Where on Earth am I Going?

Money targets independent of purpose targets are meaningless. Money is not the destination—it’s the fuel. And fuel is only useful if you know where you’re going.

I want to introduce you to a concept that has helped me think through where I’m headed. I call it your personal G.P.S. Just like a GPS helps you get to where you’re going, your Personal G.P.S. will provide a path to walk down as you pursue the life you were created for – a life I believe is worth fueling! Without that clarity, even the best financial plan will eventually feel empty or unsustainable.

Your GPS is made up of three parts: your General Purpose, your Personal Purpose, and your Specific Purpose.

Your General Purpose is the foundation. It’s the broad, universal call to live a meaningful life—adding value, serving others, and becoming someone who contributes positively to the world around you. This doesn’t require a title, a promotion, or a specific career path. It shows up in how you treat people, how you show up daily, and the standard you hold yourself to.

Your Personal Purpose is more individual. It’s tied to how you’re uniquely designed—your strengths, your personality, your passions, and the things that naturally energize you. Some people are wired to build, others to teach, others to connect or lead. Just like a guitar string when it is properly tuned, what are things that resonate with your inner being? What makes you come alive and is right in your personal sweet spot? Your Personal Purpose is about living into your unique wirings. It is about stepping into WHO you were created to be – not necessarily WHAT you were created to do. 

When you fully lean into your General Purposes and your Personal Purposes, then as you are walking down the path of life, you’ll look to the left or to the right and see that illustrious thing that makes you say, “I was born for this!” 

I call this our Specific Purpose and it is where direction becomes concrete. When we think about answering the daunting question, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” Or, “What was I put on this earth to do?” We are asking, “What is my specific purpose?” This piece evolves over time, but it becomes much clearer when your general and personal purpose are already bring lived out. Instead of pursing a specific purpose as the end goal, we should pursue our general and personal purposes with zeal. When we do, the end destination or destinations will be our Specific Purpose. 

When these three areas align, something powerful happens: you gain direction. You stop feeling stuck or scattered, and instead, you begin moving forward with intention.

And this is where money comes back into the picture.

Money, in its simplest form, is a tool. It has no real meaning on its own. It only gains meaning when it is connected to something that matters. When people chase money without direction, they often end up feeling like they’re running hard but going nowhere. But when money is tied to purpose, it becomes incredibly powerful.

It becomes fuel.

The goal isn’t just to build wealth—it’s to build a life that is aligned, intentional, and fully lived. And when you know your direction, you won’t just have money sitting in the bank—you’ll know exactly where you’re going and have fuel to get there.

Subscribe for more Financial Health tips!

Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck to paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future.