{"id":17484,"date":"2025-10-05T14:49:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T19:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/?p=17484"},"modified":"2026-03-04T15:07:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:07:08","slug":"how-purpose-is-your-secret-key-to-living-rich-and-long","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.steveblaising.com\/content\/how-purpose-is-your-secret-key-to-living-rich-and-long\/","title":{"rendered":"How Purpose Is Your Secret Key to Living Rich and Long"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A new way of rethinking your purpose could be the boost needed for a rich and long life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rich
The secret for living a rich life is in a well defined purpose\/Steve Blaising\/Lake Athens, TX<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

That’s what Gordon Christensen taught as a Harvard professor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He knew that money and acclaim were not the most important metrics for success in life even though he was named the world’s most influential business thinker in 2011 by Thinkers50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

“The only metrics that will truly matter in my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help, one by one, to become better people.” <\/strong>Gordon Christensen, How Will You Measure Your Life?<\/em>, p. 203<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gordon Christensen was diagnosed at age 47 with a similar cancer that killed his father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He shared this news with students in a class lecture and implored them to find and clarify the purpose of their lives early. It all begins with the word, “likeness.” Who do you truly want to become?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to articulate your purpose<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like a master painter who sketches an image with pencil before converting it on the canvas with oils, we articulate our purpose<\/a> by starting with likeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likeness is an idea that you embrace as the ideal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you work on your ideal purpose with creative endeavors through work, hobbies or service, a body of work unfolds that affirms your unique calling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If you begin to feel that the likeness you have sketched out for yourself is not right–that this is not the person you want to become–then you must revisit your likeness. But if it becomes clear that this is the person you want to become, then you must devote your life to becoming that person.”<\/strong> Gordon Christensen, How Will You Measure Your Life<\/em>, p. 199.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow through with commitment<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When I was in my twenties, I enrolled in seminary and started a financial planning company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That was the early 80’s when mortgage rates were over 10%, the stock market was plunging and the real estate market was melting faster than ice cream on a summer Texas sidewalk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My purpose is chiseled out of many hard years of study, work and testing through chaotic events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite simply, I am determined to be a man dedicated to blessing the lives of other people and to be a loving, encouraging and compassionate husband, father and friend<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purpose isn\u2019t stumbled upon, it\u2019s crafted with intention and chased with resolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measure your purpose<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How do we know when we\u2019ve succeeded? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By looking around and asking, “Are the people who\u2019ve crossed paths better, the same, or worse for it?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some folks measure life in tallies like square footage, titles, trophies, or savings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But real wealth runs quieter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s in those who spend themselves freely on people, offering…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • love<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • faith<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • courage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Because in the end, none of us stand alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We\u2019re here because someone chose to believe in us first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Purpose isn\u2019t found by accident. It\u2019s chosen with intention and proven in the way we show up for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Success fades.
    Purpose endures.
    Choose yours, then live it like it matters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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He knew that money and acclaim were not the most important metrics for success in life even though he was named the world’s most influential business thinker in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"How Purpose Is Your Secret Key to Living Rich and Long","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[59],"class_list":["post-17484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-purpose","tag-purpose"],"yoast_head":"\nHow Purpose Is Your Secret Key to Living Rich and Long - Steve Blaising<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Purpose is your secret to living a rich and long life. 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