Making Work Meaningful

Christi Hegstad July 17th, 2025

** New Aug/Sept openings available in purpose coaching – learn more and enroll here! **

Twenty-two years ago, when I first started my business to help people engage in meaningful work and purposeful lives, I spent a lot of time educating organizations on the business case for supporting employees in finding meaning and purpose in what they do.

‘That sounds nice,’ I’d hear frequently, ‘but we’ve got more pressing issues.’

Nowadays, thanks to increasing research, numerous workplace studies, companies reeling from the costs of the ‘great resignation’ and ‘quiet quitting,’ and a generation of employees asking about meaning and purpose at work before they even sign on, smart businesses are already well aware of how creating an environment of meaning and purpose benefits them in countless ways. I’m still happy to educate, but I’m even happier that meaningful work has become part of the everyday ‘let’s take action’ conversation rather than the ‘wouldn’t that be nice’ one.

Whether you are the CEO of your organization creating a culture of meaning and purpose, a leader striving to help your team members know the meaning behind their work, or an individual wanting to make your own work feel meaningful, I’ve got some practical starting points for you in my latest Reading And Purpose newsletter – subscribe and read here!

The Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide!

Christi Hegstad May 28th, 2025

I have so much fun sharing all the books I read each month via my Reading And Purpose newsletter, but I have also been looking for a way to shine a light on some older favorites as well. Enter the Reading And Purpose Nonfiction Backlist Summer Reading Guide!

(Whew, say that 10 times fast!)

This guide offers over 30 nonfiction books, personally recommended by me and divided into several unique categories for your convenience. I’ve also included a few thoughts on each book to help you determine which ones sound up your alley.

You can subscribe to Reading And Purpose and enjoy the reading guide here!

How Can A Purpose Statement Benefit YOU?

Christi Hegstad August 21st, 2024

Enrollment in WRITE YOUR PURPOSE STATEMENT Home Study Course now open! Click here for details.

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What is your purpose?

When I ask this in workshops, some participants say their minds go completely blank; others report approximately 1,287 possibilities rising to the surface.

It’s a big question. And an important one.

And honestly, when I think of all the tools, concepts, techniques, and strategies I’ve coached over the years – and have experienced myself – PURPOSE is the one that underlies and overarches them all.

But why is it so helpful to know your why?

Purposeful Benefits

If you wonder how a concise Purpose Statement can benefit you, here are just a few possibilities:

Decision-making. When you know your core values and are clear on your purpose, you can make decisions with greater ease, confidence, and alignment. My clients have called on their Purpose Statements when making decisions of all types – big or small, personal or professional. Even when interviewing for and choosing a career path!

Focus. Ever feel like the world is filled with continuous chatter and mixed messages? A succinct Purpose Statement can help clear away the excess noise and bring a laser-like focus to what matters most to you.

Courage. I’ll share a specific example in the Purpose Statement course, but suffice it to say when you know why you’re doing something, when you know it aligns with your purpose, your strength and ability to follow through expands – even when you’re scared.

Filter. Whether engaging in an important conversation or wondering whether to push ‘publish’ on a social media comment, you can look through the lens of your Purpose Statement for clarity.

Resilience. In challenging moments, knowing your why can help you persevere. Your purpose is always a part of you, but clarifying it in a concise statement can help you call it to mind more easily in times of difficulty.

Confidence. In yourself, in your choices, in your roles, in your importance in the world. If you struggle with overthinking or second-guessing, your Purpose Statement can help you stand tall in all you do.

That’s just to name a few!

YOUR Purpose For Knowing Your Purpose

As I’ve said many times and wholeheartedly believe, you are filled with purpose. You are here for a purpose. And you are making a purposeful difference in the world, whether you realize it or not.

How might clarifying this purpose benefit you?

I encourage you to give this question some thought. Maybe it will be for some of the reasons mentioned above, or maybe you’ll generate completely different ones.

Then, I encourage you to do the work to uncover your purpose – to clarify it in a concise, fulfilling, easy-to-memorize statement to support you in your day-to-day life, as well as in your long-term vision. If you want help with this, be sure to check out my upcoming Write Your Purpose Statement home study course! Enrollment is now open and the course begins soon.

