Aaron Hurst, "The Purpose Economy"

A series of shifts are happening in our economy: A record of number of millennials are trading in conventional career paths to launch tech start-ups, start small businesses that are rooted in local communities, or freelance their expertise. We are sharing everything from bikes and cars to extra rooms in our homes.

Globally recognized entrepreneur and founder of Taproot Foundation, that helped create the $15 billion pro bono service market, Aaron Hurst argues in his latest book, The Purpose Economy: How Your Desire for Impact, Personal Growth and Community is Changing the World, that while these developments seem unrelated at first, taken together they reveal a powerful pattern that points to purpose as the new driver of the American economy.

Like the information economy, which has driven innovation and economic growth until now, Hurst argues that this new economic era is driven by connecting people to their purpose, "It's an economy where value lies in establishing purpose for employees and customers—through serving needs greater than their own, enabling personal growth and building community.