17 Dec 2025 · 4 min
Brian Johnson breaks down the Purpose Formula: the overlap of your skills, the world's needs, and what brings you joy. He cites Angela Duckworth and Frederick Buechner, then walks through his own example of teaching wisdom to meet people's hunger for it.
Hey, this is Brian with a quick note before we jump into today's show. If you haven't signed up for the Optymyze Premium membership yet, a what are you waiting for? And B, you can now get the first 30 days of optimizing for free. Just cruise on over to Optimize Me and sign up. Over 10,000 people now start their days with Optymyze so they can actualize their potential, including best selling authors, leading entrepreneurs and even NCAA championship teams. Two of them. So again, 30 days of free optimizing at Optimize Me. If you're already a member, thanks for your support. Now for the show.
You're listening to Optimize with Brian Johnson.
More Wisdom in Less time. Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another micro class. This one's on the Purpose Formula. It's inspired by Noble Purpose by William Damon. What is the Purpose Formula? William tells us that if you look at all of the research scientifically into purpose and all the religious texts, three aspects come up again and again and again. And we talk about these three all the time. And I'm excited to echo this wisdom again and again and again. Repetition is how we cultivate skill and wisdom. The first aspect of the Purpose Formula. Can you guess what these three aspects are? Kind of a fun way to start it. If you've watched many of these, you've heard me describe this. The first one is basically our God given abilities, our skills. Our second one is the world's needs. Second aspect of our Purpose formula what does the world need? And then the third is what gives us joy. It's the nexus point of these three aspects, skills, needs and joy, that we're going to find our deepest sense of purpose. And remember this. Scientists define purpose as a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something both meaningful to the self and of consequence to the world beyond the self. Angela Duckworth says that purpose is the intention to contribute to the well being of others. This nexus point and then there's that great, great quote from Frederick Buchner which we've shared in this book and in the Road to Character. Buchner tells us basically that our purpose is the place God calls you to. He says the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness, what you most love to do, and the world's deep hunger meet what the world most needs. What you most love to do and are most capable of doing meets what the world most needs from you. As I've shared a number of times, my formula comes out as I love to read and study and embody this wisdom. I think I have some abilities to distill the wisdom and to teach it. And I'm certain that the world needs more wisdom. Virtues based character based wisdom in less time to deal with how busy we are. Boom. There we go. This is what I'm up to. One what about you? What are your skills as you see them? What are the world's needs and what gives you joy and where do they meet? Your deep love and longing to do certain things and the world's deep hunger and deep need. Let's figure that out, continue to refine it and help those around us do the same. Thank you for supporting me and my purpose and have another awesome day.
Isn't it a bit odd we went from math to science to history but somehow missed the on how to live? For some wacky reason, optimal living 101 never made the schedule. Of course it's too late to go back and change that and you're too busy to read full time to catch up yet. If you're like us, you're all about optimizing your life and actualizing your potential. So imagine this. Imagine having someone read the best books on optimal living and pulling out the big ideas that can truly change your life. You know those sections you asterisk and underline and mark all up? Then imagine that guy me connecting those.
Ideas to other great books and helping.
You apply them to your life today. Well, that's what I do with something we call Philosopher's Notes where I break down each great book into a simple 6 page PDF, 20 minute MP3 and 1010 minute Philosopher's Notes TV episode. Then imagine me taking the absolute best big ideas from those great books and sharing them with you in fun, inspiring, super practical optimal living 101 classes on stuff like purpose 101, confidence 101, business 101, meditation 101, that sort of thing. You've got a personal trainer? I'm kind of like your personal philosopher. Ancient Wisdom plus Modern Science plus Common Sense plus Virtue plus Mastery plus Fun. That's what our optimized membership program is all about. We'd love to have you join us. Check us out at BrianJohnson me join.
