There are times when finding your purpose feels challenging.
You notice other people’s achievements, enjoy moments of humour online, and still wonder where your own direction is leading. I have experienced this myself, as have many professionals, whether we speak about it openly or not.
That is why my recent conversation with Ally Machate on Success Matters struck such a chord.
Ally does not sell a quick-fix roadmap. Instead, she offers something much rarer. Three actions to help you make sense of your story and find real meaning where you stand.
Ally says to lean into the places you resist most. Those knots of nerves and discomfort are not your enemy; they are signposts. If you pause and listen to what you’re avoiding, you might find the edge of your next breakthrough. Emotion, raw and sometimes uncomfortable, points to what matters most.
Ally challenges us to stop chasing other people’s definitions of success. Scale, growth, follower counts but none of it matters if it does not serve your own sense of fulfilment. Ask what would make you proud, rather than just what might make you more money, and others will find clarity in your message.
She urges us not to waste energy. If you want your message to connect, choose a story, a book, or a mission that’s authentic. Your voice is most powerful when it is most vulnerable. People are not looking for polish. They are looking for connection, someone willing to share what they really believe.
So if you find yourself wishing to disappear or start over somewhere no one knows your name, you are not failing. You are growing. Others will recognise it in you, and they will thank you for sharing what is real.
Have a listen for a deeper conversation, and if Ally’s story moves you, share your own below. Sometimes, that is the first step to purpose.
Ally is offering a free resource for Success Matters listeners: a webinar on “Don’t Write the Wrong Book”
www.thewritersally.com/successmatters