In their book, How Will You Measure Your Life?, Clayton Christensen and his coauthors wrote, “If you take the time to figure out your purpose in life, I promise that you will look back on it as the most important thing you will have ever learned.”

Consider how you – and those around you – may benefit from you uncovering your purpose.

Then consider taking the time to do this important work. If you’re anything like me and the countless people I’ve supported in this process over the decades, you will be glad you did!

Enroll in the Write Your Purpose Statement home study course here!

Meaning + Purpose: What Questions Do You Have?

Christi Hegstad August 7th, 2024

As you may know, my work over the years has centered around one key focus: Helping you work with meaning and live with purpose. You can see evidence of this as far back as 2003, with the subscription newsletter I used to publish – Meaning & Purpose – pictured here!

I’ve learned SO much in this time, including the reminder that ‘meaningful work’ and ‘a purposeful life’ mean different things to different people. I’ve also discovered that so many of us consider these to be hefty, challenging concepts that we may never understand rather than actions, mindsets, and behaviors we can adopt each and every day.

Let’s shift that, shall we?!

I’m preparing to launch a series of resources to help you bring meaning to work and purpose to life in practical, everyday ways – and I want to answer as many of your questions as possible in the process! Share below or on social media what you wonder about when it comes to working with meaning and living with purpose, and I will do my best to address your questions and open more dialogue so we can all continue to learn, grow, and make our difference.

Here’s to your meaningful work and purposeful life!

Who Is Coaching For, Really?

Christi Hegstad May 15th, 2024

Maybe the only people you’ve heard of hiring professional coaches are business giants and C-suite executives. (In fact, I referred to two such people in my blog earlier this week!) Many organizations secure coaching specifically for these roles too, so it’s completely understandable if you’ve thought coaching was only designed for certain titles, levels, or professions.

But I assure you that’s definitely not the case!

Just like athletes of all types and skill levels have coaches – from the beginner to the elite – so do professionals. If you’re ready for coaching, coaching is ready for you.

Examples Of Those Who Engage In Coaching

In my practice, I primarily coach leaders, achievers, and difference-makers (so if you describe yourself as such – or strive to – let’s talk!). While many of my clients are C-level executives and business leaders like we discussed in the opening paragraph, I have also coached new managers, emerging leaders, people changing roles or professions, and those wanting to clarify their most meaningful work.

And they’ve worked in myriad industries including and beyond the corporate world, such as academia, real estate, public service, nonprofit, insurance, government, healthcare, education, manufacturing, law, sales, communications, libraries, art, finance, and logistics, to name a few.

I have also hired coaches for different reasons. (Yes, I am a firm believer that coaches also need coaches.) I’ve hired coaches to help me develop my strengths, advance my coaching skills, build different aspects of my business, write my books and resources, and improve my marketing. I’ve hired coaches to help with my creativity, personal development, mind/body/spirit growth, navigation of challenges, and various other aspects of life enhancement.

I have also hired coaches specifically to help me think objectively and thoroughly about certain significant decisions. Their support, perspective, and thought-partnership during these times has been invaluable.

All this to say, coaching is not just for a certain title, role, or experience level! You can obtain coaching for nearly any work or life area, personal or professional goal, or focal point under the sun.

Is Coaching For YOU?

Still wondering if coaching is for you? Give this exercise a try:

Close your eyes and imagine it’s one year from now, and your year has gone absolutely beautifully – like a magic wand was waved over you throughout those twelve months.

What looks different in your work and/or life in that scenario, a year from now?

What are you doing more of? Less of?

What words best describe you in that place?

How do you *feel* in that scenario, one year from now?

Now, open your eyes. On a scale from 1 to 10, how motivated are you to start making that happen?

If you are motivated, ready to take action, and want the support, expertise, and accountability that a professional certified coach provides, I encourage you to schedule a Discovery Session and explore what coaching can do in your work and life! You don’t even have to have a clearly defined goal or specific outcome in mind – we can clarify that together within our first session or two.

The Power Of Coaching

In workshops, I often ask participants to identify someone who has positively impacted their lives in a significant way. I can’t tell you the number of people who talk about a coach from a high school athletic team, whose teachings and leadership remains in their minds to this day – sometimes 50+ years later! They still feel that power of someone who believed in them, challenged them, supported them, and was fully invested in their success.

