Stop Chasing Shadows: How Finding Your Purpose Actually Drives Profit
By Derek — Money isn't complicated. People just make it complicated. ·
I’m writing this on a Tuesday morning, watching replays of the Hungarian Grand Prix. If you’ve been following my content, you know I’m obsessed with F1. People look at the sport and see fast cars and champagne. I look at it and see the ultimate masterclass in alignment. When the car, the driver, the pit crew, and the engineering team are all pulling in the exact same direction, it’s poetry in motion. When they aren't? It’s a multi-million-dollar disaster.
Most of the founders and high-earners I coach are living in that disaster zone. They’re making money, sure. They’ve got the 401(k) maxed out and the portfolio looks decent on paper. But when we sit down to talk about their ‘why,’ they stare at the wall like I just asked them to solve a differential equation in Latin. They’re chasing success, but they’ve lost the purpose that’s supposed to fuel it.
Let’s get one thing clear: Purpose isn't some mystical, zen-like concept you find on a mountain top. It’s the engine. And if your engine isn't calibrated, you’re just burning gas to go nowhere.
The “Purpose Trap” is Just Another Form of Procrastination
I’ve heard it all. “Derek, I’m waiting to find my true passion before I really go all-in on my business.” Or, “I don’t want to invest my capital until I’m sure this is my life’s work.”
Listen to me: That is just fear in a cheap suit.
Waiting to ‘find’ your purpose is a stalling tactic. You don’t find purpose; you build it through friction. You build it by doing things that actually matter to you, seeing what works, and iterating. If you’re sitting on the sidelines waiting for a lightning bolt of clarity, you’re going to be waiting until you’re retired and bitter.
Start with the ‘Anti-Vision’
When I left Goldman, people were confused. They’d say, “Derek, you’re on the track to partner. Why walk away?” I didn’t walk away because I had a divine revelation about my ‘purpose.’ I walked away because I knew exactly what I didn’t want. I didn’t want the 80-hour weeks in a windowless office where my input was just a cog in a machine I didn't own.
Sometimes, it’s easier to define your purpose by identifying your ‘Anti-Vision.’ What does a day look like five years from now that would make you want to jump off a bridge?
- Do you hate the commute?
- Do you hate the bureaucracy?
- Do you hate that your income is capped by a boss’s mood?
Write that down. That’s your negative polarity. Your purpose is the exact opposite of that. If you hate the lack of autonomy, your purpose is building a system where you are the architect. If you hate the lack of impact, your purpose is solving a problem that makes someone else’s life noticeably better.
The Intersection of Competence and Curiosity
People think purpose has to be some grand, world-saving altruistic mission. If you’re into that, great. But for most of us, purpose is found at the intersection of two things: what you’re freakishly good at, and what you’re genuinely curious about.
I’m good at finance because I’ve spent years obsessing over how money moves. I’m curious about human behavior—why we make such stupid decisions with our cash even when we know better. Putting those together? That’s my purpose. It’s not just 'financial advising.' It’s simplifying the complex so people can actually build a life they enjoy living.
Take a minute. Grab a notebook. Don’t look at your phone. 1. What do people constantly ask you for help with? (That’s your competence.) 2. What topic can you talk about for 30 minutes without prepping a single slide? (That’s your curiosity.)
If you find the spot where those two circles overlap, that’s where your purpose lives. If you aren’t monetizing that overlap, you’re leaving your best work on the table.
Purpose Needs a P&L
Here’s the part where I sound like the guy who spent five years at Goldman. Your purpose, if it’s going to be sustainable, has to be profitable. I don’t care how much you ‘love’ your work; if it doesn’t pay the bills, it’s a hobby. And we don’t build hobbies here.
Once you’ve identified that intersection, you need to ask: “Who is willing to pay for this?”
If the answer is ‘nobody,’ then you don’t have a purpose, you have a pastime. Adjust the angle. Maybe you love painting, but nobody wants your art. Can you teach painting? Can you curate art for offices? Can you use your eye for design to consult on home interiors?
Purpose isn't a static destination. It’s a dynamic strategy. It changes as you grow. The Derek who left GS is a different animal than the Derek running a firm today. My purpose evolved because my expertise evolved. Yours will, too.
Just Start Doing the Work
Stop overthinking the ‘big picture’ and start focusing on the next 90 days. What’s one project you can start that aligns with your competence and your curiosity? What’s one problem you can solve that makes someone else’s life easier?
Money isn’t complicated. And neither is finding your purpose. It’s just work. Get the data, build the framework, test the hypothesis, and iterate.
If you’re stuck in the middle of a career pivot or just trying to figure out where to point your capital next, let’s talk. I’ve seen enough portfolios and life plans to know when someone is drifting. Shoot me a message, let’s look at your numbers, and let’s get you pointed in a direction that actually feels like yours.
Stay sharp,
Derek