Know Your Purpose

This chapter invites readers to clarify the personal purpose that motivates a career in healthcare leadership and explains why that clarity matters for long-term success and resilience. It outlines common obstacles, including uncertainty about motivations and a tendency to chase roles that do not align with deeper values. The author’s journey illustrates how an early calling to serve and experiences in psychology, public health, and long-term care shaped a career path from frontline practice to nonprofit leadership and academia. The chapter describes leadership grounded in servant and transformational approaches, and it shows how purpose sustains leaders during crises and hard decisions. Practical guidance encourages early reflection on values, strengths, and the kinds of impact readers want to make, with the reminder that purpose can evolve but should guide education, internships, and career choices.