Discover your purpose

Discovery workbook
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Discover your purpose workbook

Discover your purpose worksheets

1
The worksheets in this section guide you through the
program to:

► Provide guidance for best practice storytelling for the

exercises
► Provide space to capture notes for your Storyteller as they
tell their story
► After you have exchanged workbooks, provide a template
for drafting your personal purpose statement; and
► Provide a template for creating your purpose declaration
to activate your personal purpose in your work

pp. 5-11

Post-program activities
2 ► Want more? Defining and activating your purpose is a lifelong
process

► We have included further reflection questions and ideas for

practical application in this section

pp. 12-14

Page 2 Discover your purpose

 Discover your purpose
worksheets

Page 3 Discover your purpose

Working in breakout groups

You will work in breakout groups to

reflect on your purpose in the
subsequent lessons

Page 4 Discover your purpose

Storytelling how-to

► Recall a time in your life where the question posed was relevant or that
you identified with the situation.

► Imagine that time and play it back in your mind. Recall the details and
describe it like you were watching a movie.

► What information is relevant/essential to answer the question?

► Every story has a beginning, middle and end. Tell your purpose Listener
your story starting from the beginning of your experience.

► Describe details that you find important, obstacles you faced, people you
that were impacted, and/or strong feelings that you experienced. This is
the middle of your story.

► The end of your story should include a conclusion you came to; the
problem you solved and/or the emotions you felt.

Discover your purpose

Page 5 Discover your purpose
 REMEMBER:
Lesson 2 You are taking notes
for your Storyteller on
this page. You will

STORYTELLING Listen to your Storyteller

exchange workbooks
later.

SESSION #1 ► Write down your Storyteller’s story: What stands out? Take notes of what you hear.

Storytelling helps to identify key purpose

themes There are two active roles in this exercise: Tell your story and take notes from your Storyteller‘s story in the below. You
can choose who goes first. After 5 minutes exchange roles.
TIME
5 minutes for each person
Kelvin Chan ‘s story
(insert your Storyteller’s name)

Describe a time when you Financial studies assurance, singapore (audit)

were doing something He passed CPA exam certificate, by self study, difficult, spend time to do the study, prepare for exam - part time study
fulfillment - benefit in audit industry
that brought you joy and primary to enhance career in the future
fulfillment and it made an
impact on someone.

Page 6 Discover your purpose

 REMEMBER:
Lesson 2 You are taking notes
for your Storyteller on
this page. You will

STORYTELLING Listen to your Storyteller

exchange workbooks
later.

SESSION #2 ► Write down your Storyteller’s story: What stands out? Take notes of what you hear.

Storytelling helps to identify key purpose

themes
There are two active roles in this exercise: Tell your story and take notes from your Storyteller‘s story in the below. You
TIME can choose who goes first. After 5 minutes exchange roles.
5 minutes for each person
Kelvin Chan ‘s story
(insert your Storyteller’s name)

What is something you work related - audit assistant selected for representative for 5 months
assigned and learn tax rate in australia (more you earn, the more tax you pay)
accomplished that you
are really proud of? fun, stress, lesser in singapore, work and chew

Page 7 Discover your purpose

 REMEMBER:
Lesson 2 You are filling out this
page for your
Storyteller. You will

DEFINITION 1st Step: Identify and categorize your Storyteller’s themes exchange workbooks
next.

Help your Storyteller: Summarize your Storyteller’s common themes from their stories.
Defining your purpose helps you work
What key words stood out to you? What patterns appear in their moments of fulfillment and pride?
towards making personally meaningful
contributions in life.
Kelvin Chan ‘s actions
TIME
5 minutes for each person (insert your Storyteller’s name)

Key words Key words

1 recognizes hard work 4 accomplishment during difficult times

2 fulfillment - benefit in audit industry 5 continuous learning

3 career-oriented 6 primary to enhance career in future

Kelvin Chan ‘s impact (on another person)

(insert your Storyteller’s name)

