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WorkLife with Adam Grant · May 5, 2026 · 38:41

The secret to making the right career decisions with Patty Stonesifer

Patty Stonesifer
Show Notes

Patty Stonesifer, founding CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and early Amazon board member, shares her counterintuitive approach to career decisions: ignore prestige and use a concise personal mission statement as a filter. She explains how a nine-word mission statement she wrote decades ago helps her turn down high-profile roles that don't align and advocate for what matters. During the episode, she coaches host Molly through the process of writing her own mission statement in real time.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Novel

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Nine-Word Personal Mission Statement as Career Filter
Patty Stonesifer uses a nine-word personal mission statement to evaluate career opportunities and quickly identify what aligns with her purpose and what doesn't.
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Highlights

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The Power of a Personal Mission Statement for Speaking Up
Having a crystallized mission empowers you to speak up for what matters and advocate for your values.
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Editorial

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Turning Down What Doesn't Fit
Stonesifer emphasizes that the biggest, most prestigious job is not always the right move; alignment with your mission matters more.
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Co-Creating a Mission Statement in Real Time
Stonesifer coaches host Molly through the process of writing her own nine-word mission statement during the episode.
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Misc

✧Stonesifer coaches host Molly through creating her own nine-word mission statement in real time.
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