Why I Champion Impact over Purpose

By Janna Jorgensen, Human Impact Framework Creator

For years we've been focusing on purpose as the antidote to meaningless work. ​

But here's my hot take. In these times, having a purpose is not enough (and actually, it never was).

Consider the current landscape of work. As leaders and knowledge workers grapple with the reality that artificial intelligence is diminishing the value of their "knowledge," a pressing question arises: what remains when a lifetime of identity built around work is challenged?

This is an Existential Moment

For millions of people, it's not just their ability to impact that keeps them up at night, it's that they can feel their identities being challenged and their grip on their legacy starting to slip away.

Most people I talk to are grappling with one or more of these questions: (1) what will my work look like when AI comes for me? (2) who will I be in this new world and will I even matter? (3) how will I be remembered when all this is done?

(4) will I still feel like an integral a part of something bigger than myself?

This are big questions that require radical and rapid adjustments.

The Lock-and-Key Relationship Between Purpose and Impact

Traditional approaches to work won't be sufficient to weather this storm. Purpose can be part of the solution, but alone it is entirely insufficient.

That's because there is a lock-and-key relationship between purpose and impact. In other words, impact is the key that unlocks your purpose. More specifically, it unlocks the meaning, direction, fulfilment, and sense of connection that can come from a strong sense of purpose. That's why I champion impact over purpose.

Are you Creating the Impact you Truly Desire?

It breaks my heart when someone (or an organization) with a strong sense of purpose gives up because they cannot create the impact they truly desire. Which is why I've spent the better part of my career co-creating a more regenerative approach to impact: one that accounts for the impact that's made, the effort it takes, and what that means for the humans in the mix. We call this approach Regenerative Impact. It seamlessly connects purpose with impact and legacy. It fosters a deeper sense of wellbeing, connection, meaning, and significance.

Focus on your impact and your purpose comes alive. And over time, your legacy of impact evolves. That's not just good for you, it's good for everyone.

Join the Movement?

This is more than a point-of-view on impact; it's a part of a growing movement of people who are actively working as a force-for-good. These diverse professionals, academics, and practitioners are tired of treating stress, low energy, and sleepless nights like the normal returns for a day at work.

Together, we are co-creating a movement called Human Impact Thinking and Design (HITiDe)TM. Heavily rooted in human-centred design thinking, neuroscience, and strategy, HITiDe blends the best of legacy models with the experiential booster they need to actually deliver the value they intend, while also returning the energy and value that they would otherwise extract or diminish. We welcome skilled and passionate collaborators in our community! If you are interested, please reach out to me at janna@ionconsulting.ca. You can also join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on what's happening in the Human Impact Framework, Regenerative Impact practice, and HITiDe universe.