That, at its core, is the power of coaching. And if you’ve read this far, I can confidently say coaching is for you! I encourage you to experience it and see what can transform in your work, life, and beyond.

Hosting Your Own ‘Executive Session’

Christi Hegstad March 20th, 2024

Between back-to-back meetings, reacting to in-the-moment needs, handling the endless stream of emails, and navigating all the unexpected events in any given day, when do you find time for visioning, strategizing, or moving high-level projects forward?

For many, such time feels like a far-off luxury.

For others, such visionary work occurs once a year at a corporate offsite or leadership retreat.

If you spend the entire day ‘putting out fires,’ you may not even get to your own actual work until after hours – leaving the idea of visionary, strategic, or high-level project initiatives in the ‘that sure would be nice’ realm of someday.

Yet as a leader and difference-maker, crafting a compelling vision and moving the needle on long-term, high-level pursuits is likely expected of you.

And as an achiever, these are probably areas on which you’d love to spend more time.

So far, we haven’t discovered a way to increase the number of hours in a day. So what can we do?

Enter what I call Executive Sessions.

Essentially, an Executive Session is a period of time routinely blocked on your calendar purely for visioning, planning, strategizing, and the like. A time during which you close your door (or go elsewhere), turn off notifications, and immerse yourself in some deep work.

You can choose how often and for how long. A weekly one-hour Executive Session can work wonders, but if you’re starting from zero, even an hour a month can prove fulfilling.

I’ve coached a number of clients to weave Executive Sessions into their routines. They’ve used this valuable time for all manner of high-level projects, from work toward an award or distinction, to creating systems to more efficiently support their teams, to dreaming about a change they’d love to make and then actually setting it in motion with subsequent sessions.

The possibilities here are endless, and the benefits are, too!

A few suggestions as you consider adopting Executive Sessions into your calendar:

* Choose a time that seems realistic. Monday morning may already be too hectic, but what about an hour on Friday afternoon?

* Like with Results-Oriented Time Blocking, decide in advance how you will spend it – and honor it as you would a doctor’s appointment.

* Although you’ll likely be tempted, do not use this time to catch up on emails or other administrative tasks. This high-level hour is for high-level work.

* Consider ways to be held accountable to this time when other things want to creep in and overtake it. I’ve had coaching clients commit to sending me a quick message following their Executive Session; knowing that someone else is waiting to hear about it can serve as a helpful motivator.

You may look at your calendar and immediately deem this idea impossible. But consider it a challenge: What changes could you implement to allow an Executive Session within the next 60 days? What recurring monthly meeting is coming to an end and could now be replaced with this session? How would you feel at the end of a 3-hour stretch focusing solely on a high-importance, game-changing project?

In the words attributed to Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it is done.” And once it is done, I bet you’ll experience such profound benefits that you will want – and will find ways – to make it part of your routine!

3 Questions I Am Asked The Most

Christi Hegstad November 14th, 2023

For 20 years now, my business has existed to help people work with meaning, live with purpose, and make their positive difference.

And while I’ve been asked countless brilliant and thoughtful questions over that time, some come up more than others. Here are three that rise to the surface, along with a brief action step for each to help you begin finding your answers.

1. I long for clarity – about my vision for the future, my decisions, even just my next best step – but I just can’t seem to find it. How can I gain more clarity?

This question often stems from one of two places:

Having so many ideas and possibilities that you don’t know where to start, or

feeling so exhausted and overwhelmed that you don’t have the energy to generate new ideas.

But if you have ever experienced clarity – a crystal-clear vision for your future, a shining goal that you’re moving toward, or a focused top priority for the day, for example – you know how that clarity can pull you forward and help all the excess ‘stuff’ and distractions melt away.

Crafting a clear vision is one of the first things we’ll do if you choose to coach with me. In the meantime, I encourage you to first consider how you think best – on paper, while out on a walk, etc. Then, set aside some time and space in that format to focus on this question:

“If I had infinite time, money, energy, and courage, what would I love to do?”

Let your mind roam freely with this question. You might generate possible career paths, hobbies to try, places you’d like to travel, causes you’d love to support, people to collaborate with, and who knows what else.

This is one of the best ways to begin gaining clarity on your vision, as well as clues into your passions and purpose.

