After reading the article titled “How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership”, I can think of a few instances that reflect my own life. I have been fortunate enough to take a field ecology course with the same instructor (Grayson Patton) for the past three summers. During these experiences, I often felt completely aligned with what mattered to me, being outdoors, learning in nature, and growing alongside others who shared the same passion. As Loehr describes, these “peak moments” reveal our core values and act like a compass pointing us toward our “true north.” Looking back, I can see that adventure, curiosity, and connection to the environment are values that energize me and give me a sense of purpose, both personally and professionally.

This article is very similar to the material we have begun reading in my Organizational Leadership in Parks, Recreation, Tourism and Event Management (PRT-359) course. So far, we have only covered Chapter 1 of Leadership and Management in Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Services by Hurd et al. (2024), which explains the distinction between leadership and management. The chapter emphasizes that leadership is about setting direction, inspiring others, and staying grounded in vision and values, while management focuses on structure, organization, and achieving results. Loehr’s article “How to Live With Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership” builds on this by stressing that effective leadership starts with knowing and living by one’s personal values, which serve as a compass for authentic decision-making. Taken together, both the chapter and the article highlight that while management ensures efficiency and order, leadership rooted in values fosters meaning, authenticity, and stronger organizational cultures.

With a topic like leadership, there are hundreds of connections that can be made in the real world. Every day, all around the globe, sports are being played, and leadership within sports is pivotal. Loehr’s article connects directly to this idea because great coaches and team captains lead not just through strategy, but by staying true to their values. For example, a captain who values respect and integrity will model those behaviors on and off the field, inspiring teammates to do the same. Just as Loehr describes, when leaders align their actions with their values, they create an environment that motivates others and strengthens the overall culture of the team. For instance, as of now, Ohio State is preparing to face Texas, and both teams must embody these values to succeed and achieve victory. 

Hurd, A. R., Barcelona, R. J., & Zimmerman, J. M. (2024). Leisure Services Management (3rd ed.). Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.

Loehr, Anne. “How to Live with Purpose, Identify Your Values and Improve Your Leadership.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, www.huffpost.com/entry/how-to-live-with-purpose_b_5187572.