A Morning That Reframed the Day
Some days remind you that purpose is not a grand plan you suddenly discover. It is something you grow into, moment by moment. Today was one of those days.
The plan was clear: keep the morning free to prepare for the Purposebility workshop. But life had its own agenda. My phone rang. My dad asked if I was free for coffee. I did not check my schedule. I did not weigh the cost. I simply said yes.
It was an unhurried coffee. No hidden agenda. Just a father and son talking. It reminded me that love is not always expressed through words. Often it is shown in the act of showing up. These moments will not last forever. I will take them every chance I get. By the time I returned to school for the workshop, preparation was happening on the move. And that, I realised, was exactly what Purposebility is about: finding purpose in the flow of life, not outside of it.
From Purpose-Driven People to Purpose-Driven Communities
That evening, dinner with Paul and Jessica from Edutropism deepened this truth. Edutropism does not run schools. It activates them. Their mission is not to be the “best” school but to awaken schools to their own purpose. This mirrors Stellar’s DNA. We are not here to be the brightest star but to empower others to shine even brighter.
A purpose-driven school starts with a purpose-driven individual. Gather enough of those, and you build a purpose-driven community. From there, you have purpose-driven teachers, parents, and students. It always begins with the individual.
The STARS Connection
Purposebility is not just an exercise in goal setting. It is a living application of Stellar’s STARS values.
- Self-Awareness: The Lifeline exercise forces honest reflection on highs and lows, so leaders know their true starting point.
- Teachability: “Clarity follows action” requires openness to shift as lessons appear.
- Attitude: Reverse insights reframe scarcity and setbacks as fuel, not obstacles.
- Relationships: Purpose is built in the context of people, not in isolation as seen in a coffee with a father.
- Significance: Legacy goals push participants to think beyond success to lasting contribution.
These values are not theory. They are embedded in every step of the workshop.
The 3-Part Flow of Purposebility
1. Past Shapes Present
The journey begins with the Lifeline exercise, mapping life’s emotional highs and lows (+10 to -10). Neuroscience tells us emotionally charged memories are stored with heightened recall in the amygdala and hippocampus, making them powerful tools for identity work. In simpler terms, strong memories are bookmarks that help us understand our story and see how far we have come.
By embracing both victories and tragedies, participants discover the resilience and values already within them. This is the foundation of Self-Awareness and the first step toward living with purpose.
2. Present Sets Goals for Future
Next comes the Wheel of Life: ten life domains rated for satisfaction. Participants select the top three, then narrow to one primary focus. Horizon planning links a one-year goal to a seven-year vision and finally to a lifetime legacy.
This step converts insight into motion, testing Teachability and shaping Attitude. It is where people stop talking about what matters and start acting on it.
3. Purpose is Found Along the Way and Polished Through Seasons
The reverse insight here is simple: most think they must find their purpose before setting goals. The truth is the opposite. Purpose emerges from action. Over time, the process of moving toward goals and adjusting them, refines and deepens that purpose.
This is where Relationships strengthen, as shared goals connect people, and Significance grows as leaders begin to think about impact that outlives them.
Reverse Insights for the Ten Domains
- God & Purpose: The more you chase comfort, the further you drift from calling.
- Health & Fitness: True fitness is built in the hours you are off the clock.
- Love & Romance: Romance thrives in consistency, not grand gestures.
- Home & Family: Healing after conflict builds a home stronger, not smoother.
- Knowledge & Wisdom: Wisdom grows fastest when you stop trying to win debates.
- Money & Finance: Wealth is exercised money, not just earned money.
- Friends & Social: True friends stay when there is nothing to gain.
- Business & Career: Your career grows in proportion to the problems you are willing to own.
- Play & Relaxation: Rest replenishes. It is not simply the absence of work.
- Community & Contribution: Giving without keeping score builds a legacy that outlives you.
Reflections and Next Steps
After the session, we asked: What worked? The intimate table setup, the pacing, those personal stories. What needed improvement? Letting participants select three domains to explore in depth, setting future dates earlier, introducing speaker profiles, and embedding Purposebility into Stellar’s HR onboarding so every new team member learns our culture from day one.
This is not just a community programme. It is a leadership pipeline. Purposebility graduates empowered to facilitate future sessions can spark exponential impact. If we want our effect to extend beyond ourselves, we must purposefully build systems that multiply purpose.
The Deeper Call
That morning coffee with my father was not in the plan. I had every reason to say no. The workshop needed my focus. The slides needed refining. But in that quiet moment, sitting across from him, I realised this was the real work of purpose.
Purpose is not just about big visions or strategic plans. It is also about the small, unplanned decisions that say, “You matter more than my to-do list.” It is the conversations over coffee, the presence in ordinary moments, the willingness to pause for people who will not always be here.
Most people think they must first find their purpose before they can set meaningful goals. The truth is the opposite. Purpose rarely appears in the stillness of waiting. It emerges in the motion of doing. My goal that morning was simple: be with my father. Yet that choice carried more meaning than any plan I could have prepared.
Set goals. Find purpose. And remember, purpose is not a treasure hidden far ahead in your journey. It is a seed you hold in your hand today. It will only grow if you plant it now, water it often, and allow it to take root in the soil of your daily life.
