What "Succession" Teaches Us About Purpose
Who else has been glued to the HBO show ‘Succession’? Don’t worry, no spoilers here if you haven’t yet watched the grand finale but suffice to say, I thought it was fantastic!
For those who don’t watch it, it’s a series about a big media mogul, Logan Roy, and his grown-up kids and it charts their battle to succeed him as CEO of the company Waystar RoyCo.
So what has this got to do about purpose and what’s it got to do with you?
Well, I think the series shows kids who have grown up to believe and follow their father’s purpose - build a company and make money - rather than ever getting a chance to figure out what their own purpose is.
The kid’s measure of success is who gets the top spot in this company. No matter if they’d enjoy it or find it fulfilling. They’ve been pitched against each other to win their father’s favour from an early age, always vying to get his approval. If anyone’s seen it, you’d probably agree they aren’t the happiest of individuals. And despite having the means to choose any other path in life, they stick to their father’s aims and ambitions (apart from one of the kids who is, to be fair, probably living his best life).
So, what does this have to do with you?
Well, I’d invite you to think about your own purpose: “the reason for which you exist”.
Is it currently something that was handed down to you by your parents? Is it something you’ve fallen into and are you just going along with the flow?
Conversely, is it something you’ve thought about and worked out for yourself? If so, have you or are you choosing a path intentionally to deliver on that purpose?
Oftentimes, it becomes clearer with years of experience what we find purposeful.
If you are not clear, look back at the data of all the jobs and experiences you’ve had and ask yourself:
What did I find purposeful, meaningful, and satisfying?
What impact did I love bringing?
I encourage you to make sure those things are in your life, your career. Take the path less travelled, as the poem goes because that can make all the difference between a fulfilling life or one led in the path of others.
Be fearlessly YOU
Tracy
