I’ve found that so many people I speak to go along to work each day and that’s it. They go to work for the sake of work. They do what needs to be done, collect a pay cheque, and then do it all again tomorrow.

Yet so many of them don’t find a lot of joy, self-satisfaction, or fulfilment in what they’re doing.

On the other hand, when I talk to people, I discover something interesting. Just about everyone wants to make a difference.

There seems to be something inbuilt within us that longs to contribute, to do something meaningful, to be part of something greater than ourselves.

Today I came across this quote by George Bernard Shaw:

“This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognised by yourself as a mighty one.”

What a beautiful thought.

The true joy in life comes from being used for a purpose that you know matters. A purpose that is bigger than you.

I think this is such an important point because, ultimately, we all want to feel that our lives have meaning. We want to know that what we do each day counts for something.

And if we can somehow incorporate that sense of purpose into business, then we’ve created something much greater than simply a place where people come to work.

This is the challenge I like to present to business owners and leaders.

How do we create workplaces that offer more than a job?

How do we create businesses that foster a sense of wellbeing, a sense of purpose, and a feeling that people are making a genuine difference in the world?

Because when people feel connected to something meaningful, something changes.

Work becomes more than a task.

People become more engaged.

Teams become more connected.

Businesses become places where people can bring not only their skills, but also their hearts.

There is a soulful place within every organisation waiting to be discovered—a place that calls people into something greater and reminds them that what they do matters.

So, if you have a business, perhaps this is something worth reflecting on.

What greater purpose could you create or uncover within your business?

How could you help your team feel that they are contributing to something worthwhile?

Because perhaps the true joy in life isn’t simply found in what we do.

Perhaps it’s found in knowing that we are being used for a purpose we recognise as a mighty one.