Discover What Matters

August 31, 2025

Reflect

Early in her career, Oprah Winfrey was working as a young news anchor in Baltimore. Her style was too warm, too emotional, too different from the hard-edge delivery executives expected. They told her she was “unfit for television” and let her go.

What could have been the end of her dream became the beginning of her purpose. Oprah leaned into what made her unique — her ability to connect, to listen, to draw out people’s stories. Instead of trying to fit a mold, she created a new one.

That shift led her to daytime talk, where The Oprah Winfrey Show became one of the most influential platforms in media history. Her career is a reminder that your greatest power often comes from aligning what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

Implement

Spend 10 minutes sketching your own Ikigai Venn diagram:

• What do you love?

• What are you good at?

• What does the world need?

• What can you be paid for?

Notice where the circles overlap. Write down one phrase from the center that feels like it could guide this next chapter.

Strengthen

👉 Ikigai Worksheet (PDF) — a simple guide to help you clarify your passions, strengths, and purpose.
This week’s resource will help you move from ideas to clarity. Explore a simple Ikigai worksheet that helps you map the overlap between what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for. Use it as a quick sketch today, and revisit as your vision evolves.

👉 Access this week’s worksheet at Ikigai Worksheet (PDF) 

Elevate

You are more than a role or a title. When you align what matters most, the path ahead feels meaningful — and doors begin to open in surprising ways.

Momentum Insight

Discovering purpose isn’t always a solo exercise. Sometimes you need a thought partner to help connect the dots between your skills, passions, and the impact you want to make. AI can serve as that partner when you guide it well.

“Acting as my career strategist, I want you to help me explore my purpose and next chapter. I’ll share my top skills, what I love doing, and the impact I care about making. Please suggest 3 possible career directions that align with these inputs, and for each, explain why it might be a strong fit.”

Replace the placeholders with your own details. This isn’t about a final answer — it’s about sparking new directions and practicing how to frame AI as a trusted partner.

Next week: Everyday Leadership — the power of small acts that lift others.

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