My maternal grandfather, who passed away long before I was born, had an enduring passion for mathematics. For him, math was the epitome of what one might call Little P Purpose. He immersed himself in mathematical activities not for goals or outcomes, but for the sheer joy of the process. This love of math serendipitously led him to a career in accounting. As a CPA in the 1950s, he didn't have the luxury of QuickBooks or even computers. Much of his time was spent hunched over large, old-fashioned spreadsheets.
During these long hours, he would often have my mother sit on his lap, eagerly explaining the significance of each box and number. Recognizing the joy he derived from these moments, my mom was inspired to try on the identity herself. She soon discovered that she, too, had a deep-seated love for math. This passion eventually guided her to pursue the same career and become a certified public accountant, albeit many decades later. By then, my grandfather had passed away from cancer, but his spirit of joy and purpose had been carried forward to the next generation.
Fast forward many years, and I faced a significant challenge: a learning disability that left me far behind my peers in reading. While my classmates were beginning to tackle their first sentences and paragraphs, I was relegated to coloring books. My confidence took a hit, but there was one bright spot—my knack for math. I had absorbed my mother’s enthusiasm for the subject, and like her, I found solace and a profound sense of accomplishment in numbers.
Math became my saving grace. Despite my struggles with reading, I knew I couldn't be considered less intelligent if I excelled in math. Eventually, I overcame my learning difficulties and pursued a career in medicine—a field deeply rooted in mathematics. Early in my career, I cared for a man who had been repeatedly hospitalized with severe dehydration. Thanks to my mathematical insight, I identified a relationship between two lab values that led to a diagnosis of a rare but treatable condition.
This diagnosis allowed the patient, who was otherwise unencumbered by medical issues, to return to his crucial work as a pastor, providing refuge and support to runaways.
This is the essence of generational growth. My grandfather’s Little P Purpose, long after his death, helped not only his descendants but also strangers, demonstrating its enduring influence across time and space. From his small, seemingly inconsequential acts, a ripple effect spread, eventually reaching and aiding a runaway child and countless others.
Like a pebble dropped in the ocean, my grandfather’s impact created ripples that merged and sometimes became mighty waves. At other times, they were barely perceptible, but they persisted, eventually reaching distant shores where others could play, build, and thrive.
My grandfather’s life mattered, and his legacy continues to make a difference long after his name has faded from memory.
So can yours.
Today’s Poll
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Path to Purpose Coaching
Over the last year, writing my new book The Purpose Code, I have spent a huge amount of time thinking about, writing about, and discussing purpose. I have offered one-on-one and group coaching to my mastermind group, Wealth With Purpose. These discussions stem from my real life encounters with dying hospice patients as well as the numerous interactions I have had with people after reading Taking Stock.
What I've found is that most of us who listen to the Earn & Invest Podcast struggle with three basic issues:
How do I define purpose in my life?
How do I transition to a more fulfilling career?
What is enough money look like? Enough life?
To help navigate these waters, I have decided to offer the Path to Purpose coaching program. This is one-on-one coaching with me to help you further define purpose, direction, and career. Sessions will be spread over five weeks with a goal to provide a more concrete and enjoyable path to crack the purpose code and start living your life now whether you are broke, pre financial independence, financially independent, or beyond.
https://www.earnandinvest.com/coaching
I love this idea... I've thought of it before as trying to pass on "Generational Wisdom" over "Generational Wealth."