Purpose vs. Ideas & Gameplans

The world is full of ideas—brilliant, creative, disruptive ideas—but that’s not the problem. The problem is purpose. We live in a culture that celebrates the flashy, attention-grabbing idea of the moment, but without purpose, even the best ideas fall flat. This is why so many startups fail. The founder comes up with a great concept, but when faced with challenges, they quit at the first golden opportunity. Why? Because the idea isn’t tied to a deeper purpose. Purpose is what keeps you going when everything gets hard; it’s what fuels your resilience, commitment, and long-term vision.

Take the show Shark Tank, for example. Entrepreneurs pitch their groundbreaking ideas to a panel of investors, but the show often highlights ideas more than the purpose behind them. What if Shark Tank was more focused on the why—the mission behind the idea—rather than the what? A startup that’s purely about making money is never going to last. A startup that’s fueled by a strong, impactful purpose can transform industries, lives, and communities.

Purpose has meaning in an individual context as well. People today often feel overwhelmed or stressed at work, but more often than not, they don’t truly know where that stress comes from. Stress isn’t just about workloads or external pressures—it’s about feeling disconnected from something greater. They haven’t yet made a serious attempt to identify their true purpose in what they do. True fulfillment comes when you reconnect with a deeper purpose, the why—the reason that gives meaning to what you’re doing day in and day out.

Purpose vs. Passion

We must lead with purpose, not passion. Passion is a powerful force, but it often comes after purpose has been discovered. If you start with passion, you may find yourself running in circles for a long time, chasing after fleeting desires without knowing why. Purpose, on the other hand, can be found in any area life takes you into—if you’re willing to look for it. When you’re aligned with your purpose, passion will follow naturally and will fuel your journey. But without a clear purpose, passion can only take you so far. It may spark initial enthusiasm, but it won’t sustain you when the going gets tough.

We see a lot of young people struggling with this—they are searching for passion, but they haven’t yet started to look for purpose. They chase after whatever excites them in the moment, only to feel burned out or lost in the long run. Instead of following fleeting passions, it’s essential to find a true purpose that resonates deeply with you. When you know your why, you’ll find the energy and commitment to push through the inevitable challenges of both life and business.

So, ask yourself—what’s your purpose? Whether in business or life, purpose is what gives your actions and choices meaning. Without it, even the best ideas or contagious excitement will never have the staying power to see you through.