February 7, 2025. Pasadena, California. Two weeks removed from the fires that ravaged through SoCal. I approached a stage to speak to young men who had lost their homes, but not their hope. My message? Sometimes we have to lose things to find our purpose.

What truly makes you feel alive in what you do? Is it the paycheck, the title, the external validation? Or is it something deeper, a sense of purpose, joy in the process, an alignment with your core?

Many chase success, achieve it, yet feel empty. True fulfillment, I've learned, is a different game. It’s an inside job, a journey of discovery. This week, we explore how to find it.

Before we dive into my thoughts on fulfillment, I wanted to share some real-world insights through a variety of mediums with you all. Feel free to skip these for now and come back another day if you’re pressed for time.

Moral of the story: Discovering fulfillment is an active journey, not a passive destination. These insights remind us to consistently explore our values, question our motivations, and ensure our 'why' is the true north guiding what we do each day.

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Fulfillment isn't usually found by accident. It’s uncovered through intention and understanding. I’ve never heard of someone just stumbling upon a billion dollar idea - it’s usually aligned with where they were headed in the first place.

The game plan is simple. It starts by looking inward, then acting outward. A two-step more repeatable than the ones down in Texas.

Let's break down the Key 3 for this discovery.

Key 1: Define Your Driving Force (The 'What & Why')

What genuinely motivates you, deep down? This is the bedrock of fulfillment. I don’t expect you to have an answer on a Monday morning, but maybe the combination of this entry and your week’s experiences will shed some light by the end of the week.

As a kid, I loved basketball. Pure joy. AAU tournaments, 2-3 games a day? A grind I embraced. My body and mind loved it. That pure love lasted until I turned pro.

The moment money was the main driver, my joy for the game started to diminish. Over my 5-year pro career, that passion nosedived. By 28, I was ready to retire, at peace with it.

The practices, travel, nightly pressure – it felt hollow. My first big lesson: "all money ain't good money." I’ve seen this in corporate too, with friends and family. Chasing a check can lead you far from your 'why'.

Then, my injury last September reframed my entire perspective on purpose and fulfillment. Two lenses emerged: selfish and selfless.

If I hadn't survived, selfishly, I'd done cool things. Pro ball, travel, financial stability. I was content. But selflessly? I felt I hadn't left enough behind. Not enough to inspire, motivate, or educate others.

That realization reshaped my driving force. Now, I skew heavily selfless. I choose to create things for others to experience, to help them chase their own fulfillment.

Actionable Tip: Uncover Your Core Ask

To dig deep into your driving force, ask yourself:

Your answers point to your driving force. If you’re interested in a simple exercise I use with my clients, reply to this email when you’re done reading!

Key 2: Align Your Actions with Your Ambitions (The 'How')

Knowing your 'why' is step one. Step two is aligning your actions with it. Fulfillment blossoms when what you do matches who you are and what you value.

My joy in pro basketball faded once the 'why' became misaligned (money over love). My resulting action was to retire at 28. I walked away, on my terms, to seek that realignment.

After my injury, with my new selfless 'why', my actions had to change again. This newsletter, podcasts, future speaking – these are actions directly aligned with that deeper purpose.

Athletes do this by choosing teams or coaches that fit their values, not just the highest bidder. Professionals find this by "job crafting" – shaping their role to include more meaningful work.

Or by seeking projects, even careers, that resonate with their defined driving force. I’ve often heard it referred to as “Finding the game within the game.”

Actionable Tip: Conduct an 'Alignment Audit'

Look at your daily/weekly activities. How many truly align with your core driving force? Hopefully the answer isn’t “none” or close to zero. What one small change can you make this week for better alignment?

Even small shifts can significantly boost fulfillment. Compound interest is a trained habit that yields great returns for your financial and emotional portfolios.

Key 3: Cultivate Engagement & Enjoy the Journey (The 'Now')

Fulfillment isn’t just a future destination. It’s also found in the present engagement with your work. It’s about finding joy and meaning in the process. When I was a kid, the AAU grind was the joy.

As a pro, when the 'why' was just money, the grind — practices, travel, stress — became joyless. The process itself felt empty. My engagement plummeted. Sadly, I’ve seen the same hollow feelings displayed by countless people just clocking in to their 9-5.

Now, creating content for The Eversley Edge, even the research and writing, feels engaging. Why? Because it’s tied to that selfless purpose. There's inherent satisfaction in the work itself. I TRULY LOVE SHOWING UP FOR ALL OF YOU EACH WEEK.

Athletes find this in the mastery of a skill, the flow state in practice, the camaraderie. Professionals find it in deep work, solving challenges, collaborating, learning, and seeing micro-progress.

Actionable Tip: Practice Presence & Find Flow

Choose one task today. Approach it with full attention. Preferably something small like getting up from your desk and moving your body. Leave your phone behind and just be.

Look for aspects you can appreciate or find interesting while away. When you’re engaged in the 'now,' fulfillment and flow often follow.

Reminder: Life beyond the screen is actually quite beautiful.

Post-Game Recap: The Ongoing Discovery of Fulfillment

Finding true fulfillment in what you do isn't a one-time destination; it's an ongoing journey of self-discovery, intentional alignment, and consistent engagement.

It starts with the courage to look inward and Define Your Driving Force (your 'why'). From there, it’s about consciously Aligning Your Actions with that core purpose. And finally, it’s about actively Cultivating Engagement and finding joy in the daily process, not just the end goal.

As my own experiences have shown, from the basketball court to profound personal challenges, it's often through these explorations—and even unexpected losses—that our deepest sense of purpose is revealed and our fulfillment is truly built.

I hope this exploration of discovering fulfillment sparks some valuable reflection and helps you on your own journey to finding more meaning in what you do. Remember, it's about defining your 'why,' aligning your actions, and engaging with the process.

If you found this newsletter valuable, the best 'assist' you can give is sharing it! Forwarding this email or sharing the subscription link with a colleague, friend, or connection who's also working on gaining their edge helps this community grow.

I'm also genuinely interested in where you are on your fulfillment journey. Your feedback helps me continue to provide value, so please take a moment for the quick poll below: