Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter? by Jennifer Dulski is an inspiring and practical guide for anyone who wants to turn their ideas into impactful movements. Drawing from her extensive experience in leadership roles at major companies like Google, Yahoo, and Change.org, Dulski offers valuable insights and actionable advice on how to transform passion and purpose into tangible change, whether within a company, a community, or the broader world.

The core premise of Purposeful is that anyone, regardless of their position or background, can become a "movement starter." Dulski emphasizes that leadership is not just about managing teams or projects; it's about mobilizing people around a shared vision and driving meaningful change. Through a series of engaging stories, case studies, and personal anecdotes, she illustrates how ordinary people have turned their ideas into movements that have made a significant impact.

One of the book’s strengths is its accessibility. Dulski writes in a clear and engaging style, making complex concepts easy to understand and apply. She breaks down the process of starting a movement into manageable steps, providing readers with a roadmap to follow. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a corporate leader, or an individual with a cause you’re passionate about, Purposeful offers practical tools and strategies to help you bring your vision to life.

Dulski also tackles the challenges that movement starters face, such as overcoming resistance, building a coalition, and sustaining momentum. She provides insights into how to navigate these obstacles, drawing on examples from both successful and failed movements. Her advice is grounded in real-world experience, making it both credible and relatable.

The book is particularly strong in its exploration of the importance of purpose-driven leadership. Dulski argues that leaders who are motivated by a clear sense of purpose are more likely to inspire and engage others. She shows how aligning your personal values with your professional goals can lead to greater fulfillment and success, both for you and for those you lead.

Another highlight of Purposeful is its emphasis on inclusivity and collaboration. Dulski stresses that successful movements are not about the leader alone but about empowering others to join the cause and take ownership of the mission. She provides practical tips on how to build and nurture a diverse community of supporters, emphasizing the importance of listening to different perspectives and fostering a culture of collaboration.

While Purposeful is packed with valuable advice, it’s also a book that encourages reflection. Dulski prompts readers to think deeply about their own passions, values, and the kind of impact they want to make in the world. The book includes exercises and questions designed to help readers clarify their purpose and develop a plan for turning it into action.

One potential criticism is that some readers may find the examples and case studies more relevant to those in leadership or entrepreneurial roles, potentially making it less applicable to those in more traditional or lower-level positions. However, Dulski makes a strong case that movement starters can emerge from any level of an organization, and the principles she outlines can be adapted to a wide range of contexts.

In conclusion, Purposeful by Jennifer Dulski is a powerful and motivating read for anyone looking to make a difference. It’s a book that not only provides practical guidance but also inspires readers to think big and act with intention. Whether you’re looking to start a social movement, drive change within your organization, or simply live a more purpose-driven life, Purposeful offers the tools and insights you need to get started. Dulski’s message is clear: with the right mindset and approach, anyone can become a movement starter and create lasting, positive change.

An inspirational read about driving change for leaders and managers. It helps you learn how to inspire and motivate teams and how to make a difference with the things you care about.

An inspiring read on how every action albeit small or large can deliver changes in the world. Either with help from someone who can advise, nudge or even give us the reader a gentle push, taking that first step, that first step/push/nudge could be the start to a new challenge, opportunity. This book shows me the journey/adventure that the author Jennifer Dulski takes you on from one after the other one leading her all the way to impressive feats in her personal & professional journey.

This is hugely insightful and fascinating development learning for anyone working in any field, not just tech or entrepreneurship. Interesting case study stories illustrate the key learning and guide to becoming a movement maker! Recommend.

An insightful book made up of anecdotes and inspiring people that have created change across the world.
A little on the long side but a good read for anyone looking to broaden their knowledge base.

Inspiring and thought provoking, Purposeful uses illustrative case studies to highlight how ordinary people have brought around real, tangible change. Practical advice helps shape this really valuable guide to effect measurable change in your environments.

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Really interesting book of how our decisions, big or small, can make an impact on society and can bring about change. Loved reading people's stories of their journeys from where they started with their vision and where they finished.

Dulski’s message is that you don’t have to be a CEO of a large company to be a game changer and inspirer of people. She illustrates this through lots of inspiring case studies and personal examples. I liked its actionability - whether you’re a manager at work or an activist inspired to change something because if your own experience.
I suspect it could have been a bit shorter and as hard-hitting but I would recommend it, especially if scepticism or self-doubt stops you being the change you want to see.

This was a thoroughly inspiring read and I was so interested to read all the case studies, mostly by 'normal' people who have changed the world.

Great read, I’ve been looking to expand my reading into across to books that will help me at work and this is one of them. I will definitely come back and re read for a refresher every now and then!

Purposeful is in short an inspiring book written by an inspirational woman. As a young female starting the media industry in my first management position I have taken so much from this book that I know I will try to implement in my team, and if it doesn’t work, get up and try again.

The most memorable thing for me and something I hope to implement in my own team ‘failure festival’ I think so often people (myself included) get hung up on failure as a bad thing. When you actually think about it, especially in my own experience, this is how I have learn almost all of my most important lessons. Failure isn’t something to be avoid but part of the process.

Reading this book has made me re-embrace a trait of myself that I honestly think I lost for a little while.. it has made me realise that I needed to get back to asking more questions in all aspects of my working life (and personal). There is nothing more rewarding than learning which I have done from the author and will continue to do due to the inspiration that this has given me.

