The Vine News

Have you ever wondered what you’re here for? Why you exist and what on God’s green Earth did that Great Creator create you to do? All of us have at some time or another, and many of us have spent years just trying to figure that out. Enter Finding Your Purpose in 15 Minutes. Shaw University professor Derrick Drakeford has penned a quick and easy, life-changing and self-guiding book that gives clear and simple directions to each person’s destiny.
We caught up with Derrick for a Q and A on Finding Your Purpose in 15 Minutes, and here’s what he had to say.

The Vine Newspapers: You’ve shown me a bit about the book and explained the principles behind it, but can you tell me about how this all started in you? Where were the seeds for this book planted, and how did it come about?

Derrick Drakeford: I was working as the Dean of Freshmen and Community Service St Shaw University under the direction of the Chaplain Dr. Quincy Scott, Jr.
My challenge was motivating college students many who were first generation students who were bright but lacked confidence and direction. I was 25 at the time and was facing many of the same challenges as my students. The Purpose Activity was developed from research, trial by fire, and God inspired revelation.

TVN: When you write a book, you write with an audience in mind. Who do you expect to read the book, and who have you found has been reading it?

DD: I write to wide audience my goal is always comprehension and effective implementation so I try to keep it short and simple.
The book was originally intended for the 16-35 crowd which are still on there active search for 'self'. Surprisingly it has been even more effective with nonprofit boards and team-building for adults. The process of articulating our purpose in life to others helps people to let their walls down and relate to others through shared pain and cold hard reality. We find that everybody has gone through pain in life and it makes people more real as opposed to operating under hidden agendas.

TVN: One thing people notice very quickly is that this is a short book. To be dealing with such a weighty topic as personal purpose, it seems to cover a lot very quickly. Is there a purpose behind that?

DD: Yes, I tend to over-think and over analyze myself and my life and I have found others do to. The book is designed to read in 1 sitting and come out with a clear and simple direction from the map already written on our hearts.
For years I would call my pastor (Dr. Scott) and agonize over the trials of my life and he would go to great extents to convince me everything was not that complicated and God would work it out. One year I realized he just stopped trying to debate me and just started saying "yeah", "uh huh" in a calm a reassuring tone and eventually I would talk so much, I started to encourage myself on the phone. I realized that he realized that we all have the answers in our heart, sometimes we just need a mirror or a friend to remind us.
The book quickly gives the reader a self analysis and challenges each of us to heal from pain and hurt in our lives without complicated excuses.

TVN: Now very quickly, give me the nuts and bolts: How is it that this book can truly show a person in 15 minutes or less how to find their purpose?

DD: The Purpose Activity forces us to answer our hearts tendencies and why we are uniquely created for a reason. It examines why we have gone through pain in life that correlates to those we are destined to help.

TVN: You’ve had the opportunity now to share a bit around the country about your book. Tell me what is the most surprising thing to you to have come out of this?

DD: The thing that surprised me most is the pain that we have all hidden in our hearts without examination. It's not easy to examine why we have gone through what we have and how it was purposed to help others.