’re working menial jobs that you dislike, sitting through classes that bore you and living in a town that doesn’t suit you. These are hardships are only temporary stops on your way to your definite major purpose.
“One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary defeat. Every person is guilty of this mistake at one time or another,” says Hill. He goes on to say that “It (opportunity) has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat.” And, it’s true. I recently had a few occurrences that I’d consider setbacks, but was given the golden advice by a friend that when one door closes, another one opens.
In closing, always remember Hill’s advice that success comes to those who become success conscious.
Have you determined your ultimate major purpose?
Tags: Advice
25 People have left comments on this post
Hah. I got a degree in creative writing, worked in marketing for 10 years, hated it, started a degree in animal behavior simultaneous to beginning to blog, and rediscovered my love of writing only after I’d realized I couldn’t hack it as a scientist. I had to get REALLY FAR from my original dream – writing – to reconnect with it properly.
Loved this post, Nubby. I’m off to write my five-year plan in a few weeks and will take it with me when I go as part of my research and prep!
This couldn’t have come at a better time. I’m struggling with going to school right now for something I really don’t care about–my family wants me to be a doctor or a lawyer and it’s just not in my interests to be either one. I’m more inspired by graphic design, or print design or just something dealing with design. I’m doing well in school–just made the dean’s list. But it’s really hard to carry on and finish out the semester when I feel like I’m doing this for other people and not myself. I need time to plan my life for myself, you know?
Anyway, thanks Nubby for this post. You write a lot of helpful things in your blog, but this just takes the cake (pardon the cliche phrasing =P!).
All the Best!
I really like this article! I have yet to determine my major purpose, but like you said the book said ‘when one is truly ready for a thing it puts in its appearance’. In the meanwhile I’m just trying to focus on finishing the things I’ve started, then lets see what life brings next! lol!
This is an excellent article. I’d also recommend reading Dale Carnegie’s book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” a staple for those who want success in not only business but life.
quite interesting. i think in a way, i stumbled into my major purpose while taking odd jobs here and there. i’ve always loved writing and writing is one of the most important things to me, but now, after working in a middle school for 2 years and then transfering to teaching art/science to preschoolers, i’ve begun to find that i love teaching, especially to difficult age groups/types. i hope and i know i can, find a way to bring these two loves together and eventually teach and inspire young people (middle/high school age) to write and especially to write in non-traditional ways (collaboration, comics, etc.).
so, let’s see!
I’ve suffered some setbacks recently, so this is encouraging. Going to look for the book at the library this weekend!
If this book really is as good as you say, I’ll have to get myself a copy. I have a passion for all things creative, but I find it impossible to focus on ONE at a time. As a result, I make very little (if any) progress in any field. I’m pretty lost at the moment actually. I would like to feel that I have a purpose, but at the moment I sort of feel that if i fell off the face of the earth right now nobody would notice anyway. I’m only getting older, and maybe I’ve missed the boat? Meh. I don’t know. I’m hoping there’s a reason this article came up for me today. I’m trying not to lose hope.
Sal: Now, that’s a winding path! But what’s great is that you’ve experienced so many different professions and varying outlooks along the way. Surely, all of them can contribute to your writing in some way.
Leesa: I know that feeling. But, you have time to do both! Only you can make the final decision on what’s best for you, but it is a difficult path if you don’t want to disappoint your family. Good luck.
Karina: Thanks for mentioning that; another timeless book!
melissa dominic: You’re a perfect example of how finding your definite major purpose sometimes takes time and experimentation.
Leigh: Same here. But, it’s pretty amazing when you look back, even a few days, weeks or months later on those setbacks. There’s always something to learn from life’s missteps.
simi: The book is a good one if you’re willing to dig deep and are ready to find out what you truly need to put forth to be successful. And, my favorite part about the book are the real-life success stories. It’s a classic. And, it’s really inexpensive! It’s never too late to discover what you’re meant to do with your life. The journey you’ve taken so far has at the very least hopefully taught you what you love / don’t love to do and that’s a step in the right direction.
totally love this blog. really meaningful! hope to read more of this. (:
all the love.
