Purposeful: Are You a Manager or a Movement Starter?

Wow, this was exactly the kick in the pants I needed to stop overthinking my new project. Jennifer Dulski writes with such clarity about how ordinary people make extraordinary change. It works. Her advice on conflict resolution was a total eye-opener for me personally. I loved reading about Amanda Nguyen and how she turned difficult circumstances into a platform for influence. The parallel she draws between the five stages of grief and the process of convincing an audience is a brilliant, meaningful translation of psychological concepts into leadership strategy. This is a must-read regardless of your experience level. Whether you are an influencer or a pioneer, there are powerful tools here to help you understand your vision. I plan to refer to this book until the edges are smudged! It’s easily one of the most authentic business books I’ve picked up this year.

Honestly, it is refreshing to read a leadership book that doesn't just focus on corporate boardrooms but dives into grassroots activism. Jennifer Dulski is a person worth following. She provides a brilliant overview of how every action we take can contribute to society. The stories are the heart of this book. I was particularly impressed by the stories of young people and the massive changes they brought in through their own motivation. The book gives you the tools to become an influencer and a pioneer even if you feel like an 'ordinary' person. Her advice on how to use your own strength to make change happen is incredibly empowering. It serves as a great prompt for those who have achieved a lot but need a reminder of why they started. This is an outstanding, meaningful book for leaders and NGOs alike. Every page feels authentic.

As someone who navigates the messy world of community organizing, I found Dulski’s insights into movement building both grounded and actionable. The advice is practical. While some of the leadership advice felt a bit like common sense—work hard, be nice, accept feedback—the way she weaves in real-world stories from Change.org makes the concepts stick. I especially appreciated the tools for helping an idea move through its budding phase. Gotta say, seeing how ordinary people have used their own strength to influence massive change renewed my faith in humanity’s goodness. It’s a smart and insightful read, though perhaps a bit fundamental for those already deep in the activism world. Still, it’s an excellent prompt for those needing the courage to finally chase after a big idea. I’ll be keeping this on my shelf for whenever my team needs a motivational boost.

Picked this up on a whim after a colleague mentioned it provided great tips for building and sustaining movements. I’m glad I did. The stories are immensely inspiring and serve as a powerful reminder of what happens when we take action. Personally, I found the chapter on navigating the 'budding phase' of an idea to be the most useful section. Dulski does a strong job of making her case and illustrating it with insightful examples from her time at Change.org. While it is true that some parts feel a little fundamental, the authenticity of the human narratives kept me engaged. Look, it’s a 3.5 or 4-star read—smart and enjoyable. It gives you the actual tools to work through resistance and turn a vision into reality. If you’re trying to make the world a better place, this is worth a read for the motivation alone.

The chapter on translating the five stages of grief into a process for influencers was worth the price of the book alone. Dulski has a way of taking complex social dynamics and making them feel manageable. Look, some critics might say it’s a bit light on theory, but I found the focus on practical application to be a breath of fresh air. It’s an excellent guide for anyone trying to navigate the budding phase of a new venture. The stories from Change.org are woven in perfectly to show how ordinary people can scale their impact. It’s a smart read. I’d recommend this to anyone in a management position who needs to encourage their staff to become more purposeful. It provides a solid framework for building a company or a movement with real intention. It’s not a deep academic study, but it is a very useful manual for action.

To be fair, I went in with low expectations for another ‘find your purpose’ book, but Dulski manages to provide actual mechanics for building influence. The narratives are truly the highlight here. They are immensely inspiring. I loved reading about the specific steps people took to turn their ideas into global movements. The book gives you the tools to handle conflict and resolution in a way that feels very human. It’s a smart look at how we can all contribute to society. While the writing style is quite casual and easy to breeze through, the underlying message is powerful. She helps you understand why you have a vision and, more importantly, how to achieve it. Even if you consider yourself a purposeful person already, this book is a must-read for the practical tips on sustaining a movement over the long haul. It's a solid addition to any leader's library.

Finally got around to finishing 'Purposeful' and I'm left feeling surprisingly hopeful about the state of our world. In my experience, most business books lack the soul that Dulski brings to these pages. She opening by saying 'This book is about how ordinary people make extraordinary change,' and she really sticks to that promise. The stories of young influencers were particularly moving. It’s a great overview of leadership. Some parts were a little fundamental, but the way she frames the process of making change is very clear. The advice for those in the budding phase of an idea is especially helpful for entrepreneurs. It serves as a meaningful prompt for anyone wanting to use their power for good. It’s a book to refer back to often. While it’s not reinventing the wheel of leadership, it’s a very well-executed and inspiring guide for anyone with a mission.

Ever wonder how a small idea transforms into a massive social change? Dulski offers a decent overview of the mechanics behind successful campaigns, but the truth is, if you’ve already read the major management tomes, you might find this a little redundant. It’s a bit light-weight. The stories are immensely inspiring, particularly the narratives about young people making a difference, yet the content feels stretched out to justify the page count. I was expecting a more communal vibe given her background as head of Groups at Facebook. Instead, it felt like a casual pep talk. It’s a fine book for someone just starting out in a non-profit role or taking over their first leadership position. For the rest of us, it’s mostly a ‘been there, done that’ experience with very few new tools for the toolbox.

I’ve been working in management for a decade, and while I found the anecdotes about Facebook interesting, the advice felt a bit like a ‘pep talk’ for beginners. Frankly, I expected something more communal and rigorous. The book is enjoyable, but it doesn't offer much in the way of new mechanics for power or motivation. The narratives are authentic and human, which I appreciated. However, like many non-fiction books, it feels like the central thesis is repeated a few too many times. It’s a good overview, but there are better books on personal effectiveness out there. If you’re already an experienced activist, you’ve likely heard most of this before. It might be worthwhile for a student or someone just starting to think about leadership. It’s insightful, just not particularly groundbreaking for those of us who have been doing this for a while.

Not what I expected from someone with such an impressive resume at places like Facebook and Change.org. To be blunt, the book felt obnoxious and intellectually light-weight. It’s too basic. Most of the advice boils down to being polite, working hard, and taking criticism, which is fine for a blog post but frustrating in a full-length book. I struggled to connect with the narratives because they felt glossed over to fit a specific ‘feel-good’ mold. It’s a very casual pep talk that lacks the grit of real-world activism. If this book hadn't been written, absolutely nothing would have happened. There are much better books on the mechanics of power or finding one's purpose. It felt like the content was stretched thin just to fill the space between the covers. I finished it, but I didn't come away with anything new for my professional toolbox.