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 Chapman Graduate School Insights
Leadership

The 3 Ps to Living a Fulfilling Life

By John Kowal

Have you’ve ever felt stuck, wondering what to do next, questioning if what you’re doing is really the right path for you? You're not alone. Bruce Turkel, renowned branding and innovation expert, bestselling author, and entrepreneur faced that moment after selling his ad agency. With no clear direction, he found himself wondering, “What now?” But instead of rushing into something new, Turkel leaned on what he knew best. “You’ve heard the saying, ‘If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.’ I’m a marketing guy, so I turned to market research,” he said. Turkel interviewed nearly 50 people who had successfully navigated major life transitions, both good and bad. From thriving businessmen selling their companies and becoming lost on what path to take next to individuals surviving personal hardships like cancer, divorce, and job loss. Despite their challenges, they all managed to make the shift they needed to live a life full of fulfillment. So what helped these people move forward and thrive? It came down to three powerful principles, all starting with the letter P. Let’s dive into the 3 Ps that could help you unlock that next chapter.

Passion is the Fuel for a Fulfilling Life

Think about the moments when you’ve felt completely alive, when you’re doing something you love so much that time ceases to exist. That thing that ignites a fire under you? That’s passion. It’s not necessarily about your job or a side hustle. It’s about what excites you, what pulls you in, that thing that gives you a deep sense of joy. Turkel gives a title to these short bursts of happiness, calling them GBMs, or Goosebump Moments. They are those little sparks that remind you why you love what you do. “When I’m up on stage speaking to an audience and a line or a concept comes out just right,” he says, “or when I’m playing with the band and I get a solo…every so often I hit a couple notes, and I’ll get that feeling…and that rekindles my passion.” You don’t have to be a speaker or a musician to feel this. Maybe for you, it’s cooking a perfect meal, solving a tricky problem at work, or watching your kids accomplish something great. The source doesn’t matter, the feeling does. Find that fire in you, that thing that makes your heart sing, and you are on your way to finding the passion within you. 

"Purpose is critical. It’s ‘I’m doing something that matters.’ Why it matters, how it matters, to whom it matters. It could be my religion, my spiritual beliefs, my morals, my ethics, the way I was raised… but it gives meaning."

Purpose is the Meaning Behind What You Do

Passion is about excitement, but purpose is about why it matters. It’s the deeper reason behind your actions, the thing that makes you feel like what you do has significance. Purpose can come from anywhere, your values, beliefs, upbringing, or even your struggles. According to Turkel, it’s like this: “Purpose is critical. It’s ‘I’m doing something that matters.’ Why it matters, how it matters, to whom it matters. It could be my religion, my spiritual beliefs, my morals, my ethics, the way I was raised… but it gives meaning.” One of the people Turkel interviewed was a woman whose husband suddenly left, leaving her to raise two young kids alone. She wasn’t the breadwinner, and she had to figure out how to survive this ordeal. Through the struggle, she found her purpose, creating a stable, loving home for her children. “She had to figure out what to do,” Turkel says, “but in doing so, she built something that mattered to her.” Purpose doesn’t have to be grand. It doesn’t mean you have to change the world. It just has to be something that matters to you.

"We all need some kind of compensation. We all need some kind of measuring stick, some way of knowing what we are doing matters.”

Pay is the Reward That Makes It Worthwhile

When Turkel talks about pay, it’s not just about financial gain. Pay is whatever makes you feel like your efforts matter. It’s the reward, the validation and the way you measure success for yourself. Turkel explains that even people who don’t need more money still need some form of compensation, a way to know that what they’re doing is making an impact. He gives the example of a man who sold his business for hundreds of millions of dollars. “He didn’t need more pay,” Turkel says, “but he needed to make a difference. So, he researched and decided what he was going to do next based on what he felt could make the world a better place.” His pay wasn’t about money anymore, it was about the joy of seeing the impact of his work. 

Now let’s say you don't want to leave some impact on the world and would rather live a life of leisure, there is still a pay involved according to Turkel. He gave an example, saying “Some people say ‘No, that's not true at all. I’d retire, and all I want to do is play golf’…remember, there’s a score. You keep score when you play golf, and that score is your pay.” Even people who spend their days boating will tell you how many days they’ve been out on the water. “We all need some kind of compensation. We all need some kind of measuring stick, some way of knowing what we are doing matters.” It’s in our nature to do so. Whether it’s money, recognition, or just the personal satisfaction of seeing results, pay keeps us going.

Living Life on Your Own Terms

Here’s the secret sauce: the happiest people aren’t just hammering away at life, hoping for fulfillment to show up. They’re choosing it. They’re figuring out what excites them, what gives them meaning, and what makes them feel rewarded. Turkel saw it again and again in the people he spoke with. Some found fulfillment in starting a new business, some in volunteering, some in traveling, and some in simply spending more time with loved ones. The common thread? They had all figured out their own version of passion, purpose, and pay, and they are all living it. If you’re feeling stuck, ask yourself: What excites me? What gives my life meaning? What makes me feel like my efforts matter? Your answers might just lead you to the path in life you’ve been looking for.


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About the Author

John Kowal is a content strategist at FIU’s Chapman Graduate School of Business. Passionate about the power of storytelling to make ideas come to life, he’s sharpened his skills working at several marketing agencies, learning how to create content that’s not just strategic, but engaging. John’s love for storytelling is rooted in curiosity and a desire to truly connect with people through meaningful, well-told stories. 

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