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Chapter 10 - Purpose

Motivation Informing Meaning

from Part III - Motivation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 May 2024

Christopher Connolly
Affiliation:
Sporting Bodymind Ltd
Fernand Gobet
Affiliation:
London School of Economics and Political Science
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Summary

The search for purpose and meaning is common to the work of many twentieth-century psychologists. It seems to operate as an overarching motivation or metamotivation for a career rather than as a specific motivation for a transition. Purpose tends to emerge and be discovered, whereas meaning is a constructed system of beliefs that is built over time around the search for purpose. Choices that lead to the discovery and construction of one’s “true nature” or “authentic self” or “essential identity” can give purpose and meaning to one’s life. The search for purpose and meaning in work is discussed in light of the retrospective interviews with twenty-four elite performers in three domains (business, sports, and music) who successfully and repeatedly transitioned to higher positions within their field.

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Transition Expertise and Identity
A Study of Individuals Who Succeeded Repeatedly in Life and Career Transitions
, pp. 221 - 228
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Purpose
  • Christopher Connolly, Sporting Bodymind Ltd, Fernand Gobet, London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Book: Transition Expertise and Identity
  • Online publication: 30 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009103763.014
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  • Purpose
  • Christopher Connolly, Sporting Bodymind Ltd, Fernand Gobet, London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Book: Transition Expertise and Identity
  • Online publication: 30 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009103763.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Purpose
  • Christopher Connolly, Sporting Bodymind Ltd, Fernand Gobet, London School of Economics and Political Science
  • Book: Transition Expertise and Identity
  • Online publication: 30 May 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009103763.014
Available formats
×