The Purpose Paradox, with Dr. Jordan Grumet

Today’s Money Tales episode is about purpose. Purpose is something we often talk about on Money Tales because, in our experience, when people align their relationship with money to their purpose, they make more satisfying and confident money decisions. Dr. Jordan Grumet joins us again on Money Tales. Since we last spoke with him, Jordan has been spending a lot of time talking and speaking about purpose. When he shared his message about purpose with audiences, he encountered something surprising: people weren’t leaving inspired, they felt anxious. This “purpose anxiety,” as Jordan calls it, comes from society’s obsession with what he dubs, “Big P Purpose”, the idea that happiness lies in discovering some grand, singular mission in life. Jordan invites us to embrace “Little p purpose” instead. It’s about finding joy in the everyday; the simple things we love doing, the processes that light us up. By focusing on these small, tactile joys, we can take the weight off the search for “Big P” purpose and make it something approachable, fulfilling, and even fun.

Jordan, born in Evanston, Illinois in 1973, found the spark to become a doctor after a deeply personal event reshaped his life’s trajectory. The unexpected loss of his father, an oncologist, ignited a passion within him to practice medicine and instilled a unique vantage point that later melded seamlessly with his financial expertise. This convergence of roles has spurred him to explore profound notions like wealth, abundance, and financial independence with a thoughtful and critical lens.

Completing his studies at the University of Michigan, Jordan earned his medical degree from Northwestern University before embarking on a journey in Internal Medicine in Northbrook, Illinois. Presently, he serves as an associate medical director at Unity Hospice.

With a profound understanding of both medicine and finance, Jordan unveiled his thoughts through blogging, specifically focusing on financial independence and wellness. This passion culminated in the launch of the Earn & Invest podcast in 2018. His dedication bore fruit in 2019 when he was honored with the Plutus Award for Best New Personal Finance Podcast, followed by consecutive nominations for Best Personal Finance Podcast of the year in 2020 and 2021.

In August 2022, Jordan’s literary pursuit took shape as his book, Taking Stock: A Hospice Doctor’s Advice on Financial Independence, Building Wealth, and Living a Regret-Free Life was published by Ulysses Press. His second book, The Purpose Code, will be published January 2025 by Harriman House Press. Jordan’s journey intertwines medical insight and financial wisdom, resonating deeply with those seeking a balanced, meaningful life.

Click here to listen to our first episode with Jordan.