Here is what I noticed. Jullien has a rare depth of understanding about what it truly takes to actually change in a world that likes to chat about change, sugar-coat what it truly means to “change” and fails to understand the skills involved and available to monumentally change an organization.

Jullien has bucketfuls of empathy and patience. He richly knows the challenges involved and it allows him to “stay” with students as they wrestle their way through all the traps and pitfalls of the mind that fight against your success for the presumed security of the status quo. Jullien is empathetic because of his own rich journey.

Jullien is adroit. Unfortunately many folks in the “change” business stick to their prescribed agenda and wind up trapped in a single-minded approach. While Jullien has a distinct modeled approach he realizes that the work is about helping people attain what they truly want in life not furthering the brilliance of his model. The model is a tool. Being of service is the point and he has the wherewithal to skip to the point of effectiveness whenever called upon to be more effective away from his model.

Jullien is fun and inspiring. He has a lightness that is a blessing. He has a voice that is suited to reducing the fear most folks have when asked to consider “changing.” The lightness is inspiring and encouraging and reminds me of the yoga teacher I found 8 years ago who facilitated my growth through reducing my fears and self-consciousness.””

Mr. Gordon walked into the classroom and before my scholars had a chance to fasten their seat belts, he began “Purpose Driving”. His DMV curriculum is amazingly innovative and creative. Gordon instantly grabbed their attention by making sports and music references to jump start his purpose finding aesthetic. His professional yet youthful approach was exactly what the students needed to begin their journeys into purpose and identity searching. The scholars loved his presentation and even inquired about his return to our campus.

Last week, about 25 students and community members attended a 2-hour workshop with Jullien Gordon, the “Purpose Finder”. With Jullien as our fearless leader, we each answered the golden question: What is my personal and professional purpose?

Jullien has developed a day-long course, called “Driving School for Life”, that leads students through a process of articulating one’s own purpose. The analogy he takes is of an automobile: to drive smoothly along the highway of life, we need to make sure we have all the essential components. The components are what he calls the 8 P’s, a.k.a. 8 cylinders of Success: Principles (my dashboard), Passions (my keys), Problems (my fuel), People (my motor), Positioning (my lane), Pioneers (my pace cars), Picture (my road map), and Possibility (my momentum). Jullien has carefully conducted research on personal and professional success (Csikszentmihalyi, Gladwell, Porras et. al.) and studied many of world’s most successful/happy/passionate people (Bill Gates, Oprah, Steve Irwin the “Crocodile Hunter”). The Driving School is a systematic process for putting each of us on a path to living in alignment with the common themes Jullien found in his research.

We went through filling out our 8 cylinders on beautiful posters that Jullien had for each of us. We also did some interesting activities.

Among the favorites were:

1. Filling out the ‘Dashboard’: What are three ways I measure my success in life and work?
2. Writing out careers that start with each letter of the alphabet, from A-Z. Lesson: There are so many things out there that we can do; open yourself up to the possibility
3. Text message 3 friends, asking them what they think you are passionate about (loved this one!)
4. Taking your keys out of your pocket and asking yourself, “What are all of these keys for, and do I really need them?” One student had a house key and a duplicate on the same chain

Personally, I got a lot out of the course. I realized that my number-one passion is currently meditation since I make time for it even when I don’t have any time. The course concludes with writing a personal purpose statement. I arrived (and was quite delighted) with “Improve my community through self-improvement”. I think the most valuable aspect of the course was being walked through the process of actually articulating (on paper) things that often just stay floating in your head. I think this helps focus on concrete objectives, and, at least in my case, helps reveal one’s true motivations and intentions.

I wasn’t the only one who felt the power of the course. Jullien received numerous comments about how helpful they found it. I observed smiles all around I think one great testament to the value was that most of the students stuck through the course even though we started an hour late and a band was blaring next door for the final 20 minutes.

It was really inspirational to be with Jullien. The man oozes positive energy. A 26-year-old who has found his life’s passion, is unflinchingly pursuing it, and doing it all while positively impacting others and keeping a smile on his face. Just amazing. He traveled especially from NY to give us this special 2-hour version of his course, which was itself offered as a gift to us (the full course has a fee). Not to mention he offers Driving School for Life as part of his full time business while also writing a book. Don’t know how he packs it all in, but I do know he’s one of those cars on the highway of life that you look at and just admire. Keep riding brother!