The Purpose Code: How to Unlock Meaning, Maximize Happiness, and Leave a Lasting Legacy
Jordan Grumet
Harriman House (January 2025)

Here is a  series of self-helpful prescriptions

Long ago, I concluded that it is very difficult — if not impossible — to motivate another person but it is possible to help someone activate their [begin italics] self-motivation [end italics] and then help to support their efforts to achieve the given goals. That is especially true of the potential value of parents, grandparents, and other family members as well as teachers, clergy, coaches, supervisors at work, and anyone else who have direct and frequent interaction with those in need of support.

Jordan Grumet focuses on three separate but interdependent subject areas: “In Part 1, we start with the paradox that purpose is both superimportant to living a happy life and riddled with stress and anxiety, and show how to resolve this by breaking down purpose into its two kinds: ‘big P’ PURPOSE and ‘little p’ purpose…In Part 2, we will explore the roles of both meaning and purpose in bringing happiness…And finally, in Part 3, we will discuss why it all matters. One of the main reasons most people focus on ‘big P’ Purpose is [that] they think that is the most assured way to have a greater impact…In fact, long-term, generationally impactful. and legacy-building purpose is [begin italics] much more likely [end italics] to be of the little P kind. In Part 3, we will explain why.”

Keep in mind: “As we will discuss in the following chapters, many studies (as well as common sense) suggest that having a sense of purpose is highly correlated with all sorts of wonderful things — health, longevity, and happiness. Isn’t that what all the self-help gurus tell us/ if we just find the right sense of purpose, everything will be okay. We will be happy and healthy, and the sun will always shine.

“Except when it doesn’t.”

Purpose is far more complicated than that. “We must understand the duality of purpose and overcome this paradox. We must crack the purpose code.”

Grumet provides an abundance of information, insights, and counsel. Note the end-of-chapter “prescriptions” (i.e. assignments) that he specifies:

1. Social Media audit
2. Purpose Audit
3. Work Audit
4. Home Audit
5. Personal Narrative Audit
6. Time Audit #1
7. Time Audit #2
8. Community Audit
9. Generational Audit
10. Regret Audit

Organizations are best viewed as living organisms. In a VUCA marketplace, competition for survival and then at least some security is ferocious and tends to be temporary. Strategies and especially tactics must be resilient and flexible (hence the importance of the frequent and vigorous assessments prescribed) but purpose must always be served amidst volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

That said, with rare exceptions, a life without purpose — for organizations as well as for individuals — is a life without value. If ever a self-help book needed an Index, this one does. The material is solid and every effort must be made to guide readers to the specific assistance they need. If and when there is a second edition,  adding an Index is imperative. Also, presumably there are — or will be — supplementary resources available online. Why not include a link to them?