The Purpose-Pleasure Paradox

On one hand, you've got a burning desire to make a difference, to work hard, and achieve something meaningful. But on the other hand, there's that voice inside saying, "Hey, don't forget to enjoy the ride!" It's like Charlotte’s Web author E.B. White said: “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”Here’s the bad news: If you’re a purpose-driven leader and you’re doing it right, this isn’t a problem you’ll ever be able to solve. You don’t arrive. You can’t cross this item off the list. [highlight]The purpose-pleasure paradox will be a perpetual struggle.[/highlight]Rather than being a problem to solve, this is a tension to manage. You don’t ever completely choose between purpose and pleasure. It's not an either/or situation.So what do we do about it?Let’s turn to the philosopher Jimmy Buffett (yes, the Margaritaville one), "Go fast enough to get there, but slow enough to see." I really believe that’s the sweet spot we're aiming for, but it is easy to drift to one end of the spectrum.If we're all purpose and no pleasure, we risk turning into these robotic "human doings" instead of human beings. We might achieve our goals, sure, but at what cost? Burnout? Missed moments with family and friends? A general sense of "Is this all there is?"On the flip side, if we swing too far into the pleasure zone and forget about our purpose, we might have a great time, but we're not living up to our potential. Not only would we not make the impact we could be making, but we run the risk of feeling like our life is futile. So, how do we navigate this tension? Acknowledge the tension. It's real, it's normal, and it's not going away, so embrace it! Now, make small adjustments. If you're all work and no play, maybe schedule some fun. If you're having a blast but not making progress on your goals, it might be time to buckle down a bit.At the end of the day, leadership isn't just about crossing finish lines—it's about making the journey worthwhile for you and the people you lead. Make it count, make it meaningful, and yes, make it fun.