My only criticism, and I hope this is constructive, is this is not how I would have recorded the lessons I have learned through my personal and professional life. I enjoy books that trust the reader to come to their own conclusions first and then have a discuss with them after. With this in mind I would have written the stories and anecdotes first and then my person analysis afterward as to not guide the reader to ‘you should think this whilst you read that’.

Purposeful is an accurate name for this book. the author’s purpose has struck a cord, I know that I can be the catalyst to make a big change. It will go onto to inspire some many people to find their purpose. Good luck, you will always have my support.

This book is an inspiring read. Be prepared for action when you finish it because you will want to change the whole world or even your own world.
Filled with adventure, inspiration, and realism this book is an amazing read that I didn't want to put down.
Grab this book for a single sitting dose of world changing, movement starting inspiration that will leave you empowered.

This was a good thought provoking read. The content felt relevant and there were parts that I could take away and use.

Even if you are purposeful this book is a must-read for all, inexperienced or experienced.

When I started to read this book to review it I initially decided that I was purposeful enough and I would have to read it because I was asked to. I related to everything in the book for myself and what I had previously achieved in my life. However, while reading the book I was put in a situation where I needed to encourage one of my staff to become purposeful in order to improve his practice. I was able to draw on the tools I had just read in the book. The purpose of the book immediately became more meaningful when I continued.

This is an excellent book that gives powerful tools for activism, businesses and projects. Jennifer opens by saying “This book is about how ordinary people make an extraordinary change”. Jennifer is a person worth reading and following on social media.

Her book gives tools to work through when an idea is just in the budding phase. It also serves as a prompt for those who have had a purpose in life, achieved a lot and have years of experience.

There is advice on how to become an influencer and pioneer. She gives narratives throughout the book which makes her working book authentic and human. Particularly when people have used difficult circumstances to influence change for the better; an example is Amanda Nguyen. She advises how to use your own strength and power to be purposeful and make change happen. Her advice for conflict resolution is an eye-opener.

She also relates the five stages of grief and translates it into the process influencers may have to go through to convince their audience. A brilliant parallel but she adds more and goes many steps further. She helps you to understand why you have a vision and purpose and how to achieve your purpose.

This is an outstanding meaningful book for ordinary people, leaders, NGO’s and any business. It is a book to refer to until the edges are smudged!

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I didn’t enjoy this book to continue. I wouldn’t rate it but I have to because otherwise my ratio takes a negative hit.

I found Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter? an inspirational read. It strives to light a fire in all of us to do what we can to make a difference - no matter how big or small - and start a movement. Purposeful shares lots of stories of everyday, normal people who saw something unjust or wrong and explains what they did about it. These stories are heart felt, sometimes painful, and full of inspiring fortitude. So many movements grew well beyond the starter's expectations, honestly a thought provoking, positive read. You walk away from it thinking, "if they could do that, so can I!"

Not only do you read numerous success stories but also get a useful step-by-step guide on how to go about starting your own movement. Lots of rich advice from Jennifer Dulski's years in industry and many of her own stories of struggles and success. The one point that knocked a star off, for me, was the feminist-heavy undercurrent. There were more female-based stories than male and the general feeling of 'women are so oppressed' rankled a bit. No, I am not a feminist but I think all of us, regardless of gender, should support each other. Not because we are female but because we are all people. Be fair to everyone, give everyone a chance. Regardless of gender, race, religious beliefs, etc., help everyone you can.

Purposeful is an inspiring read I took a lot from. Thank you, Jennifer Dulski! I feel suitably inspired to make change happen.

This book has a purpose and that is to help people recognise that no matter who you are, you can make a difference. The author places a heavy emphasis on her own personal experiences, so we are reminded of what she has done at Change.org and also Facebook, but that also adds to the practical ways in which change can happen. She is passionate about the power of movements and how our Internet-centric world can be harnessed to make the world a better place. This is an easy book to read with plenty of practical advice. So, are you ready to make a difference?
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Dulski, the head of Groups at Facebook, and former president of Change.org, conveys how managers accept the world as it is but the best leaders are movement starters that push the boundaries to effect change. Through lots of examples she conveys how this can be achieved. This from small scale yet important change to the biggest commercial game changing ideas, such as producing non sexualised teen age bras, to developing Plum the organic food or just getting a company like Hasbro to change its marketing towards girls and boys through small scale petitions.
In all this is a good book, written in a friendly and discussionary style. It is relatively short, making it quick to read and does give good pointers for social not just business/organisational impact.
If I am honest for those that have been exposed to concepts such as the authentic leader and seen the seminal YouTube video about how to start a movement, there probably isn’t much new in it, but if you haven’t been exposed to this, then it will offer quality concise information. It focuses on aspects such as having a clear purpose, a clear vision and a compelling story to bring the purpose to life so that you can connect with people; to allowing others to take on responsibility and develop to support you in your cause is rightly deemed highly beneficial; to dealing with criticism and using this constructively.
Whilst as an author you do have to draw from what you know in order to underpin what you are trying to say, the frequency of referencing Change.Org and Facebook did become waring and feel a little too plug happy for my taste, but the exemplars used were solid and good. Dulski comes across as sincere and giving with her knowledge sharing. She engenders a can do feeling for even those most fearful of failing. It is realistic and applicable.

I felt that this title needed to be clearer about its purpose. I went in expecting something on workplace leadership, but the book seemed to be more centred on social leadership.