Who is this sports broadcaster who dropped out of college but became one of the most recognized voices in U.S. sports television over several decades?

[ Answer at the bottom ]

Not every job feels like a calling. 

Maybe you started it to pay the bills or stumbled into it by chance. 

Over time, the excitement fades, replaced by routine. 

But let me set the record straight: 

Even if your work isn’t your passion, it can still hold purpose. 

You just have to know where and how to look.

***

Think of passion like a flame… it burns bright but can flicker. 

Purpose, though, is the steady lantern that guides you forward. 

Passion is about what excites you. Purpose is about what sustains you. 

You don’t need to love every task to live a meaningful work life; you need to see how your work makes a difference.

Here’s how to “Stand Out and Step Up” even if your current work does not light you up:

Step 1: Redefine What Purpose Means

Purpose isn’t always a grand mission. It's found in contribution.

Example: Maybe you’re not passionate about spreadsheets, but if they help your team make better decisions, your work still matters. Purpose is the “who” and “why” behind what you do.

Step 2: Connect Daily Tasks to a Bigger Impact

Every job serves someone.

Example: If you work in customer service, you’re not just solving complaints, you’re restoring trust. If you’re in healthcare, you’re not just checking charts, you’re giving someone peace of mind. Naming your impact turns routine into meaning.

Step 3: Grow Through What You Do

Even when work isn’t your dream, it can still develop your strengths.

Example: A job that tests your patience might be building leadership. A role that feels repetitive might be sharpening discipline. Growth itself gives purpose.

***

Passion can fade, but purpose endures.

You don’t have to wait for your dream job to live a meaningful one.

Start by asking, Who benefits from my work? What am I learning through it?

The answers may surprise you.

This week, look for one moment of purpose in your day, and let it remind you why you show up.

I had the whole day planned.

Snacks packed, activities lined up, a schedule tight enough to impress an event coordinator.

Five minutes in, my 5-year-old looked at me and said, “I’m bored.”

I blinked.
We had barely started.

For a second, I felt frustration rise.
I worked hard to make the day “perfect.”

But kids don’t want perfect. They want presence.

So I set the schedule aside and asked, “What do you want to do?”

The answer was simple.
“Can we just hang out?”

That’s when I realized:

Purpose isn’t always found in the grand plans we construct.

Sometimes it shows up quietly in the moments we didn’t plan at all.

And it’s the same with our careers.

Not every job feels like passion.
Not every task feels inspiring.

But purpose isn’t something you wait to feel.
It’s something you create through intention, clarity, and showing up with meaning.

If you’re ready to step up your career ladder and fulfill your purpose, try the READY Framework.

In it, you’ll discover how to position yourself and become someone decision-makers can’t overlook.

✅ The Right Way to Disagree with Your Boss Without Hurting Your Career

🤝 How to Build Strategic Relationships and Outmaneuver Workplace Drama

🙋🏻‍♀️ Commandment #2: You are the asset

DID YOU KNOW?

Bob Costas attended Syracuse University, though he did not graduate - he pursued broadcasting and became one of the most recognized voices in U.S. sports television over several decades.

HEADS UP:

In next Sunday’s issue of Career Ladder you will discover… How to Win Favor with Senior Leaders Without Looking Like a Suck-Up

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