Redefining Success: Moving Beyond Titles to Purpose-Driven Careers
In The Devil Wears Prada, the protagonist, Andy, is told again and again that “a million girls would kill” for her new job as personal assistant to Runway Magazine’s iconic Editor-in-Chief, Miranda Priestly. Miranda pushes Andy to the brink, demands the impossible, and calls her by the wrong name more often than not. Andy’s personal life unravels, her sense of self disappears, and even when she’s rewarded with attending Paris Fashion Week, she walks away because the job was never her dream.
It was merely a stepping stone to a serious writing career in New York City — a title on a resume. Despite the prestige, Andy was miserable in both her cerulean sweater and Chanel boots. It’s the perfect reminder that a title alone doesn’t equal purpose, and that fulfillment rarely comes from what’s printed on your business card. There are plenty of practical things to weigh when accepting a job offer, like salary, healthcare benefits, or vacation and work‑from‑home policies. But something that’s both a privilege to consider and something younger generations are prioritizing more is the sense of purpose a job can offer. Because redefining success means looking beyond your title and toward the meaning behind the work itself.
So what does purpose actually look like? How do you find it? And where do titles come in?
If your career feels like it’s moving at a glacial pace (“You know how that thrills me”), it might be time to reassess the path you’re on and what growth looks like. No matter where you are in your career, here are a few ways to shift your focus from title‑chasing to purpose‑building.
Ask yourself why over what. Why are you on this career path? Why does a particular role excite you? Why does this work matter to you? If the “why” is strong but the lane feels wrong, explore how you can access the kind of impact you want, even if it means pivoting.
Switch up the questions. Titles are useful for résumés and salary negotiations, but they can feel hollow if the work itself doesn’t fulfill you. Don’t just ask what you bring to the role — ask what the role brings to you. When I’m at a 260 Sample Sale, I ask myself, “If this wasn’t on sale, would I still want it?” Apply that logic here: If your title didn’t include something shiny like “Executive,” “Senior,” or “Director,” would you still want the job?
Identify what you don’t like. Is it the structure? The culture? The values? Understanding what drains you helps you identify what inspires you.
Take a look around. Who else holds your current or desired title in other companies or industries? Are they respected? Fulfilled? Growing? Are you in good company? Mentorship matters, so find people who are where you want to be and consider how your role would propel you into a similar space. For those who are on the upper rungs of the ladder, don’t pull it up behind you. Engage your younger colleagues and walk into a role as a mentor yourself. It’s rarely feasible, and frankly a privilege, to quit a job or change career paths in pursuit of a purpose. Many of us need stability first. So what can you do in the meantime?
Identify your strengths. If you’re feeling stuck or unfulfilled, focus on what you’re learning now and what you want to learn next. Find your strengths and lean into them. Where else could they thrive?
Find alternative paths. If your role doesn’t give you space to be creative or explore your purpose, find outlets that do. Join a group (shoutout NYWICI!) where you can contribute, connect, and tap into parts of yourself your 9-5 doesn’t always use. Sometimes that’s what leads to new opportunities or helps you feel more like yourself again.
Look for community. You can find fulfillment in a personal or professional community, and it’s even better when the two overlap. Seek out events that center on your hobbies or career goals. Join young‑professional groups. Talk to strangers. Let the community you build guide you toward the kind of work that aligns with your purpose.
Chasing a title for the title’s sake might feel good for a moment, but it won’t sustain you. Success is about the life you build around your work. A million girls might kill for the job, but would you?
