Your Path to Purpose: A Client Career Guide to Success & Significance
Posted on August 22, 2025 by Michael Zone, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
Go beyond goals. This guide uses SFBT and Adlerian principles to help you define a career that aligns with your purpose and values.
Building a Career of Purpose: A Guide for Ambitious Leaders
You’ve reached a crossroads in your career. Maybe you’re seeking a promotion, a new role, or simply a greater sense of fulfillment. The challenge isn’t just about making a plan; it’s about defining what true success means to you. This guide combines powerful ideas from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) and Adlerian therapy to help you build a career that is not only successful but also deeply significant.
1. Envision Your Preferred Future (SFBT)
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a forward-looking approach. Instead of dwelling on past problems or obstacles, it asks you to vividly imagine your desired future. Your success is not defined by what you’re escaping, but by what you’re moving toward.
The “Miracle Question”: Imagine that tonight, while you were sleeping, a miracle occurred and all the problems with your career were solved. When you wake up, what are the first small signs you would notice that would tell you the miracle happened? What would you be doing differently? What would others notice?
Scale Your Success: Rate your current situation on a scale of 1 to 10. Now, ask yourself: What would a “7” look like? What small, achievable step can you take to move just one point higher? This focuses your energy on small, incremental wins, not on a daunting, monumental leap.
2. Connect to a Higher Purpose (Adlerian)
Alfred Adler believed that a key driver of human behavior is the desire for significance and belonging, which he called the need for social interest. He argued that true success isn’t a solo achievement; it is a contribution to the greater good. This is a core tenet of our work, as you know, focusing on the Meaning and Purpose need as a key driver.
Purpose Beyond the Paycheck: Ask yourself: How does my work contribute to the world? What value do I provide to my team, my clients, or my community? Whether you’re a CEO or an entry-level employee, your work has a ripple effect.
Identify Your “Social Interest” Homework: For one week, pay attention to the small moments at work where you felt most fulfilled. Was it mentoring a junior colleague? Was it solving a problem for a client? Write these moments down and reflect on what they reveal about your core values and your desire to contribute.
Inject Personality and Vulnerability: Be honest about your goals. It’s not just about a title; it’s about what that title allows you to do. Do you want to lead because you genuinely enjoy mentoring, or because of the prestige?
Aligning your actions with your true motives is key to finding lasting satisfaction.
By shifting your focus from “what’s wrong” to “what’s next,” and from personal ambition to a higher purpose, you can create a career that is not only succ
