S1E11: Chasing Purpose with Don Wettrick

In this episode of Purpose Project, host Leslie Pagel interviews Don Wettrick, founder and CEO of STARTedUP and a former teacher. Don discusses his transition from teaching to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among students. He shares how a TED Talk by Daniel Pink inspired him to integrate mastery, autonomy, and purpose into his teaching philosophy, leading to the creation of an Innovation and Open Source Learning class. This class culminated in the successful 'Innovate WithIN' program. Don highlights the importance of overcoming fear, taking calculated risks, and seeking support from loved ones. He emphasizes the need for self-discovery, problem-solving, and tackling real-world challenges to find one's purpose. Don also introduces reflective practices like the 3-2-1 video method to foster personal growth and accountability. The episode underscores the vital role of mentorship, social interaction, and addressing mental health in empowering students to achieve significant milestones.
00:00 Introduction to Purpose Project
00:45 Meet Don Wettrick
01:29 The Innovation Journey Begins
10:04 Facing Fear and Taking Risks
15:19 Discovering and Pursuing Purpose
19:35 Discovering Life's Purpose: A Personal Journey
23:10 Empowering Students: Real-World Problem Solving
25:06 The Impact of Technology on Purpose Discovery
28:27 Mentorship and the Hero's Journey
31:46 Practical Advice for Discovering Your Purpose
33:09 The 3-2-1 Reflection Technique
35:39 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Resources:
Don Wettrick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donwettrick/
STARTedUP Foundation: https://www.startedupfoundation.org/

Purpose Project is a research study on the topic of life's purpose. You can follow along in the making of Purpose Project:
Instagram: @purpose.project
LinkedIn: @purposeproject-media
TikTok: @purpose.project

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