The 3 Levels of Purpose

We've talked before about the importance of purpose as a fundamental principle of the Sun Tzu Way. Purpose - or what Sun Tzu calls Tao, or the Way - is about understanding and articulating your aspirations, values, and priorities - what you want to achieve and why. It sets the path (or Way) forward, and is essential in developing unity and focus.

But in truth, purpose is not a singular concept. According to Gary Gagliardi, a well-known translator of The Art of War and commenter on Sun Tzu's work as it relates to business, there are actually three levels to purpose.

The first, and lowest, level is economic. This is the level of getting the resources needed to survive and maintain a relative state of stability and comfort in one's life.

The second level is professional. This is the level of developing our unique skills and talents, building pride and confidence in ourselves, and gaining recognition, credibility, and success. The idea is to understand and prove what we are capable.

The last level is spiritual. This is the level of improving, impacting, or transforming our lives and the lives of those we care about. This level is the strongest level because it extends beyond yourself. It demonstrates compassion (ren) - your ability to see other people's struggles and your desire to make the world a better place.

In general, the higher your clearest level of purpose is, the more meaningful that purpose is -that is to say, the more enlightening and thus guiding that purpose is. Thus, your professional purpose, if clear, will naturally enlighten and guide your economic purpose, and your spiritual purpose is more meaningful than professional purpose.

All of us operate on the three levels of purpose. The problem is that most people are only clear about level one (economic) or two (professional). Most of us understand that in order to survive and live a decent life, we need to have a consistent job that pays the bills. This is economic purpose.

Some of us who are lucky also understand that having a job that we enjoy and feel pride in involves choosing a career that engages and supports our unique skills, talents, and interests. This is professional purpose.

But it is a rare few of us who have a clear understanding for what change we want to have on others. For how we want to transform a field or industry. For how we want to impact the world. It is this last level that gives us genuine fulfillment in life.

In your own life, think about these three levels. Ask yourself in this order:

1. What is my spiritual purpose? What am I meant to change or improve in the world?
2. Given my spiritual purpose, what is my professional purpose? What skills and capabilities do I need to hone or develop? What career path shall I take and what's required to get on it?
   
3. Given my professional purpose, what is my economic purpose? What quality of life do I want to have for myself? What choices will I need to make to support the career path I need to take?
   

Keep in mind, you may have more than one spiritual purpose, and thus, more than one professional purpose, and more than one economic purpose. For example, your spiritual purposes may be to change the medical industry and be loving partner and caring parent. All three of these require different skill sets (and different education), and may require different economic needs.

The goal, though, is to be clear on these spiritual purposes. It is through clarity on each level that the Way becomes apparent.