Episode 15: “What’s Worth Wanting?” with Jonathan Fields
Join me for a rich conversation with Jonathan Fields, a world-renowned thought leader and creator of the 'Good Life Project' and SPARKED body of work. Together, we explore profound themes such as the pursuit of a meaningful life, overcoming societal work norms, the importance of self-discovery, and finding joy through family and nature.
Jonathan shares personal stories, the impact of pivotal life moments, insights on managing internal and external critics, and his innovative approach to life experiments aimed at continuous learning and growth. This episode is a deep dive into how to navigate life's uncertainties and cultivate a balanced, fulfilling life.
Episode Chapters
00:27 Introducing Jonathan Fields
02:07 Jonathan's Sources of Energy
04:31 Challenging Work Norms
08:42 The Importance of Self-Discovery
12:24 Jonathan's Journey and Wake-Up Calls
20:00 Running Life Experiments
26:08 Recommitting to Physical and Psychological Wellness
27:04 Balancing Work and Personal Relationships
29:18 A New Writing Challenge: Embracing Fiction
32:35 The Experimental Approach to Life
37:50 Managing Internal and External Critics
45:49 The Butterfly Effect: A Business Transformation
51:14 Closing Thoughts on Embracing Uncertainty
Episode Resources
Connect with Jonathan Fields on LinkedIn
Explore the Good Life Project
Access Jonathan's blog: Awake at the Wheel
Explore the SPARKED body of work
Episode Guest
About Jonathan Fields
Jonathan is a dad, husband, award-winning author, executive producer and host of one of the most popular podcasts in the world, Good Life Project®, where he explores what it means to live a good life. He’s also the executive producer and host of the SPARKED podcast, in partnership with the LinkedIn Podcast Network.
After leaving a career as an SEC and mega-firm lawyer, Jonathan founded a series of companies focused on human potential, and also currently serves as CEO of research initiative, Spark Endeavors. There, he brought together the worlds of evidence-based science and ancient wisdom to develop the groundbreaking Sparketype® Assessment, which has been tapped by over 850,000 individuals and organizations to identify, embrace, and cultivate work that makes people come alive. Along the way, he’s spearheaded one of the largest-ever, global studies on work, motivation, and purpose, generating over 42-million data-points and stunning insights that are changing the work-fulfillment game for individuals, teams, and organizations.
Jonathan’s latest book, SPARKED: Discover Your Unique Imprint for Work That Makes You Come Alive, is a field guide to reclaiming work as a source of meaning, purpose, and possibility, and a rally cry for leaders and organizations to embrace a future that is no longer guided by outmoded norms, strategies, expectations, or tools.
Beyond creating books, media, research and tools-for-change, Jonathan loves to awaken and inspire individuals and organizations with in-person and virtual keynotes and consulting engagements.