Imagining life as if we had no barriers might seem too unrealistic to be helpful. But here’s the thing:

We need to get clear on the WHAT before we start focusing on the HOW.

As it stands, many of us generate a cool idea, immediately follow it with ‘But how would I ever make that happen?’, then dismiss it and feel muddled once again.

Clarity begins with a bit of dreaming. We can weave in the actions, solutions, and the how after that.

2. I feel like I’m spinning my wheels, constantly moving but not actually getting anywhere. How can I get unstuck and start feeling more intentional and fulfilled?

If this question prompts you to picture a hamster in a wheel, or yourself on a treadmill that never stops, you’re in good company. That’s exactly what ‘spinning our wheels’ can feel like! And for achievers, this is especially unpleasant, because we tend to like results, signs of growth/forward movement, and checking things off the list.

And just as if we were on that eternal treadmill, we first need to stop (or at least pause or slow down) so we can then step off and decide, with intention and clarity, which direction and pace we want to go.

One of my favorite ways to do this involves creating a Breakthrough Map. I’ve written about this extensively, such as this article, so I’ll direct you there as a starting point.

Plus, a hint: Your first center circle could hold the question, How can I get unstuck? You might be surprised how many possibilities surface where there previously seemed none, simply by using this tool!

3. What if I don’t know what my core values are? My purpose? My passions?

Often, the question beneath the question here is also a fear:

What if I don’t actually HAVE these things?

Well, first, rest easy in knowing that you do. Even if we’re not clear what our values might be or how to state our purpose, I fully believe each and every one of us has them. The benefit in clarifying them is that we can then intentionally act in favor of them for greater fulfillment, flow, and meaningful success.

Similarly, if you’ve ever experienced feeling ‘off’ but couldn’t exactly pinpoint why, chances are we could trace it back to a value not being honored.

If you want to clarify your core values and write your succinct, customized Purpose Statement, we can do this in a 4-session coaching program – just reach out to my office to get started.

And to begin exploring this question even before we meet, think of a few highlight moments or peak experiences in your life – times when you felt fully alive, engaged, operating at your best, and/or right where you were meant to be. These could include personal and professional, planned (such as achieving a goal) and unplanned (such as you just happened to be sitting next to a person who needed your unique help), public and private.

Then, start to tease them apart and look for patterns. How did you feel in the moment? Why does this particular time stand out for you? How did you prepare and/or proceed through the experience? What strengths did you engage? What did you notice afterwards?

Chances are, reflecting deeply on a few key moments will begin giving you insight into your values, purpose, and what truly matters to you.

But Wait, There’s More!

Actually, there are several other questions that I could include in this list, such as:

How can I do what I love / pursue meaningful work amidst so many life requirements (like needing health insurance, providing for my family, and so on)?

I’m good at starting goals and projects and dreams but tend to lose momentum over time. How can I stay focused and motivated?

What if I am [insert solidly-adult number here] years old and still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up?

I coach people through these questions and more every day, so I encourage you to reach out for a complimentary Discovery Session and see if coaching is right for you. With my flexible new coaching programs, you may find you can answer some seemingly-giant-and-impossible questions in a fairly short time!

Which of these questions do you find yourself asking? What others come to mind when it comes to meaningful work, purposeful lives, and making your difference? Feel free to share others below!

You Matter, And So Does Your Work

Christi Hegstad November 3rd, 2023

You matter, and your work matters.

If I could shout a message from the mountaintops, I think it would be this!

Regardless of your title, salary, level of public acknowledgment, or other external factors, you make a difference. What you do matters, and no one can do it quite like you – with your unique set of strengths, values, and capabilities.

“Burnout results not from hard work – people are capable of working very hard,” wrote Rabbi Harold Kushner over 20 years ago, “but from a sense of futility, the fear that all the hard work isn’t making a difference.”

While burnout can be a very complex and multifaceted issue, I agree with Rabbi Kushner’s sentiment about the importance in knowing our work makes a difference.

And I just wanted to put that reminder out today – you matter and your work does make a difference!

If you’d like to connect the dots between the work you do and the difference it makes, or want support in helping your team connect those dots, please contact me. Meaningful work is one of my #1 coaching topics!

