Power of Purpose

Richard Leider's second edition of The Power of Purpose, published in May 2010, is an essential read for anyone seeking to discover or clarify their life's purpose. In true introspective style, Richard gives us many thought-provoking questions to contemplate. I read the entire book, noting the questions that were resonating and challenging, and then went back, reflecting on the questions I had identified. The Power of Purpose is relevant for any age but this book served my own interest in purposeful aging, expanding and deepening the conversations we have with ourselves and with others as we live life on purpose. As Richard says, purpose is a gift, and this book is truly a gift to anyone seeking to find meaning in their work and in their lives.

I have read many of Richard Leider's books, & among them I consider 'The Power for Purpose' as the most influential on my personal growth. I have read this particular one in the late eighties/early nineties - about the time I started to ponder about what I want to do with the second half of my life. I was then a successful corporate rat, working in quiet desperation - looking damned good but actually going nowhere. The 'Power of Purpose' is not another book about goal setting. It's a workbook to help you think through & decide whether you want to choose to lead a purposeful, productive & meaningful life. In fact, the parts that attracted me most at that time were these provoking questions posed at the beginning of the book: - Is your work rich & purposeful? - Do you see yourself, through your work, as making a difference in the world? - Do you view most work days with a sense of enthusiasm? - Have you developed your won philosophy of life & success? - Do you feel a sense of meaning & purpose for your life/ - Are you living your life now - or hoping that life will work out someday? It comes complete with self-assessment questionnaires (especially the 'Aliveness Questionnaire' & the 'Working on Purpose Questionnaire'), checklists, & exercises. I recall I had spent considerable effort & time in using them to probe my life during that period of time. Together with a few other books (including Frederic Hudson's, Richard Bolles', Marsha Sinetar's & Joe Dominguez's), this book has been instrumental in creating abundant opportunities for doing what I love & loving what I do. Many thanks to you, Richard! Since then, one of the tools that I have picked up from the book for continuing ultilisation till today is the purposeful reflection: soloing & journaling from Chapter 19. This one is a real gem! Also, from this particular chapter, I have made use of & /or adapted all the strategies as outlined in the author's 'Other Strategies for Self Management'. They have really helped me in realising total satisfaction & fulfillment in my life! To end my review, I want to say this: This book is a must read! If you are going through a mid-life transition, just like what I had gone through during the early nineties, I can guarantee this book is definitely a very helpful guide!

I have read many of Richard Leider's books, & among them I consider 'The Power for Purpose' as the most influential on my personal growth. I have read this particular one in the late eighties/early nineties - about the time I started to ponder about what I want to do with the second half of my life. I was then a successful corporate rat, working in quiet desperation - looking damned good but actually going nowhere. The 'Power of Purpose' is not another book about goal setting. It's a workbook to help you think through & decide whether you want to choose to lead a purposeful, productive & meaningful life. In fact, the parts that attracted me most at that time were these questions posed at the beginning of the book: - Is your work rich & purposeful? - Do you see yourself, through your work, as making a difference in the world? - Do you view most work days with a sense of enthusiasm? - Have you developed your won philosophy of life & success? - Do you feel a sense of meaning & purpose for your life/ - Are you living your life now - or hoping that life will work out someday? It comes complete with self-assessment questionnaires, checklists, & exercises. I recall I had spent considerable effort & time in using them to probe my life during that period of time. Together with a few other books (including Frederic Hudson's, Marsha Sinetar's & Joe Dominguez's), this book has been instrumental in creating abundant opportunities for doing what I love & loving what I do. Many thanks to you, Richard! Since then, one of the tools that I have picked up from the book for continuing ultilisation till today is the purposeful reflection: soloing & journaling from Chapter 19. This one is a real gem! Also, from this particular chapter, I have made use of & /or adapted all the strategies as outlined in the author's 'Other Strategies for Self Management'. They have really helped me in realising total satisfaction & fulfillment in my life! To end my review, I want to say this: This book is a must read! If you are going through a mid-life transition, just like what I had gone through during the early nineties, I can guarantee this book is definitely a very helpful guide!

In 1999, I read this book 3 times, during what I still say had to have been the worst possible time in my life. It was a time of profound family betrayal, or acceptance of what I didn't want to believe about who my family really is, what they had expected of me for my 43 years of life, and the role that I blindly held. This book was a painfully compelling book for me to read, yet one that had supported me through my crisis, and led me to convert my family history into becoming a public speaker, a gender-based self-esteem coach, and a journalist. Last week, I decided to read this again, as I noticed that I am being invited to events that signal to me that I have made giant steps since reading this book in 1999. I am so excited about writing and presenting tailored training to make a difference in each of my client's lives. I had written so many introspective documents, for so long, that now, even though I continue to introspectively write, I am consciously and unconsciously talking as someone who is here to make a difference in everyone whose life I do touch in some way. I have found a level of peace through reading Richard J. Leider's book that required me to look deeply in my soul and befriend everything about myself. I actually giggle when I reread my journals from 1999, where I had written profound painful feelings that I experienced. I giggle because I see how I weathered my way through living the life I am meant to live. I gave myself or found in myself gifts that I definitely approve of having.Regardless of where you are in your life, I suggest that you read this book, with a pen in hand to write down what you are thinking and feeling. Accept that this will be scary, at first. Do this, knowing that you deserve to love yourself for all who you are -- you are sent here to make a difference.

This book should be in everyone's library. His questions hit home real good, who are you? what are you doing? Where are you going? These are all eternal questions that have crossed everyone's mind. Richard Leider's book addresses these questions, and prompts you to look deep inside yourself to find the answer.