Purposeful Book Summary - Purposeful Book explained in key points
Listen to the Intro
00:00

Purposeful summary

Jennifer Dulski

Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter?

4 (35 ratings)
21 mins

Brief summary

'Purposeful' by Jennifer Dulski provides a step-by-step guide for bringing purpose to our work and personal lives. It shares inspiring stories, practical tools and offers a roadmap to create a fulfilling life that aligns with our values and goals.

Table of Contents

    Purposeful
    Summary of 7 key ideas

    Audio & text in the Blinkist app
    Key idea 1 of 7

    To start an exciting movement, you need to be purposeful in your actions.

    There’s no shortage of great leaders and managers working today. But the real shining stars are the ones who go the extra mile and use their leadership skills to ignite a genuine movement.

    People are attracted to movements because they offer a sense of purpose, something we all look for in life. When we see others driven by an exciting purpose, it’s easy for that excitement to spread and catch on. Before you know it, large numbers of people are uniting and bringing about change.

    Manal Rostom is one of those shining stars who used purpose to ignite change. Rostom is an Egyptian Muslim woman, and for years she’s worn a hijab, a religious veil or headscarf that covers the neck and hair. But one day, Rostom began to feel a growing public resentment toward the garment, with many media outlets publishing anti-hijab articles. It got so bad that Rostom wasn’t even allowed to enter some public spaces in Dubai because of her hijab.

    Fed up with the negative perceptions, she decided to start a Facebook group called “Surviving Hijab” as a place where Muslim women could share their experiences and support one another. It turned out to be a popular idea: in just a few months, the group attracted 40,000 members, and today there are around 500,000.

    With such a positive response, Rostom saw an opportunity to go a step further. As an athletic woman, she often received annoying comments from people wondering how she could run while wearing the extra layers of clothing. Rostam was sure there were other women who could benefit from a change in the public perception that hijabi women can’t pursue sports.

    So, in 2015, she contacted the head of Nike’s Middle East division, Tom Woolf, and asked why there weren’t any Nike ads in the Middle East featuring hijabi women. After a productive meeting, it was decided that Rostom would become the first woman to wear a hijab in a Nike ad. But it didn’t end there. Later that year, Rostom was also made the coach of Dubai’s Nike women’s running club. And then, in 2017, Nike released a whole line of athletic wear called Nike Pro Hijab.

    In addition to being a leader, Rostom is a movement-starter, and it all began with a clear purpose: to show the world that faith isn’t something that gets in the way of a woman’s accomplishments. As it turned out, many people shared this feeling – so much so that a world-changing movement formed.

    Want to see all full key ideas from Purposeful?

    Key ideas in Purposeful

    More knowledge in less time
    Read or listen
    Read or listen
    Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
    Find your next read
    Find your next read
    Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
    Shortcasts
    Shortcasts New
    We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.

    What is Purposeful about?

    Purposeful (2018) is an exciting guidebook to getting your big ideas for change off the ground. Drawing on her experience at Change.org, author Jennifer Dulski shows how popular movements get started, how they build a following and, finally, how they enact real change in the world. Dulski offers plenty of real-world examples, from how leaders inspire loyalty to the best tactics for getting powerful decision-makers on your side.

    Purposeful Review

    Purposeful (2018) by Jennifer Dulski is a book that offers valuable insights on finding purpose and making a difference in the world. Here's why this book is worth reading:

    • It provides practical tools and strategies for individuals and organizations to identify their purpose and put it into action, enabling them to create positive change.
    • Backed by research and real-life examples, the book demonstrates the power of purpose in driving success and fulfillment, making it engaging and credible.
    • With its inspiring stories and actionable advice, Purposeful ensures readers are not only informed but also motivated to make a difference, ensuring it is far from boring.

    Best quote from Purposeful

    Even the biggest movements in history were sparked by relatively small but critically important actions of key people along the way.

    —Jennifer Dulski
    example alt text

    Who should read Purposeful?

    • Business leaders and managers
    • Entrepreneurs and pioneers
    • Change enthusiasts

    About the Author

    Jennifer Dulski has been an executive manager for both ambitious start-ups and giant internet companies like Yahoo. Before her current role as head of the Group and Community division at Facebook, she was the COO and president of Change.org. Her writing on modern trends in leadership and entrepreneurship has been featured in such publications as the Huffington Post and Fortune magazine.

    Categories with Purposeful

    Book summaries like Purposeful

    People ❤️ Blinkist 
    Sven O.

    It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.

    Thi Viet Quynh N.

    Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.

    Jonathan A.

    Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.

    Renee D.

    Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.

    People also liked these summaries

    4.7 Stars
    Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
    30 Million
    Downloads on all platforms
    10+ years
    Experience igniting personal growth
    Powerful ideas from top nonfiction

    Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.

    Start your free trial

    Purposeful FAQs 

    What is the main message of Purposeful?

    The main message of Purposeful is to find and pursue your purpose to live a fulfilling and meaningful life.

    How long does it take to read Purposeful?

    The reading time for Purposeful varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Purposeful a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Purposeful is a valuable read for anyone searching for purpose in life. It provides practical advice and inspiration to help you live a meaningful and fulfilling life.

    Who is the author of Purposeful?

    Jennifer Dulski is the author of Purposeful.

    What to read after Purposeful?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Purposeful, here are some recommendations we suggest:
    • Single On Purpose by John Kim
    • The Purpose Effect by Dan Pontefract
    • Imperfect Courage by Jessica Honegger
    • Tracking Wonder by Jeffrey Davis
    • Life’s Amazing Secrets by Gaur Gopal Das
    • The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
    • You Owe You by Eric Thomas
    • It's the Manager by Jim Clifton
    • The Path Made Clear by Oprah Winfrey
    • The Mental Toughness Handbook by Damon Zahariades