Thanks for sharing this Nubby. It’s great advice and a great way at examining ones life direction.
I have to get a hold of that book, it sounds great.
I think that personally I am slowly figuring out who I want to be and what I want to do without the influence of my family & societal values. I think that art is definitely my main focus, I just have to get the money thing settled so that I have more time to do art!
Nubby, were you aware that Hill’s book was the basis for Bad Brain’s PMA ideology? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_mental_attitude A lot of really fascinating history between late 70s East coast punk and self-help literature of the Great Depression!
Yes. It involves totally remaking the social structure of humanity so that no one will need to be rich anymore.
I’ll get right on it ;D
I haven’t figured out my major life purpose I don’t think. I always wanted to be lots of different things when I was younger and am still like that now! I think I’ll have a different career for each decade or something
At the moment I love writing, design, sewing and am starting to love photography so I spend time doing all of them, around being a mum (which is a career in itself I suppose!). I know I want to spend the next couple of years selling my bags and blogging about life on the cheap, but after that – no idea
Not. Yet. Determined.
Great post, glad you followed your heart after business school.
Thanks for this, this is exactly what I am going through! I read most of your blog and I love it, you are so brilliant and I am so inspired.
This totally resonates with me. I’m in business school, depressed and failing. I’m under pressure to pass & get a ‘good job’ but I can’t find anything that even remotely interests me.
I feel like my major purpose is to be a ‘lady of leisure’. I don’t want a job. I just want to be rich so that instead of working, I can spend my time following my passions: exploring my spirituality & doing volunteer work with animal & disability-related charities.
I see 2 ways of doing this:
1 – have a kid so that I can call myself a ‘stay-at-home-mum’ and not need to work because I’ll be on benefits.
2 – win the lottery.
Both options are crazy. So I’m open to better suggestions.
Nubby, this is a great post and can i just say your site is going from strength to strength. Great work girl!
I have no ideas about my life purpose in singular i think i have too many!!
Vanilla: I love it! If you want to be a ‘lady of leisure,’ there’s gotta be a way…there’s always a way, right?
Love Diaries: Thanks! And, it’s not always necessary to narrow down your life purpose to just one thing, since we are constantly evolving…but it’s good to have a main one to focus on, otherwise it becomes increasingly hard to juggle and to get really, really good at it.
Yes!! This is such an insightful post, and the book sounds like something I need to get my hands on pronto.
I really loved the article, and am still in search of “it”. What I really wanted to respond to was Vanillas post. I am a lady of leisure…I also have a child so I guess I should say AND stay at home mom, though he is in school so I don’t do much in the way of “mom” stuff. So mostly I shop, craft and do volunteer work…whatever I please. The type of things a lady of leisure would do. I wake up in the morning and it takes all my power not to slit my wrists I am sooooo unhappy. Honestly this is what I dreamed of for years and found a partner who could afford to let me be a lady of leisure….it is soooo not what I thought it would be. I am soooooooo bored and unhappy. I know that things might be different for you BUT I honestly don’t think that being a lady of leisure is where any of our passion lies. It just doesn’t give me that sense of reward…even with all the time I spend doing volunteer work. Being a volunteer is really not as fun as it sounds, its often crappy helping positions, doing the work that the paid employees don’t really want to do or don’t have time for. WOW, so its like an unpaid crap job? Kinda! I just thought I would share.
Hi This is all interesting stuff as my Thesis in January at Ruskin College Oxford is guess what Finding your definate purpose in life and I need to question 100 people acrossd the agres of 20 -40yrs of age on how or if they found their major purpose in life.
Napolean Hill very interesting views I agree but what if your major purposde is not commercial like making loads of money and owning 12 cars etc What if it is being spiritual and even being a tree hugger you see no-one person purpose is any better than the pother it is just different dont you agree?
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time!
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