Key words Key words

1 impact the audit industry 4 wants to step up the ladder

2 self and team 5 learn and contribute in your sector

3 celebrates victory 6

Action examples Impact examples

1 Recognizes unique skills / talent 1 Creates a sense of belonging

2 Sees people for who they are on the inside 2 Embraces uniqueness

3 Shows bravery in the face of doubters 3 Has the courage to be themselves

4 Is persistent 4 Achieves more than thought possible

5 Validates hard work 5 Recognizes accomplishments

Page 8 Discover your purpose

Please exchange workbooks

Each person will now review their

Listener’s notes from the previous
exercises to draft their purpose
statement

Page 9 Discover your purpose


Lesson 2
DEFINITION
Defining your purpose helps you work
towards making personally meaningful
contributions in life.
TIME
8 minutes on your own
“
Personal purpose statements
from your colleagues:
I am here to help identify people’s
gifts in order for everyone to have
an equal chance to live their
dreams.
I am here to lead with honesty and
kindness in order to make a
difference in someone else’s life.
I am here to stand up for diversity
in order to help others feel
included and succeed.
Page 10
REMEMBER:
You are filling this
page out for yourself.
2nd Step: Draft your personal purpose statement
It’s your turn: Now that you have exchanged workbooks, look across your common themes and
synthesize them.
The best purpose statements are clear, brief and speak to what is most meaningful to you.
Draft 1 Write down your personal purpose statement here
I am here to
(Insert your action)
In order to
(Insert your impact)
Write down your refined personal purpose statement here.
Draft 2
Remember: Your purpose statement should speak to what is most meaningful – make it concise and authentic
I am here to
(Insert your action)
In order to
(Insert your impact)
OPTIONAL for post-session work
Draft 3
Use this if you would like to continue refining your personal purpose statement after this session
I am here to
(Insert your action)
In order to
(Insert your impact)
Personal purpose statement checklist
✓ Starts with an action verb ✓ Free of strategy, tactics, goals and numbers
✓ Short and easy to understand ✓ Applies to whole life (work, home, community)
✓ In service of others ✓ Feels good and inspires you
✓ In affirmative language
Discover your purpose
 REMEMBER:
Lesson 3 You are filling this
page out for yourself.

ACTIVATION Draft your personal purpose declaration

While your personal purpose statement

is ever-evolving, its success hinges on
activating it in your life.
Let’s define how you will lead with your
personal purpose at EY.
It’s your turn: What would leading with your purpose look like? Your personal purpose
declaration will help you activate your purpose. Choose two in the virtual classroom session.
Write down a character strength from your VIA assessment here.
Declaration 1: BETTER ME
Which strength can help you activate your purpose in your daily work?
To lead with my purpose in my daily work, I will

TIME (insert action verb & VIA character strength)

10 minutes on your own
I know I’ve made progress when in 3 months

(Insert measurable outcome)

“
Write down a character strength from your VIA assessment here.
Declaration 2: BETTER US
Which strength can help you activate your purpose in your team?
To lead with my purpose in my team, I will

(insert action verb & VIA character strength)

Personal purpose statements
from your colleagues:
Better me: To lead with my
purpose in my daily work, I will
follow my creativity and share ideas
at our regular account meetings.
I know I’ve made progress when in
3 months I receive specific
feedback in LEAD about this team
contribution.
I know I’ve made progress when in 3 months
(Insert measurable outcome)
Write down a character strength from your VIA assessment here.
Declaration 3: BETTER WORKING WORLD
Which strength can help you activate your purpose for society?
To lead with my purpose for a positive societal
impact, I will
(insert action verb & VIA character strength)
I know I’ve made progress when in 3 months
(Insert measurable outcome)

Better us: To lead with my purpose Reminder: VIA strengths – which ones were part of your top 5?
in my team, I will contribute to 1 Curiosity 9 Kindness 17 Perseverance
fairness and make sure everyone in
2 Creativity 10 Love 18 Perspective
the team gets to speak up.
3 Leadership 11 Bravery 19 Forgiveness
I know I’ve made progress when in 4 Love of learning 12 Fairness 20 Gratitude
3 months my silent colleagues feel 5 Social intelligence 13 Honesty 51 Prudence
heard.
6 Appreciation of beauty & excellence 14 Hope 22 Teamwork
7 Judgement 15 Humility 23 Zest
8 Spirituality 16 Humor 24 Self-regulation