Whether you are in the midst of a huge assignment, or between jobs, or working in the home or on a volunteer basis or exploring a new venture in retirement or countless other possibilities:

Thank you for who you are, and for what you do.

5 Steps Toward Meaningful Work

Christi Hegstad May 11th, 2023

“I’m just a cog in the machine. A trained monkey could do my job.”

A client expressed this when we first started working together. His disconnect from his work had begun impacting his performance, attitude, relationships, and more.

By the end of our brief work together, he had replaced the above statement with, “My job actually saves lives!” He hadn’t changed jobs, hadn’t even changed most of his tasks and responsibilities.

So what had changed?

Finding Meaning In Work

A fair amount of research on meaningful work, mattering, and the like has been conducted in recent decades. It’s fascinating and important, and as leaders, we can do a great deal to create an environment of greater meaning and purpose in the workplace.

And as individual achievers, we have the power to bring meaning to our work, too. We can define what makes work meaningful to us, then take action to bring that to fruition. This article offers five ways to begin doing this.

Let’s take a look.

5 Ways To Bring Meaning To Work

1. Celebrate your wins.

Maybe you get acknowledged for the large, noticeable win – you land a big client or your proposal results in the grant funding, for example. (And maybe you don’t experience such acknowledgment, which is another article for another day.) Regardless, we need to celebrate our successes and wins along the way, not just when we reach the completion point. A few simple ways to begin this practice include keeping a Success Journal, recording a Daily Delight, and starting a Celebration of Triumphs list.

2. Connect your core values to your work.

One of my core values is growth, so when I can support my clients’ growth, or grow my own skill set in some way, my work naturally feels more meaningful. Discern your 3 to 5 core values, then look for ways to connect them to your work. (If you need help discerning your core values, contact me – I have a special one-time Core Values Coaching Session where we can do this.)

3. Dream big, and support others’ big dreams, too.

When you can connect your daily tasks to the bigger picture, you’ll benefit in all kinds of ways. Similarly, consider how your work supports others in achieving their dreams, too. Whether you are a banker or a chiropractor or a grocery store clerk or a museum docent or a (fill in the blank), you can play a role in supporting people on their path – and that feels fantastic!

4. Decide your ‘unofficial’ role.

One of my favorite tips for networking is to assume the role of ‘assistant host’; in other words, pretend you’ve been assigned to help people who look alone or uncomfortable feel more welcome. At work, you could decide you’re the one to bring the smile, to share an inspiring quote at the weekly staff meeting, or to ask thoughtful questions. Remember your values (#2 above) and personal strengths, then consider ways you could bring them into your every day.

5. Remember your ripple effect.

Whether or not you receive the feedback or see the impact your work makes, trust in the ripple effect – and that you are making a difference beyond what you even realize. Let’s say you take a phone call from an angry customer, talk them through the issue, and they leave the call feeling heard or cared for or at least a little less angry. Your actions could then change their interactions for the rest of the day, or how they handle their next call from a disgruntled customer. You just never know how far and wide your reach extends – but trust that it does.

You matter, and your work matters. I hope this article reminds you of that and helps enhance your experience, too!

Which of these tips will you begin implementing? What other ideas did this article spark for you? Share your thoughts below!

You, In Five Words

Christi Hegstad November 28th, 2021

If someone came up to you today and said,

“Tell me who you are in five words,”

how would you respond?

What makes you, you?

This week, play with this question.

Today’s Clarity Kickstart was prompted by a couple of things:

First, in the 2022 ASPIRE Success Club, one topic we’ll be addressing involves living + working with intention. In order to be intentional, we must know ourselves, our values, and who we are at our core.

Second, one of my favorite novels of the year has an unnamed narrator – something I didn’t even realize until I finished the book. A subtle + unexpected reminder that we are so much more than our roles, our job titles, even our names.

Who are you, in five words?

Whatever words you land on, thank you for being YOU! You are exactly what this world needs, and I am grateful for you.

Earlybird rates end soon! Click here to line up your FULL YEAR of personal + professional development with the ASPIRE Success Club!

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Christi Hegstad, PhD, PCC, is the Practical + Purposeful Coach for Achievers! Join our email community for coaching tips, book recommendations, and more!

Tag Archives: meaningful work