Is this it ? .... A Guide to finding your purpose, with Ingo Rauth Phd

It's a situation many of us face-the moment success is no longer enough. You might be in a career crisis, feeling unfulfilled despite your achievements, or leading a business that has lost its direction. This is what my guest, Ingo Rauth, calls the "purpose turn."

For experts and entrepreneurs, whose identities are so closely tied to our work, this moment can be unsettling. We often scramble for the next project or opportunity without pausing to ask the most important question: What do I truly want?

In this conversation, Ingo and I explore how to navigate these critical transitions. We discuss why looking inward to understand your core values is the essential first step before looking outward for opportunities.

Here are three key areas we explored:

🧭 Needs vs. Values: We often chase external desires like money or a specific job title, which are driven by immediate needs. Ingo explains that our core values are the lenses through which we see the world. Understanding them acts as a compass, guiding us to opportunities that are truly aligned with who we are and providing a sustainable source of energy.

🎢 The Emotional Journey of Change: A career transition is an identity shift, and it often follows a path similar to the grieving process, including a "valley of despair." Recognising that this is a normal, scientifically-studied process helps you navigate the uncertainty with more grace and emerge faster.

🔥 Alignment, Energy, and Flow: When you align what you do with your core values and strengths, work stops feeling like work. This alignment creates a powerful, self-sustaining cycle of energy and motivation, allowing you to tackle even the difficult parts of business without burning out.

Here are three actions you can take after listening:

1. Map Your Values: Take 15 minutes to list the people, companies, or brands you are drawn to. Next to each one, write down what you value about them. You'll start to see a pattern that reveals your own core values.
2. Speak Your Truth: Start sharing your thoughts and feelings about your career path with someone you trust. Voicing your truth helps build the confidence and clarity needed to detach from an identity that no longer fits.
3. Find Your Sounding Board: Whether it's a coach, a therapist, or a mentor, find someone who can give you the space to explore your thoughts without judgment. As Ingo says, you need to hear yourself speak your truth to make it real.

If you're reading this and nodding along, that feeling of being stuck or at a crossroads is your signal. It’s the call to move from a career that simply looks right to one that truly feels right. This conversation is a roadmap for that journey. If you're ready to stop scrambling and start aligning, this episode is your first step.

More about Ingo : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingorauth/

Podcast Chapters:

[00:01:45] - What is the 'Purpose Turn'?

[00:04:11] - Starting with the Crisis Moment

[00:05:28] - Why 'Money' is the First Answer (and Why It's Wrong)

[00:07:06] - A Framework for Finding Yourself: Core Values

[00:11:36] - An Exercise: What Do You Value in the Companies You Admire?

[00:13:25] - The Tension Between Needs and Values

[00:17:01] - Your Emotional Response is a Clue

[00:19:50] - When You're Unhappy but Not in Crisis

[00:22:23] - The Next Step: Living Your Truth Out Loud

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