It’s a kind of cliché to think of world-changing passion and creativity as the exclusive province of the young. We forget that successful change also requires experience and knowledge. The Purpose Prize spotlights individual change-makers who draw on the wisdom of their experience, rather than the raw energy of youth.
The importance of these endeavors is obvious. But we want to understand why individuals seek to create social impact later in life, and how some Purpose Prize honorees have moved from recognizing a social need to meaningful action. Their examples provide inspiration and concrete models for those who feel similarly moved to help make the world a better place.
Our team at The Quality of Life Research Center interviewed 39 Purpose Prize honorees to map the paths that led to their innovative work. While we discovered many paths, we found that all included three central elements: introduction to an issue, motivation to tackle the issue and the forging of a solution. Myriad pathways to impact allow people with very different passions, knowledge and lives to succeed, each according to their unique strengths. In the graphic below, we offer real examples that illustrate how these disparate elements combine to yield social change.
Introduction to an issue did not follow a single pattern. Rather, there were many triggers – from taking on a problem others considered important (Mark Goldsmith), a chance encounter (Claire Bloom), actively seeking a compelling project (Thomas Cox), experiencing a problem first-hand (Barbara Young) or watching someone close experience it (Heather McHugh), to exposure to a problem in the everyday course of daily life (Andy Wells). Among those we interviewed, the most common trigger was the last: Witnessing a problem first-hand led to a desire to do something about it.
Personal Motivations were almost always discussed in terms of social purpose: the preventionof something bad (avoidable illness, childhood hunger, wasted food) or the wish to promote something better (quality education, worker rights, cultural opportunities). But more often than not, earlier in each individual’s life – sometimes, in childhood or adolescence – the problem connected to something personally experienced.
Solutions were also diverse. Some people devised a solution by leveraging experience, know-how or skills gained through past work or leisure (Leslie Saunders). Others drew from their own resolution of the problem to inform their programs (Kevin McDonald). Still others lacked the initial key background or skills for solving the problem, and sought out solutions or developed new approaches by brainstorming alone or with others (Bo Webb).
All of these elements combined to trace more than a dozen different paths from issue to impact. One recurring pathway involved drawing on accumulated knowledge and skills to improve a situation that one encountered first-hand. Another involved being motivated to prevent a social problem after learning of it and searching for a solution. The many combinations that contribute to purposeful pathways are proof of the great diversity of social innovators in later life who seek to make a difference in any way possible.
Encore-stage social innovators have much in common with social innovators of every age. Across the board, these individuals created their programs at different inflection points, and their journeys included obstacles, along with eventual successes. For some, the transition to starting their program was relatively smooth. For others, it was more tumultuous, disrupting careers or pulling them out of retirement. One universal truth: All programs faced major challenges, some acute, some ongoing. Lack of support from policymakers, funders or even family members were common issues, while outright opposition posed an obstacle for others. Personnel and organizational issues additionally diverted attention away from the cause. Beyond their interactions with others, those interviewed expressed emotional struggles with cases or causes that did not pan out. Furthermore, these emotional struggles extended to many who realized that their program was not able to reach everyone.
As you explore the Purpose Prize honorees’ pathways, it’s clear that there’s no single route from inspiration to action — or impact. Click on the plus symbol to learn more about each pathway — and perhaps, discover your own route to encore purpose.
