When You Follow Your Purpose, The Hustle Is Worth It
You know that feeling when your work just clicks? When you're so engaged that time flies by? That's what happens when you align your career with your purpose. But finding that alignment can be challenging. That's why I was thrilled to sit down with Alan Stein Jr. on a recent episode of Breaking Beliefs. Alan's journey from basketball player to performance coach to keynote speaker offers powerful lessons on following your purpose and making the hustle worthwhile.
The Seed of Purpose
Alan's story starts with a simple observation: his parents loved their work. As educators, they faced plenty of challenges: underpay, difficult students, demanding parents. But they found deep satisfaction in pouring into young lives. This early exposure to purpose-driven work planted a seed in Alan that would grow throughout his career.
Your purpose isn't just about what you do, it's about why you do it. Alan's parents weren't just teaching; they were shaping futures. How can you look at your own work through this lens? What impact are you really making?
Unexpected Lessons
Now, here's where Alan's story takes an interesting turn. Despite his parents' traditional career paths, Alan developed a strong entrepreneurial drive. And it came from an unexpected source - his parents' approach to teaching him about money.
When Alan wanted expensive basketball shoes, his parents offered to pay what a standard pair would cost, challenging him to earn the difference. This simple lesson became a cornerstone of Alan's approach to his career. It taught him that if you want something badly enough, you'll find a way to make it happen.
Think about it: where in your life are you waiting for someone to hand you something when you could be out there earning it?
Finding Your Performance Rhythm
One of the most surprising revelations from our conversation was Alan's self-identification as an introvert. The world often favors extroverts, especially in high-profile roles like speaking and coaching. But Alan found strength in his introversion.
He discovered that solo practice—whether shooting hoops or preparing for a presentation—was key to his success. It's a powerful reminder that understanding your performance rhythm is crucial. Are you giving yourself the environment you need to thrive?
The Evolution of Purpose
Alan's career path from being a basketball player to a performance coach for young athletes to being a corporate keynote speaker shows us how purpose can evolve while maintaining its essence. Throughout these transitions, Alan's fundamental purpose of helping others perform at their best has remained constant.
Your purpose isn't set in stone. It can adapt and grow with you. As you progress in your career, how might your purpose manifest in new ways?
Balancing Structure and Flexibility
One of Alan's ongoing challenges is balancing his love for structure and routine with the need for flexibility, especially as a parent and in his traveling career. Sound familiar? We create habits and routines to support our goals, but life has a way of throwing curveballs.
The key is to strive for balance. Create routines that support your goals and cultivate the resilience to adapt when things don't go as planned. It's not about perfection; it's about progress.
The Power of Continuous Learning
Throughout our conversation, Alan emphasized his commitment to staying current with the latest in performance science. From sauna sessions to cold plunges, he's always exploring new ways to improve.
This willingness to learn and adapt is crucial in our rapidly changing world. What new skill or knowledge could you explore this month to enhance your performance?
Bringing It All Together
Alan's journey is a powerful example of work-life harmony®. It's not about achieving a perfect balance between work and personal life—which, let's face it, is often an unattainable goal. Instead, it's about creating a life where your work and personal passions are in harmony, each supporting and enhancing the other.
So, how can you apply these insights to your life and career? Here are a few questions to consider:
What truly drives you beyond just a paycheck?
How can you incorporate more purposeful actions into your daily work?
What's your unique performance rhythm?
How has your purpose evolved over time?
Where do you need more structure, and where could you benefit from more flexibility?
What's one new thing you could learn this month to bring you closer to your goals?
Aligning your career with your purpose isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing journey of discovery, adjustment, and growth. But as Alan's story shows us, the hustle becomes worth it when you follow your purpose.
Because when we align our work with our purpose, we achieve greater success and cready ate lives of true fulfillment and impact. And isn't that what it's all about?