Hey, it's Rachel Cook, your modern mentor. I'm the founder of Lead Above Noise, a firm

specializing in retaining, engaging, and developing talent. Did you know that one of the biggest

drivers of talent retention and overall employee well-being, according to research, is a sense of purpose?

I mean, measurably. Like, I was just reading this

article in Forbes, which talked about how a strong sense of purpose has been linked to lower rates

of heart disease and loneliness and also higher rates of commitment and happiness and productivity.

The power of purpose is real, and I'm being approached more regularly these days

by leaders wanting help in infusing purpose at the organizational level. But one of the most

gorgeous things about purpose is that you don't need to wait for your company or even your leader

to get on board. You can find and align with yours as a party of one. And when you do,

it really kind of lifts you. So if you're feeling in need of a boost, let's talk about purpose

and how you can find and breathe some life into yours. I want to start with a disclaimer because

purpose can mean something different for everybody. But the brand that I'm

talking about today is not anything spiritual or existential. I am talking practical, nuts and bolts,

everyday purpose at work. Not why I'm here on this earth purpose, but what am I here to deliver at

work purpose? You can have both, absolutely, but my expertise is limited

to the terrestrial. Okay, so how do you find yours? In some industries like health care or education,

finding your sense of purpose may seem more intuitive. Playing a role in saving lives or

educating children can seem kind of naturally purposeful.

But what about those of us who are building marketing campaigns or selling knives or organizing

stock rooms or researching industry trends or managing investment portfolios? Is it possible to find

meaning and a sense of purpose in these? Oh, it totally is. So here's how you start. You ask yourself

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