From Loss to Purpose: What August Taught Me About Craft, Career, and Calling

I have mixed feelings about August, probably since I was a little boy.

It’s the month my mother died back in the early 80s. It’s also the month I found out I’d be held back in second grade. And it’s the month that carried the weight of back-to-school anxiety, knowing I likely wouldn’t have new clothes to wear.

Every now and then, there were bright spots. My godmother would sometimes take me school shopping. I still remember the thrill of stonewashed jeans, a plaid shirt, and sneakers, moments that made me feel like I belonged. The best outfit I ever bought for myself came the summer between eighth and ninth grade: a black-and-white Adidas suit. I worked all summer for it, and when I walked into the schoolyard wearing it, I felt as cool as anyone there.

Looking back, I see that I was sharpening something far more important than my wardrobe: my mind. By the time I reached college, August carried a different energy. It became a season of excitement because I knew I was going to school to hone my craft.

Your craft is the skill you dedicate yourself to developing. For me, it was my ability to think, to learn, to solve problems. Whether in leadership, business, or life, sharpening your craft is a lifelong pursuit.

Over time, mastery of a craft naturally opens the door to something bigger, a career.
A job pays the bills, but a career is built with intention. It’s the commitment to grow in a field, deepen expertise, and make an impact. Back in grade school and high school, I was unknowingly laying the groundwork for my craft. In college, I took the intentional step to turn that craft into a career. And I can tell you, pursuing a career instead of “just a job” is infinitely more rewarding.

But there’s a deeper stage, one that took me years to understand.

Beyond the career is the calling.

A calling is the work you feel you were made to do. It’s purpose-driven. It’s the place where your craft and your career intersect with meaning. And when you live in your calling, you’ll find you can earn enough to meet your needs, fulfill many of your wants, and, most importantly, make a difference that outlives you.

That’s why August has become, for me, a month of recommitment, a time to realign with my calling. It’s when I reflect on the cycle that has shaped my life: sharpening my craft, advancing my career, and leaning into my calling. Each stage fuels the next, creating a virtuous loop of growth and purpose.

As a foster kid, I know what it’s like to start without much. That’s why I tell young people, especially those who feel overlooked, that their first goal is to develop their craft. Sharpen your mind. Learn skills. Build resilience. Then aim for more than just a paycheck, build a career. And don’t stop there. Let your career lead you toward your calling, where your purpose becomes your work.

Even now, when August comes, I think of my mother. I often wonder,

Are you proud of the man I’ve become? Do you see me from above?

Every August, I’m reminded not just of what I lost, but of what I’ve found, a life where my craft, career, and calling work together to create meaning.

And I hope you’ll take a moment to ask yourself:

• Where are you in that journey?
• Are you building your craft?
• Growing in your career?
• Stepping into your calling?

Wherever you are, keep sharpening. Keep moving. The cycle is worth it.