How to align your work with what truly matters
Read time: 4 minutes
This post seemed to resonate strongly with my audience earlier this week, and I can understand why:
So often, we put time and effort into a role, company or organisation—and get next to nothing back.
I can definitely relate. For years, I poured everything into whatever role I was doing.
As a doctor in the public sector, and later in my corporate job at a top consulting firm, I would routinely:
- Work very long hours.
- Miss time with my family.
- Deprioritise my own wellbeing.
But despite the commitment, loyalty, and hours of effort, one thing that sticks out in my memory are the frequent feelings of
- Disillusion
- Discontentment
- Lack of appreciation
I learned the hard way that a company or organisation will never truly love you back—no matter how much of yourself you give.
It sounds harsh, but it’s the truth.
The stark reality is that a business will always prioritise its own survival.
Budget cuts, restructures, changes in direction: these are all common features of the corporate world. And none of them take personal attachment into consideration.
The problem is, it’s easy to tie our identity to a job. I’ve done it myself.
- It feels safe.
- It brings structure to your life.
- It gives you a title to introduce yourself with.
But what happens when that’s taken away? If your entire sense of worth is wrapped up in your role, the loss can feel personal—because, to you, it is.
But here’s the truth:
Jobs are temporary. Purpose is permanent.
Instead of getting attached to a role, I believe you should attach yourself to a mission, a calling, or a purpose that transcends any single job title. Here’s how:
1. Define your personal mission statement
A company has its mission, but what’s yours? Take time to define your “why.”
- Write down your core values.
- Write down the impact you want to create in the world.
My view is that our mission should guide our choices, not the other way around.
2. Focus on skills, not titles
Titles change. Skills evolve.
The most adaptable people invest in developing expertise that align with their mission.
Last year I invested heavily in courses to improve my writing and public speaking. Yes, I was hesitant to invest so much—but that investment has already been returned multiple fold.
The big question to ask yourself: What skills do I need to keep growing, no matter where I work?
3. Diversify Your Identity
You are more than your role.
I truly believe in building a life that reflects all aspects of who you are—your passions, your relationships, your interests outside of work.
I’ve been deliberate in doing this. Various people will know me as a:
Medical doctor
Keynote speaker
Healthtech founder
Mum of three young kids
Content creator & online writer
Confusing? I prefer to call it multifaceted. But also, personal to me.
This way, if a role disappears, my sense of self remains intact, and I have other aspects of my “brand” to rely on.
Which brings me to my final point….
4. Build an asset outside your job
Everybody should have an identity, an asset or a body of work that exists beyond their current main gig.
Create something that is yours; something that gives you options.
My advice? Show up, be visible build your personal brand.
Share your thoughts, stories, expertise, knowledge and advice in a way that gets you seen. People want to hear your experience and learn from you.
Just like there probably aren’t that many doctor-founder-mum-content creating-speakers, there are probably not that many of you either.
By building your brand you’re creating leverage for yourself that can’t be easily created elsewhere.
To sum up....
Loyalty is great—but the first person you owe it to is yourself.
Yes, show up, contribute, and give your best. But remember: Your value is not tied to a role, company or job description.
A job can be taken away. Your purpose cannot.
What asset are you building outside your current work? Hit reply and share it with me—I’d love to hear.
And if you want some help in how to be more visible and grow your brand, whether it's through 1:1 coaching, or ready-to-post content, hit reply and let’s chat.
Until next time,
Dupé
