Episode #1048 of Thinking With Mitch Joel is now live.

This conversation with Tom Rath gets into one of the most persistent myths in modern work and personal development: that purpose is something we are supposed to find. As if it is hiding somewhere. As if one day we will discover the perfect title, job, passion or identity, and everything will suddenly make sense. Tom makes a very different case. Purpose is not something we uncover once and then protect forever. It is something we build through the choices we make every day, especially when we stop looking inward and start asking how we can contribute to the people around us. Tom is one of the most influential voices in the fields of leadership, strengths, wellbeing and human performance. He is a researcher and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of books including How Full Is Your Bucket?, StrengthsFinder 2.0, Eat Move Sleep and many more. His work has shaped how millions of people think about work, health, talent, energy and personal growth. His latest book, What’s The Point? – Turning Purpose Into Your Daily Superpower, challenges the idea that fulfillment comes from endless introspection, personal branding or chasing some fixed version of ourselves.

That idea feels especially relevant now.

AI is reshaping work, organizations and the value of many traditional tasks. Responding to assignments may become less valuable than creating new ideas. Careers may become more entrepreneurial, fluid and project-based. Younger generations are asking better questions about meaning, flexibility and contribution. The old employment contract is changing, whether organizations are ready for it or not. In this conversation, we talk about the future of work, the limits of personal branding, the changing relationship between employees and employers, and why looking outward toward customers, colleagues and communities may create more fulfillment than constantly searching inside ourselves. We also get into strengths, wellbeing, entrepreneurship, service, exposure to different career paths and why purpose can become a practical daily lens rather than an abstract life mission. Mostly, this is a conversation about becoming more human in an age of intelligent machines. The opportunity may not be to become endlessly productive. It may be to become more useful, more connected and more intentional by asking one simple question before the next meeting, project or day begins: What’s the point?

The episode is now live. Listen to my conversation with Tom Rath here: Purpose And Strengthfinding With Tom Rath – TWMJ #1048.

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