Eleanor Roosevelt once said “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

So I ask, what is your purpose? What truly motivates you? How do you define wealth?

If you believe that financial wealth (as opposed to spiritual, relationship, intellectual, emotional, health, etc. wealth) is one of your top motivators, I’ve got an investment opportunity for you.

Here it is… you invest almost all of your time and money into one product. If time passes smoothly, each year you’ll earn 3% more than you did the previous year. However, at absolutely any point in time, for reasons totally outside your control, for reasons you can’t forecast, you can lose it all in an instant.

Would you make that investment?

Of course you wouldn’t.

Do you work for someone else right now?

Then you make that investment each and every day.

My metaphor is exaggerated a bit to drive home a point, but why do you invest in a product that has an upside that is capped and severely limited… and a downside that is unlimited?

Just like you, I know people who work for someone else and they feel fulfilled and motivated by their work. They engage in a variety of extracurricular activities to help them taste richer experiences. If you are one of these people, you’re part of the minority. According to Gallup’s 2014 State of the American Workplace, only 30% of employees are “actively engaged” in their job working for someone else.

For the other 70% of you who are working for someone else and are “disengaged” or “actively disengaged”, what can you do to find the intrinsic motivation described in Daniel Pink’s book, Drive? How can you define your personal brand and have the ability to live a life filled with autonomy, mastery, and purpose each day? How would you feel if you could create your future (instead of creating someone else’s wealth), make your own decisions (instead of doing what someone else says you have to), make mistakes and learn (instead of being reprimanded), and let the sky be the limit financially… but more importantly… personally?

Are you an extrovert? Maybe a “D” or an “I” on the DISC assessment? If so, making the transition from working for someone else to becoming an entrepreneur will be far easier for you. You’re naturally hard-wired to be able to make tough decisions and solve problems quickly with limited information. You view yourself as being stronger than the environment around you and you’ll go above and beyond to achieve your goals. You have a natural ability to accept change and positively influence others with your spoken word and leading by example. Because of your success, people will follow you and want to be on your team. You’re driving, ambitious, pioneering, enthusiastic, demonstrative, and optimistic.

Extroverts – you don’t have to quit your day job to start a business. You can readily balance both a full-time job and taking 2 – 3 years to get a start up going. Instead of trying to compete with someone as you develop your business, find a way to complete them. You’ll conquer your fear of being taken advantage of much faster if you develop a business that continually generates value for others. No matter how big or small your start up is, invest in your life’s purpose. Start now!.

Are you an introvert? Maybe a “S” or “C” on the DISC assessment? If so, entrepreneurship will be harder for you. You’re naturally hard-wired to make decisions via group consensus and function better on small teams. Leading an entire organization can be overwhelming. You view yourself as less powerful than the environment around you and you dislike sudden change. You need to be conditioned for it. You have a natural tendency towards a steady pace, desiring security, rules and regulations, and structure in your daily life. You’re relaxed, consistent, deliberate, systematic, diplomatic, and careful.

Introverts – take a step outside your comfort zone and try to not leave your future in someone else’s hands. As scary as it may seem, reflect on your experiences and identify something you can contribute to improving the triple bottom line (bettering people, planet, and profit). Instead of seeing others as dominating personalities… see them as souls on a journey and that it is your job to create a business to support them on that journey. Most people have the means to live, but not the meaning to live for… your job may be to help them discover that.

Depending on what motivates you and your natural communication and behavioral profile, becoming comfortable with being an entrepreneur may be a shorter or a longer process. Having the courage to choose the path less traveled to discover new and richer experiences that truly unlock your potential and give you opportunities to define and create wealth on your own terms is your life’s next challenge.

Are you willing to make the investment in newer and richer experiences?

The purpose of life is a life of purpose.