As a builder and unconventional entrepreneur, I’ve learned that one key to success is adding value to others. Join the community that understands the power of giving first, learning from our mistakes, and always asking, “How can I help?” Explore building side hustles and successful businesses that lead to living an uncommon life.
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Unconventional Entrepreneur
Shannon Jean
Pursue Purpose, not Pleasure.
Our brains are constantly seeking pleasure.
Pleasure is transactional.
When you focus on finding your Purpose and nurturing it, it’s transformational.
Here are 9 ways to trick our moist robot brains into focusing on purpose instead of sticky-sweet pleasure.
1. Go backward.
Focus on where you will be in five years and work backward from there, developing long-term rewards.
2. Find meaning in small tasks.
Success is found in a thousand little things, not one audacious act. Recognize the daily systems that contribute to your greater purpose.
3. Build a value-driving routine.
Pleasure comes and goes, but purpose is sustained by consistent action. Build a daily routine based on your core values and let those guide your actions.
4. Enrichment beats excitement.
Pleasure excites us, but purpose fulfills us. Don’t get me wrong—I want that pleasure just as much as you do, but we need to mix it up with activities and relationships that leave us feeling enriched, not just entertained.
5. Get uncomfortable.
Chasing pleasure avoids discomfort, but purpose requires it. Everything we want to achieve is on the other side of being uncomfortable.
6. Contribution over consumption.
Pleasure focuses on consuming experiences or things. Purpose is about what you can give. “How can I add value to others?” Add value, and then let the Law of Reciprocity kick in.
7. Connections beat validation.
Seeking validation from others is a form of pleasure-seeking. I’ve learned that nurturing genuine connections in business (and life) helps me grow and align with my values.
8. Focus on who you’re becoming, not what you’re getting.
Pleasure focuses on external rewards – super transactional. Purpose focuses on internal transformation.
9.One page per day.
Write, write, write. Keep a journal, write a post on X, or send a long text to someone you care about. Reflect on the actions you took today that helped you achieve your purpose.
TL;DR: Pursuing Purpose > Pleasure
This stuff is hard. I’m constantly seeking short-term pleasure, engagement, views on X, more sales, etc.
But my purpose is to add value to my life and others.
The more I give, the more I receive.
What’s your take?
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As a builder and unconventional entrepreneur, I’ve learned that one key to success is adding value to others. Join the community that understands the power of giving first, learning from our mistakes, and always asking, “How can I help?” Explore building side hustles and successful businesses that lead to living an uncommon life.