Passion Struck with John R. Miles
Wes Adams and Tamara Myles on How to Create Meaningful Work | EP 589
Tue, 25 Mar 2025
What if the secret to career fulfillment isn’t a promotion, a new title, or more success — but something much deeper?In this powerful episode, John R. Miles is joined by Wes Adams and Tamara Myles, co-authors of Meaningful Work, to explore the essential ingredients behind truly engaging and fulfilling work. Drawing from years of research and leadership development, they break down how to cultivate meaning in the workplace through purpose, community, and impact.This conversation is a must-listen for leaders, entrepreneurs, team builders, and anyone seeking to reignite purpose in their professional and personal life.Full Shownotes here: https://passionstruck.com/wes-adams-and-tamara-myles-on-meaningful-work/What You’ll Learn in This Episode:How to define and create meaningful work beyond traditional markers of successThe hidden drivers of engagement and why purpose often outweighs payThe outsized role leaders play in shaping workplace culture and fulfillmentWhy redefining success to prioritize purpose over productivity leads to deeper impactActionable strategies for transforming your workplace into a source of meaning, connection, and growthHow to reignite purpose in your personal and professional lifeConnect with Wes Adams: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wesadams1/Connect with Tamara Myles: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaramyles/Sponsors:Factor Meals: http://factormeals.com/factormeals50off and use code “FACTOR MEALS 50 OFF”Rosetta Stone: Unlock 25 languages for life at “ROSETTASTONE.com/passionstruck.”Prolon: Reset your health with 15% off at “ProlonLife.com/passionstruck.”Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at “MINT MOBILE dot com slash PASSION.”Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Visit hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK for your free online visit.Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSIONNext on Passion Struck:In the next episode of Passion Struck, John sits down with Anne Marie Anderson, an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, sports journalist, and leadership expert. Anne Marie has spent years breaking barriers in sports media, navigating high-stakes environments, and coaching top athletes and executives on leadership, resilience, and communication. In our conversation, we'll dive into the mental frameworks of high performers, the art of storytelling, and how to build confidence in any field.For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.Join the Passion Struck Community!Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow. Learn more and sign up here.Speaking Engagements & WorkshopsAre you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I’m available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let’s work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.Episode Starter PacksWith over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We’ve curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.Catch More of Passion Struck:My solo episode on Why Mattering at Work Is the New Metric Leaders Must TrackCatch My Episode with Coach Matt Doherty on How You Rebound From Life’s Toughest MomentsWatch my interview with Jessica Kriegel on How to Build an Intentional WorkplaceCan’t miss my episode withJacob Morgan on the Vital Power of Leading With VulnerabilityListen to my interview with Ivo Brughmans on How to Navigate the Paradoxes of LeadershipCheck My solo episode on Why We All Crave To Matter: Exploring The Power Of Mattering.If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don’t forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.How to Connect with John:Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMilesFollow him on Instagram at @John_R_MilesSubscribe to our main YouTube Channel and to our YouTube Clips ChannelFor more insights and resources, visit John’s websiteWant to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!
Chapter 1: What misconceptions exist about making work meaningful?
coming up next on passion struck one of the big misconceptions that we see all the time is that well we'll make work meaningful by making it really fun so let's have happy hours and free snacks and kombucha on tap and a ping pong table and that's all going to be really meaningful
And while those things are great and fun is good because it can help us build relationships, meaning is much deeper, right? Meaning is really about having those relationships, that sense of belonging.
understanding how the work that you do really matters and then having growth and development opportunities and a leader who believes in you welcome to passion struck hi i'm your host john r miles and on the show we decipher the secrets tips and guidance of the world's most inspiring people and turn their wisdom into practical advice for you and those around you
Our mission is to help you unlock the power of intentionality so that you can become the best version of yourself. If you're new to the show, I offer advice and answer listener questions on Fridays. We have long-form interviews the rest of the week with guests ranging from astronauts to authors, CEOs, creators, innovators, scientists, military leaders, visionaries, and athletes.
Now, let's go out there and become passion struck. Hey, passion struck fam. Welcome to episode 589. Whether you're a longtime listener or joining us for the first time, I am so grateful to have you here. Passion Struck is more than just a podcast. It's a movement dedicated to unlocking human potential, intentional living, and making what truly matters matter most.
Before we dive in, let's take a moment to reflect on the incredible conversations we had last week. On Tuesday, we explored the power of behavior design and how to become indistractable with bestselling author Nir Eyal. On Thursday, Anne Marie Anderson an Emmy Award-winning ESPN broadcaster joined us to talk about embracing audacity, dismantling doubt, and taking bold risks.
And then on Friday, we sat down with Olympic gold medalist Vincent Zhou diving into his journey of resilience, leadership, and the mental game behind elite competition. If you missed any of these episodes, I highly recommend going back to listen. Now, let me ask you this. What if the missing piece in your career isn't a promotion, a new title, or even more success?
What if the real key to fulfillment is something deeper, something that's tied to impact, purpose, and connection? That's exactly what we're exploring today with two extraordinary guests, Wes Adams and Tamara Miles. They are the authors of the new book, Meaningful Work, a proven path to making an impact, creating community, and finding fulfillment in work and life.
and they've spent their careers studying what separates people who feel deeply engaged in their work with those who feel stuck, drained, and unfulfilled. In today's conversation, we dive into the hidden drivers of meaningful work that go beyond salary and status, why leaders have an outsized influence on whether employees thrive or disengage.
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Chapter 2: How do Wes Adams and Tamara Myles define meaningful work?
You can go to our website, which is makeworkmeaningful.com and you can find the book there. You can also find some of the resources that we've talked about, the moments that matter canvas and some other things. And you can also find us on LinkedIn.
Tamara and Wes, it was such an honor having you on the show. Congratulations on the new book. I hope it gets into a ton of leaders' hands. Thank you so much for having us.
Great conversation.
Really enjoyed it. And that's a wrap. What an insightful and inspiring conversation with Wes Adams and Tamara Miles. Today's episode gave us a deeper understanding of what makes work truly meaningful, not just for individuals but for entire organizations.
We explored how leaders can create environments where employees don't just work but thrive and why fulfillment comes from a sense of community, contribution, and challenge. As we close, I encourage you to reflect on your own work experience. Do you feel like your contributions truly matter? Are you working in an environment that fosters meaning and growth?
If not, what small steps can you take today to shift toward work that aligns with your values and purpose? If Wes and Tamara's insights resonated with you, please take a moment to leave us a five-star rating and review. Your feedback helps grow the passion struck movement and allows us to bring you more powerful conversations like this one.
And if you know someone who could benefit from today's episode, please share it with them. You never know how a single share can impact someone's life. For more resources from today's discussion, head over to passionstruck.com where you'll find show notes, links, and additional insights to help you apply what you've learned.
And if you want to go even deeper, make sure to watch the video version of this episode on my John R. Miles YouTube channel. While you're there, hit subscribe and join our growing community.
Coming up next, I'm joined by none other than Donald Miller, the bestselling author of Build a Story Brand and a master of helping people clarify their message, grow their business, and build a personal brand that truly connects. Donald's insights have transformed the way entrepreneurs, executives, and creatives communicate their value.
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