Page 11 Discover your purpose

 Beyond “Discover your purpose”
Post-program activities

Page 12 Discover your purpose

Post-program activities
1. Share and refine your personal purpose statement
► Remember, your current purpose statement is just your first draft. You may want
to make several iterations and it will evolve over time so don’t worry if it’s not
perfect today.
► Consider sharing it with your family, friends, team and colleagues. Ask them for
feedback that you can incorporate. Do the people who know you best say, “That's
you!” or can they give you some ideas and words so you can refine your statement
further.
► If your personal purpose statement still doesn’t feel right, test different variations
(synonyms) of your action and impact by writing them on separate post-it notes
and move them around to try different combinations until you find the one that
resonates most.
► Exploring your character strengths and more stories can help you identify
additional themes. Consider using the additional reflection questions on page 14
with your Listener from this program to continue shaping your personal purpose
statement.
2. Use your purpose as a filter for decision-making and behavior
► Ask yourself, “Is this in alignment with my purpose?” in these situations:
► When you are deciding whether to take on a new role or project
► When deciding with which community organizations to volunteer
► When deciding how to invest your money (e.g., in a company that is purpose-
driven or whose purpose is in alignment with yours)
► Anytime you are in doubt about something, stop and pause
► Reflect on your priorities and where you spend your time. Compare these
against your purpose. Does what you “do” match what you “say” (your
purpose)?
3. Continue to connect your purpose to your work at EY
► Talk to your manager and Counsellor about ways they can support you to activate
your personal purpose in your work through activities and opportunities that help
you deliver on your personal purpose declaration.
► Explore these EY sites to support you to be at your best and activate your purpose
in your work at EY:
EY LEAD Counselor Excellence EY Badges
Page 13 Discover your purpose
4. Use your purpose as a communication tool
► Use your purpose to share what you do, both professionally and personally
► Use your purpose to guide your interactions with the people in your life (e.g.,
when providing advice to kids, friends, family, etc.)
► Include it in your email signature
► Start with your purpose when you introduce yourself at a meeting
► Share your personal purpose and declaration with your team and discuss
ways you can use each other’s top character strengths to achieve your team
goals
► Include your purpose in your LinkedIn profile and/or bio
► Turn your purpose into a simple elevator pitch that supports why you do what
you do
5. Engage in daily reflection
► Record your refined purpose statement on the Purpose Calling Card and stick
it somewhere that you will see it each day
► Make your purpose statement the screensaver on your computer or phone to
help you reflect daily
► Start each day with these reflections and reminders:
► Remind yourself of: i) your personal purpose; ii) the impact that fulfills
you the most; and iii) the 3-5 unique actions that best enable you to make
that impact
► Remind yourself to be mindful during that day of the small things the
world throws at you in an attempt to force you off a purposeful path.
► Promise yourself that when you notice any small thing that attempts to
prevent you from living your purpose, you will do your best to course
correct
► Remind yourself that your personal purpose statement is just words - that
being a transformative leader means turning those words into actions and
decisions.
► End each day with these reflections and ask yourself:
► What did I do today to enable me to live my personal purpose?
► What people, interactions, decision happened today that enabled me to
live my personal purpose?
► What almost got in my way from me living my personal purpose and what
did I do to work around this?
 Post-program
REFLECTION
Reflection is core to taking a step back
and determining your priorities.
Consider contacting your Discover your
purpose Listener to go through this
exercise together to further refine your
purpose statement.
TIME
Minimum 30 minutes (15 mins each
person)
Personal purpose statement checklist
► Starts with an action verb
► Short and easy to understand
► In service of others
► In affirmative language
► Free of strategy, tactics, goals and
numbers
► Applies to whole life (work, home,
community)
► Feels good and inspires you
Page 14
1st Step: Silent reflection
Fulfillment: Describe a time when you helped a specific individual, after which you felt gratified because you
had done something that mattered. Again, tell the story as if you were watching a movie. Consider the impact on
you and others and include the names of those impacted.
Strength: What is a challenge you mastered in the past year? In both your personal and professional life, there
are always ups and downs. Describe a moment when you felt the most joy and satisfaction after meeting and
overcoming a challenge. Again, think of this as a story and tell us the story as if you were watching a movie.
2nd Step: Identifying common themes
► Can you identify additional themes and common links that might help further refine your purpose
statement? If you do not have a Listener for this exercise, you can write those down yourself and think
about how you might now refine your personal purpose statement.
Story
Refined Personal Purpose Statement – Record this on your Purpose Calling Card!
I am here to
(insert your action)
In order to
(Insert your impact)
Discover your purpose
EY | Building a better working world
EY exists to build a better working world, helping
to create long-term value for clients, people and
society and build trust in the capital markets.
Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY
teams in over 150 countries provide trust
through assurance and help clients grow,
transform and operate.
Working across assurance, consulting, law,
strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask
better questions to find new answers for the
complex issues facing our world today.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of
the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a
separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company
limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information
about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the
rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available
via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where
prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization,
please visit ey.com.
© 2021 EYGM Limited.
All Rights Reserved.
ED None
This communication provides general information which is current at the time of
production. The information contained in this communication does not constitute
advice and should not be relied on as such. Professional advice should be sought
prior to any action being taken in reliance on any of the information. Ernst &
Young disclaims all responsibility and liability (including, without limitation, for any
direct or indirect or consequential costs, loss or damage or loss of profits) arising
from anything done or omitted to be done by any party in reliance, whether wholly
or partially, on any of the information. Any party that relies on the information
does so at its own risk.
ey.com