Lara Galinsky - Work On Purpose

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedicated to the memory of Echoing Green Fellow David Lewis, whose life story embodies the power of heart, head, and hustle.

For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes.
Dag Hammarskjld

FOREWORD

We didnt ask for cancer. Nobody does. But when faced with the disease, we saw in ourselves the tenacity to wring some good from a very bad situation. We founded LIVE STRONG in 1997 because we wanted to help people who were experiencing the fear, confusion, and isolation that come with a cancer diagnosis. Those feelings were debilitating for us when we had cancer, but sharing them with others helped us to overcome them.

Lance Armstrong and Doug Ulman, LIVE STRONG

When we were diagnosed as young athletes at the top of our physical game, we declared ourselves not cancer victims but cancer fighters. We both took active roles in educating ourselves about the disease and the treatment. As a result, we established our own foundations to advocate for others suffering from cancer before we even knew our own fates. And as we helped people, we were continuously encouraged to do even more. Knowing the good we wanted to achieve was the first step.

Every day, we are energized in our mission by stories we hear from cancer survivorsstories both uplifting and heartbreaking. The more we recognize our ability and imperative to effect change, the less willing we are to live with the status quo. We now offer critical support to people living with cancer. We fund patient programs and medical research, initiate advocacy outreach to remind elected officials of the need for favorable policy, and ultimately empower people all over the world to LIVE STRONG .

What will your impact be? There is no shortage of people and causes that need and deserve attention. And there is no limit to what people can accomplish when they approach challenges with both passion and practicality. Work on Purpose can be a partner in your efforts, helping you to identify the practical aspects of your mission while encouraging you to pursue your goals.

We all have an obligation to bring positive change to our communities and our world. Fulfilling that obligation requires the boldness not only to envision a better world, but also to recognize your ability to make that world a reality. Work on Purpose offers a framework to get started. The vision is all yours.

We wish you all the best in your efforts,

LANCE ARMSTRONG is the chairman and founder of LIVE STRONG , a global organization fighting for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. LIVE STRONG s mission is to inspire and empower anyone affected by cancer. Lance Armstrong won cyclings most prestigious race, the Tour de France, a record-breaking seven times after surviving testicular cancer.

DOUG ULMAN is a three-time cancer survivor and nationally recognized cancer advocate. In his role as president and CEO, Doug is ultimately responsible for the strategic vision and direction of LIVE STRONG . After overcoming bone and skin cancer twice during his sophomore year in college, Doug and his family founded the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults, a nonprofit organization to provide support, education, and resources to young adults and their families and friends who are affected by cancer. He served as executive director of the Ulman Cancer Fund for four years before joining LIVE STRONG .

INTRODUCTION

When You Grow Up

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I was a kid, I loved answering this question. Id say I wanted to be a teacher, a veterinarian, or a novelist. Adults would smile, nod in approval, and say, Your parents must be proud.

Lara Galinsky, Echoing Green

But when I was a senior in college, this was the question I dreaded. It was a constant reminder that I had big decisions to make. I felt immense pressure to be fully in control, 100 percent certain of my goals, and in possession of a detailed, logical plan for my career path. Yet I didnt even know where to start. What do you want to be when you grow up?

For many of us, its a question that never really goes away. We are continually searching for whats next, whats better, and what will be even more fulfilling. Even now, in a career I adore and a role that continues to challenge me, I find myself wondering, how have I landed here? And yet, what more can I do? Its whats underneath this question thats important. That is: What impact do you want to have on the world?

The Job Search

As a college senior, I knew I wanted to make a differenceand for me, that meant working in the nonprofit sector. The career resource staff gave me the contact information of alumni who worked in the field; beyond that, they didnt know how to help me. Unfulfilled, I designed my own process. I pored through entry-level nonprofit job listings and assessed the ones that jumped out at me by evaluating them against a list of the qualities and qualifications I wanted to draw on in my work: youth-focused, a flair for entrepreneurship, a desire to learn on the job, an opportunity to write, and an interest in new technology. I didnt have the language for it then, but I was aligning what I cared about deeply with what I perceived were my best skills.