Design Your Purpose, Not Your Paycheck

How many bolts of fabric can I slip under the check-in table? 10? Perfect, if I mail my shipments first, I can pick up the samples with just enough time to change before my shift. I created a version of this plan every morning to ensure that I made it to my volunteering job while launching our brand.?

Does having a second job that paid nothing, when I could barely keep up with my first and had no money, make sense on paper? Not in the slightest. It made sense to me, though. I’d been organizing events for a non-profit that supported up and coming artists since I moved to New York. It gave me a chance to contribute to my community, make friends, and be inspired by the artists. People believe in a variety of things. My faith lies in the belief that when I help others I live a happier life. The fulfillment I felt volunteering surpassed any time I dedicated. It may have been hectic. Still, I was committed to showing up. I’d do it all over again today.?

I’ve felt a sense of intention from the moment I boarded my flight to NYC to become a designer when I was 18. What I didn’t know then was how my purpose would expand to include building my family, being an activist, and advocating for women. At risk of sounding like your commencement speaker: Life is short. I aspire to live mine to the fullest and design my journey around my passions.?

I believe we all have a purpose. It may just take time to find it. I pay attention to: What brings me joy? Where am I of service? When do I feel most fulfilled? My answers are my compass. As they evolve, so does my direction. We may not be able to do what we love right away or turn it into a career. When I can’t, I explore how I can arrange my life to pursue it, knowing that it won’t be my paycheck. I faced this most recently launching The Female Founder Collective. At the time, it didn’t appear that founding a non-profit fit into my life. I was transitioning back to work after my third baby and we were rebranding Rebecca Minkoff. Time was not abundant per se, still, I knew we had to do it. In 2018, we launched with our women-owned business seal, a panel, Instagram page, and no expectations. Today, we have a multi-faceted organization, with a newly launched membership program, The 10th House, where female founders are propelling each other forward in business.?

The visual of a full life evokes the false notion that we can do it all. Fullness does not equate to balance, far from it. Prioritization, and sacrifice, are required, especially when you’re juggling a lot of balls. I’ve spent the last three months on ‘tour’ for my new book, Fearless. Between the book, leading our team out of the pandemic, launching The 10th House, and my kids’ summer break, I knew I needed to adjust my schedule. I decided not to attend two weekly brand meetings to free up three hours for the book. It’s a consequence of my choice if I’m not included in a big decision. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but something’s gotta give. I’ve learned to accept that not everything makes my list all the time.?

My vision helps me play the long game. You can Amazon Prime a lot of things. Your career is not one of them. It took six years before I felt like we were established at Rebecca Minkoff and three to launch The 10th House. When the clock strikes midnight and I wonder why I’m awake running two businesses, I ask myself: Why did I start them? Reminding myself of my mission to uplift women and create a more equal world recenters me, even in the midst of challenges. Whenever I come from a place of purpose, I walk away energized.?

Passion exceeds the immediate attributes society associates with success. Sure, being a billionaire would be nice -? I want a house in Tuscany just as much as the next person - but that’s not my reason for waking up every day. It’s easy to get jaded by the notion that being rich, well-known, and having a title with a “C” will satisfy us. Yet, some of my best memories happened when I was making $23,000 a year and my husband and I were living in a tiny apartment with roommates. Our most incredible experiences rarely have anything to do with money. Life is rich when it’s marked by great friendships and adventures, rather than the commas in our bank account.?

My personal mission is constantly evolving. What started as volunteering at a non-profit turned into launching our own, whilst building a brand that’s grown bigger than I could have ever imagined. I’ve learned that there are endless opportunities to make your imprint on the world, even when they aren’t in plain sight. The more you look for and cultivate them, the better you get at seeing them. Designing your life around your purpose puts you in the driver’s seat on your journey.?

I wrote Fearless for everyone who has a vision for their life and the change they aim to make in the world. It’s a collection of 21 rules that help me overcome my fears and turn my dreams into reality. I’m honored to share them and hope they do the same for you. You can learn more and order it here!