Escape the Purpose Trap & Find Your Competitive Edge

3 reasons why making your purpose the top priority to change your career path is wrong, and the 3 steps you should look at instead to find your direction and create your competitive advantage.

So what is the problem with purpose? It’s not bad advice, it's just incomplete.

Let’s break down 3 myths related to purpose.

Myth #1: Purpose is something you will find.

Purpose is built by trying different things. In 2020, I started creating content about productivity. I later built my purpose around helping people change their career path.

Myth #2: Purpose is a single thing.

Purpose is plural. It's not one big thing. My purpose as a husband, mentor, and employee is different.

Myth #3: Purpose is static.

Purpose changes over time. In my early 20’s, I focused on building skills to get promoted. Now I want to build a portfolio career by having multiple income streams.

The reason people tend to make these mistakes is because it’s easier to think than act. What is my purpose? A year goes by, and they are again back in the same circle. Again asking - what is my purpose? They keep themselves stuck and confused at the same place.

Instead of focusing on your purpose, build your competitive advantage to change your career path.

Let's dive in...

Step #1: Pick the industry, not a job.

The very first step to a successful career change is knowing which industry is growing.

Would you invest your money in a declining portfolio? No.

Then why would you invest your time in an industry that’s declining?

People take an effort to change careers and end up in industries where they can’t grow.

Instead, make a list of the top 10 industries that are growing right now.

ChatGPT prompt: Create a list of industries that are expected to grow in the next 3-5 years and rank them by level of growth and companies operating in that industry. In one line explain why these industries are growing.

My example: I make high six figures in Tech Sales. 3 years ago, I was making less than $50,000 in the FMCG industry.

Step #2: Audit your hard and soft skills.

The next step to your career change is getting clear on what skills you have and what’s missing?

Customizing your CV with ChatGPT can get you an interview, but you can’t hide the reality of skills gaps in an interview.

Instead, learn the lingo to show your transferable skills.

Soft skills: Show transferable aspects from your previous job.

ChatGPT prompt: I am planning to change my career from X to Y. Can you outline the key competencies that are valuable in both jobs?

Then reflect on which ones you have and show these in your CV.

Hard skills: Show what steps you are taking to acquire and practice the hard skills.

Create a Continuous professional Development section on your CV and you can write points like: Finished the Google Project Management: Professional Certificate and implemented the Scrum framework in my current role to deliver projects on time.

Step #3: Reflect on your goals and values.

And finally, the last step to your career change is knowing your vision for the future.

What’s important to you is unique to you and these goals will evolve over time. Whether it’s

Money
Influence
Balanced life
Portfolio career

In my early 20’s, I focused on stacking skills and making money so I could buy a house in London and build my base. Now I am focused on building a portfolio career by helping like minded people doing the same thing I achieved (changing their career path without starting over).

Instead of getting lost in your purpose to make a career change, establish a core idea to move forward.

If you care about the environment: Find a role in the high growth Solar Energy Industry.

If you care about influencing people and sharing knowledge: Build a portfolio career by teaching others what you have already achieved.

For anything that’s desirable, there is competition. To beat the competition, you need to build your competitive advantage.

Now let’s put all steps together to build your competitive advantage:

Write down the industries that are growing, your skills, your values and goals.
Reflect where you can find a synergy between all 3 aspects.
Then write down your competitive advantage.

My example - when I was moving from Sales Finance to Marketing:

Because of my commercial skills - data analysis, P&L management and digital marketing - I could do Marketing Executive jobs better than people with a linear marketing career.

I internalised this to feel confident and talked about how my unique skill set makes me a great candidate.