I Get to Do This: Finding Purpose
Purpose. Your why. Finding meaning.
These words get thrown around a lot, don’t they? And if we’re honest, they can feel a bit overwhelming. Like you’re supposed to have it all figured out. Like everyone else already knows their purpose, and you’re the only one still searching.
The truth? Purpose anxiety is real.
I’ve felt it too. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that purpose isn’t always one big, shining moment of clarity. Sometimes it’s messy. Sometimes it changes. Sometimes it takes time (years in my case) to see the common threads that were there all along.
This is my experience – hope it helps you. I tell it through career path since that seems relatable to most.
I start every day with this one
Most mornings start early for me. Earlier than I sometimes want them to. There are days when the alarm goes off and I’d love to stay in bed a bit longer. But I’ve learned to begin my mornings with a simple phrase:
“I get to do this.”
It changes everything. It shifts the day from feeling like a list of obligations to an opportunity to live out my values—helping others, working with people I truly value and admire, and staying connected to a deeper sense of purpose.
The thing is, I didn’t always have that clarity. It came slowly, over the years, shaped by a career path that has been anything but linear. Looking back now, I can see how every chapter—however different on the surface—aligned in some way, and taught me lots along the way.
Chapter 1: Hotels, Hospitality, and Independence at 18
At 18, I left home, moved towns, and jumped straight into the world of hotels, conferences, and weddings. It was my first real taste of independence—earning my own money (very little #eek), meeting people from all walks of life, and learning what it meant to stand on my own two feet. I knew it all by the way, haha – but that’s another story.
The hours were long, the pace was demanding, and it wasn’t always easy. But that career & time taught me so much about customer service, human behavior, and making genuine connections with people different to me.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but those experiences gave me a foundation I have used ever since: how to stay calm under pressure, how to listen, how to make people feel seen and heard – valued.
Chapter 2: My First Office Job — A Different Kind of Learning
From there, I made what felt like a huge shift into the corporate world—my first office job in the office furniture industry. On paper, it was a world apart from weddings and conferences. But what I found was a different kind of purpose.
I learned about business processes, teamwork, and professionalism. I began to understand how organizations really worked, and how even the smallest details—like creating a great workspace—could help people be more productive, creative, and happier at work.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it mattered. And the resume says – it gave me skills and confidence that would carry me into the next chapter. In fact, one of my biggest drivers was getting a “9-5” life and away from shift work in the hospitality industry. It all matters.
Chapter 3: Tech Sales, Start-Ups, and Entrepreneurship
The leap into tech sales was nothing short of transformative. I started in a small start-up, learning the ropes of sales, but what I really learned was how to build something from the ground up.
Over time, I went from sales to managing the business and eventually buying it. It was exciting, terrifying, and everything in between.
This chapter taught me about leadership, risk-taking, and resilience. It showed me the rewards—and the weight—of responsibility. It was here that I discovered how much I valued growth, opportunity, and creating something that made a difference for both customers and the people I worked alongside. I also loved the paycheck, the car, the incredible travel opportunities, the trappings of what is so often called success.
Chapter 4: A New Life, A New Purpose in Health and Fitness
When I moved to the U.S., I thought I was taking a short break from the corporate world—a career change that might last a couple of years at most. But that “short break” has turned into more than a decade as a Personal Trainer and Health
Coach.
This chapter has been about helping people transform their health, confidence, and lives. It’s personal, meaningful work—watching someone grow stronger, healthier, and more resilient (& often far more content) because of the support and guidance I can give.
And I’ve realized it’s not just about fitness. It’s about empowering people to believe in themselves, to see their own potential, and to live fuller, healthier lives.
The Thread That Ties It All Together
Looking back, my career might seem like four very different paths. But through them all, the common thread has been alignment with my values at each stage of life:
- Independence, connection, and service in hospitality.
- Learning and professionalism in the corporate world.
- Growth, leadership, and resilience in entrepreneurship.
- Empowerment, health, and transformation in coaching.
Of course, it’s not always easy. There are early mornings, tough decisions, and moments of doubt. But having a clear why doesn’t mean life is perfect—it just gives me a compass.
When I was first in a formal session as a Health Coach talking about purpose I felt imposter syndrome. I felt like it needed to be a mission statement, or I’d compare myself to a great leader & fall short – we can’t all be MLK’s, or the CEO of a humanitarian organization. In my practice as Coach now, I hear this a lot and it leads to the purpose anxiety. It is a light bulb, transformative moment for many when I can guide them to realise it’s “values + gifts (or passions) = purpose”
Purpose isn’t a destination. It’s a practice. It’s in the choices we make, the people we help, and the values we carry into every day. It’s also reflection, noticing when and how you use your gifts and align with values. It’s also something that evolves and changes in time. And for me, it all starts with one simple thought:
I get to do this.