For those of us committed to purpose, the journey always comes with ups and downs. It is the price of travelling off-piste and walking your own path. But it is in those very moments- those challenges - that we find the growth spurts leading to new levels of impact.
Right now, in this time of transition, something deeper is unfolding. Speaking with many leaders, a clear theme emerges: we are grappling not only with systemic collapse but also with unexpected personal collapses.
So in this episode, I wanted to explore what these times of collapse are really calling us toward.
SUMMARY
The last few years have been a major initiation for me - not the one I wanted, but the one I needed to do the work I am meant to do now. I came to understand that I was undergoing the shapeshifting necessary to pass through the eye of the needle.
I learned that there is a tightrope to walk when shifting from one system to another - from one set of values to a new paradigm. As leaders, we need to radically rearrange ourselves in order to create what comes next.
Here are the three core shifts I had to make to remould myself and move through the chaos - the awareness and a map I wish I had earlier hoping it helps you.
Your Purpose For The Transition
First, I had to redefine my purpose within this new context - letting go of the idea that I was simply continuing what I had always done.
This isn’t just about pivoting or adapting as we have done before. It is about recognising we are in a profound transition - one that demands we stop plugging the holes in a sinking system and instead write a completely new book.
That means redefining our purpose through the lens of systemic transition. And reimagining how we contribute to building a new world from the ground up - that has its actual foundations in flourishing and wellbeing.
From Performance-Driven To Purpose-led
Next came the uncomfortable realisation that even after 25 years in the purpose space, I was still sourcing my value from performance.
Our inner software, shaped by a system that rewarded productivity and performance, can’t build what is next. We need a purpose-led mindset, not just a performance-driven effort.
And for that we have to rewire our unconscious software from outer competition to true inner worth.
Creating Through Emergence
And finally, I had to reconfigure how I create. The old ways - linear plans and control - no longer work in the unknown we are navigating.
What does work is emergence: trusting the intelligence of life, partnering with your own knowing, and letting go of the maps that no longer apply.
It is artistry, not strategy.
It is about learning to co-create with the unknown, trusting that what is needed will emerge - not from control, but from intuition, creativity and aligned action.
That is how we find our way forward - not back to business as usual, but into the world that is trying to be born next.
Specific Quotes
“You can’t build a new system with old software.”
“This isn’t about adapting to business as usual - it is about stepping into a deeper, more fundamental shift.”
“My purpose didn’t end. I realised I was being called to write a new book entirely.”
“Even though we aspire to be purpose-led, a huge chunk of our programming is still performance-driven.”
“You can’t build the new from the past. We have to build the new from the future.”
“Each time I tried to hold on, things would collapse. When I accepted I was meant to evolve myself to travel beyond my comfort zone - that is when new things emerged.”
“We are transfixed by the collapse - but what we need is to step into the transition.”
“Part of the challenge is that the new doesn’t exist yet - and we have to create it before we can walk across.”
“This is not about planning the future. It is about partnering with life to create it.”
“We need to stop plugging the gaps and start redesigning the foundations.”
“Think less Gantt chart, more artistry. This is creation, not project management.”
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