Finding Purpose In Fatherhood

Over the past few weeks, I’ve written about how engaging with an online sales community has breathed new life into my career. Sharing insights, helping others navigate challenges, and giving back to a network of professionals has helped me rediscover a sense of purpose in what I do day-to-day. It’s amazing how something as simple as connecting with peers can shift your perspective. Suddenly, my work felt less like a hollow chase for numbers and more like an opportunity to develop skills and pass that knowledge along.

But as meaningful as this newfound purpose has been, it only eased one dimension of the emptiness I’d been feeling. The truth is, even with this career-based fulfillment, I sensed there was something more—something bigger and more essential—waiting for my family and me. It’s one thing to find value in your 9-to-5 and the community that surrounds it, but what about the larger life you’re building outside the office walls?

This question led me to an important realization: Not every part of our life’s purpose has to be seamlessly intertwined. My career, while important, doesn’t have to be the singular source of meaning in my life. Instead, it can serve as a powerful tool—one that provides resources and stability, enabling me to invest in a larger calling that my family and I feel drawn to.

That calling is the simplicity of homestead life.

You might remember that I mentioned working through an exercise recently—outlining my family’s vision, mission, and long-term goals. This was a private process at first, but now I’d like to share a bit more about it, because it helped clarify how all these seemingly separate pieces fit together.

Defining Our Family Vision and Mission
I sat down and thought deeply about what I wanted for my family’s future. Together, we envisioned a life closer to nature, more self-sufficient, and founded on the values we hold dear: health, simplicity, and genuine connection. This vision is about cultivating our own food, teaching our child the value of hard work and respect for the earth, and trading the noise and complexity of modern consumer culture for something more grounded and enduring.

From this vision came a family mission: To create a home environment rooted in sustainability, growth, and cooperation—an environment where we can thrive not just as individuals, but as a unit. We want to live closer to the land, understand where our meals come from, and build something tangible that supports and nourishes us.

Setting Three-Year Goals
To make this dream more than just a fantasy, we drafted concrete three-year goals. These include saving enough to purchase land, learning essential homesteading skills (from gardening to basic carpentry), and gradually reducing our reliance on external systems that keep us locked into cycles of consumption. We’ve mapped out timelines and milestones, and while it’s all still a work in progress, having a roadmap makes the dream feel real and achievable.

The Career as a Catalyst, Not the Core
This is where the connection between career and family purpose becomes clearer. I used to think that if my job didn’t reflect my passions perfectly, I was off track. But now I see that my job—a career in sales that I’ve sometimes struggled to find meaning in—can actually be the very thing that enables this bigger vision.

By performing well in my role, honing my skills, and continuing to find purpose through the sales community, I’m building the financial security and professional confidence that will help fund and shape our future homestead. The job supports the dream—no longer must it be the dream.

This reframing has lifted a weight off my shoulders. Instead of demanding that my career fulfill me entirely, I’m allowing it to be what it is: a stepping stone, a resource generator, and a way to contribute value to others in the meantime. The energy and connection I gain through the sales community aren’t just ends in themselves; they’re also fueling my growth, skillset, and sense of possibility.

Embracing the Bigger Picture
Finding purpose in a sales community showed me that I’m capable of driving value and meaning into even the most corporate facets of my life. But recognizing that I don’t have to stop there—that I can take the fruits of this professional success and channel them toward a simpler, more family-centered vision—has been truly liberating.

By acknowledging that not every piece of my purpose has to fit perfectly together, I’m able to appreciate each for what it brings. The career provides financial stability and skill development. The sales community offers fulfillment through service and mentorship. Together, they give me the means to invest in a homestead life that resonates deeply with the core of who we are as a family.

Looking Ahead
As I move forward, I’ll continue refining our family plan and working toward our homestead goals. I’m excited to share more about this process—how we set targets, measure our progress, and learn new skills. My hope is that by being transparent about this journey, others who feel torn between their day job and their deeper calling might realize they don’t have to choose just one.

You can find purpose in your profession and still save the best parts of your soul for something grander. For me, that’s bringing my family closer to the land, living simply, and building a legacy that extends far beyond a resume or a sales number. It’s a path that feels more authentic every day, and I’m grateful for the lessons that have led me here.