What would you do if you no longer loved your business or the work that once lit you up?
That question became my turning point and reminded me of the power of why, the reason we start, the purpose that fuels us and the meaning that keeps us going when things get hard.
Over the last few years, I realised I didn’t love my business anymore. And for someone who’s always been deeply passionate about communication and connection that truth hit hard.
Rediscovering Purpose: The Power of Why
Sometimes, we lose connection to the very thing that once inspired us. The power of why reminds us that purpose isn’t found in doing more, it’s found in remembering why we began.
I’ve led my business for almost 25 years. I’ve seen massive shifts across the world and in our field: the global financial crisis, the SARS outbreak, funding changes and most recently, the pandemic.
COVID didn’t just bring logistical challenges, it brought emotional ones. I found myself on the receiving end of people’s fear and frustration. I was yelled at over the phone, confronted in public, and all the while, I kept showing up.
Paperwork, red tape, growing admin, it all kept piling up. And let’s be real: admin is not my joy. The emotional load, the never-ending to-do lists, the invisible work behind the scenes, it wore me down. Somewhere in the midst of all of that, I lost sight of the power of why, the reason I started, the spark that made the hard days worth it.
And layered on top of that? A shift in public perception.
Where we were once trusted and appreciated, providers were suddenly painted as the problem. With sweeping statements and blame from high places, including government figures like Bill Shorten, we went from being seen as helpers to being treated with suspicion. It felt like we were being vilified for doing the very work that once made us proud.
After all that, it felt like no one really saw what I was doing. And somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing it too. It all took a toll. I felt exhausted.
When you’re leading from the front, it’s easy to lose sight of what fills you up.
Life at home was just as full-on. My youngest, full of wonder and wander, would explore outside at any time of day and even at midnight. The police have been to our house more than once in terrifying searches to find him. We stayed home for months, and every spare bit of energy went into surviving, not thriving.
And without realising it, I stepped back from the one thing that used to bring me joy: seeing clients.
Maybe it wasn’t burnout. Maybe it was working without connection to my purpose, without the power of why that used to guide my every decision.
Reconnection isn’t a retreat it’s a return.
When I asked myself, “What would I do now?” the answer wasn’t dramatic.
It was about coming back.
Back to my purpose.
Back to joy.
As our 25th anniversary approaches, I’ve made intentional changes not to escape, but to re-align. I returned to client work, to connection, to meaning.
And I remembered why I began this business in the first place.
In this short video, I share how I reconnected with my purpose not just as a speech pathologist, but as someone who’s here to change lives through communication.
“I used to think speech therapy was my purpose… but I’ve realised it’s not my why. It’s my how. My purpose is to change lives and I get to do that by helping people communicate.”
Melinda Cassells
This reflection isn’t new in fact, Simon Sinek beautifully captures the power of why in his legendary TED talk, Start With Why.
If you’ve never seen it (or haven’t in a while), it’s worth a watch. A powerful reminder that our why is what fuels everything we do.
As our 25th anniversary approaches, something powerful has shifted.
I’ve found joy again, not by stepping away from the business, but by stepping into with new energy. With more intention. More clarity. More purpose.
I’m back seeing clients, doing the work I love alongside a team I trust, and creating more space for what really matters.
This isn’t about work-life balance.
It’s about work-life alignment.
And with this renewed connection to purpose, to the power of why, I’m more excited than ever to keep changing lives for the next 20 years and beyond.
I feel energised. Not because the admin disappeared (spoiler: it didn’t – I just systemised it), but because I’m now grounded in why I show up and who I show up for.
Over the last year, I’ve come back to the heart of it all, the joy, the meaning, the why and it’s reignited my passion. I’m bringing it every day, in every session, with every family.
So here’s my invitation to you:
What would change if you reconnected with your purpose?
Where have you strayed from the work that fills you up?
And what would it take to find your joy again?
This is your reminder: pause, reflect, realign and reconnect.
You deserve to love what you do and how you do it.
Want to be part of something that matters?
Feeling inspired to make a difference with a team that leads with heart?
We’re always looking for passionate clinicians and AHAs who want to create real change.
See how you can join us.
Continue the Power Series
If this resonated with you, explore the other pillars in this series:
- The Power of Belief – how what we believe shapes what’s possible
- The Power of Connection – the heart of every transformation
- The Power of Success – redefining wins in therapy and in life – Coming Soon
Each story in the Power Series explores a different way communication transforms lives for families, therapists, and teams alike.