#80 | The Soul Is Hungry: The One Thing Success Can Never Give You

What if the thing you're searching for isn't more success... but more significance?

After speaking at a Pink For Africa event, Jennifer Sukalo shares one of the most powerful and life-changing experiences she's had in years and the unexpected lesson it revealed about purpose, service, and what truly fills the human soul.

In a world consumed by achievement, comparison, and the question, "What do you do?", Jennifer explores why so many people feel burned out, disconnected, and unfulfilled despite accomplishing more than ever before. She reveals how acts of kindness, generosity, and genuine human connection can restore joy, renew purpose, and transform not only the lives of others but your own.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why purpose is found through contribution, not consumption.
• The surprising question no one asked at this unforgettable event.
• Why helping others often changes you more than it changes them.
• The difference between surviving and thriving.
• One simple challenge that could transform your week and possibly your life.

If you've been feeling anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, or wondering what's missing, this episode is the reminder that your greatest fulfillment may not come from achieving more. It may come from serving more.

Because the world doesn't need more people chasing success.

It needs more people choosing significance through service.

Learn More

To support the incredible work of Pink For Africa or find out how you can get involved, visit:

https://pinkforafrica.org

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Have you ever walked away from an experience and thought, I didn't even know how much I needed that? Not because someone gave you advice, not because you won something, not because you accomplished another goal, but because just for a little while, you forgot about yourself. You were simply present, serving, laughing, encouraging, loving, and somehow you walked away feeling more alive than you have in months. Now I had one of those moments this week, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Welcome back to Lead with Swagger, the podcast where we get real, raw, and ridiculously honest about what it takes to lead with confidence, authenticity, and a whole lot of heart. I'm your host, Jennifer Socallo, and today I come to you with a full heart and a nourished soul. This past week I had the incredible privilege of speaking at a Pink for Africa event. First of all, a huge shout out to Juliet, or as everyone lovingly calls her, Jules. Thank you. Thank you for inviting me into such an extraordinary room. Now, here's what's interesting. Yes, I spoke. Yes, I shared part of my story, I challenged people, but that's not actually what stayed with me. What stayed with me was the room itself. Now, I've been to a lot of networking events, fundraisers, you know, the kind you walk in, you grab your name tag, you pretend you're not looking for the food table first. And let's be honest, if there are many crab cakes involved, I might strategically be looking to network near the appetizers, or depending on the time of day, the cocktail station. And five minutes later, someone walks up to you and says, So, what do you do? Translation. What they're really asking is, How important are you? What can you do for me? Should I even keep talking to you? And can we all disagree that that's just exhausting? Well, at this event, not once, not once did I hear someone ask, so what do you do? Not once. Instead, people asked, How are you? Tell me your story. Can I give you a hug? You've got this. I'm praying for you. I'm here. Do you know what filled that room? Love, warmth, hope, joy, encouragement, support. There was one singular mission to uplift, to help, to serve. It wasn't about individual achievement. It wasn't about status. It wasn't about followers. It wasn't about titles. It was about making someone else's burden just a little lighter. And I can't adequately explain what that did to my soul. I think, if I'm being completely honest, our souls are starving. Not because we don't have enough, but because we're consuming more than we're contributing. Think about your average day. Scrolling, comparing, complaining, reading headlines, arguing online with strangers, we'll never meet. Watching people live lives we think we should have, meanwhile, our own life is quietly waiting for us to actually show up. It's amazing. We have more technology than ever, more convenience than ever, more opportunities than ever. Yet anxiety, loneliness, and disconnection seem to keep climbing. Maybe. Just maybe what we're actually craving is meaning. Here's something I've learned. Purpose isn't something you find. Purpose is something you practice. We keep waiting for lightning to strike. My purpose must be huge. Maybe it is. Or maybe your purpose today? Maybe your purpose today is making the cashier smile. Checking on a neighbor, mentoring someone, volunteering, writing the note you've been meeting to write, calling your mom, helping someone believe in themselves again. Purpose doesn't always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes it quietly shows up wearing work boots. One of the greatest gifts I received that afternoon was watching people who have walked through unimaginable hardship choose joy anyway. Think about that. Not because life has been easy, because they've decided not to let cancer have the final word. One of the ideas I shared that day was this. Thriving says I'm still becoming. What an incredible privilege to use the gifts God has given me to help people think differently about themselves. Honestly, that's all I ever want. To leave people seeing themselves with more hope than when they arrived. And can I tell you something that surprised me? I think I think helping others is one of the most selfish things we can do. Now stay with me before you send me comments and emails about this, because every single time I genuinely give, I receive something back that money can't buy. Perspective, peace, connection, gratitude, joy, hope. It's like oxygen for my soul. Have you ever noticed that? You walk into a place thinking you're there to help someone else, and somehow you're the one who leaves changed. That's happened to me over and over again. In fact, it happens every time I do this podcast, or have someone send me a note to let me know how my words touched them, or that it was exactly what they needed to hear. Now, before anyone misunderstands me, I'm absolutely not saying don't donate money. Please, please do. Organizations need resources, people need funding. Important work requires financial support. But don't stop there. Give your presence, give your attention, give your talents, give your encouragement. Because there is something almost magical about human beings standing shoulder to shoulder, united around one purpose, lifting someone else up. In a world constantly trying to convince us we're divided, those moments remind me we have far more in common than we realize. And honestly, they restore my faith in humanity. Now, I know this episode may sound different, maybe a little more reflective, maybe a little less polished, but some experiences don't fit neatly into words. And I'm actually struggling, just trying to describe what I felt because it wasn't something I thought, it was something I experienced. And experiences change us in ways, explanations never can. Experiences change us in ways, explanations never can. And that brings me to your challenge for this week. Now, this week, I don't want you to journal. I don't want you to listen to another podcast. I don't even want you to read another self-help book. I would like for you to give yourself away intentionally. Choose one act of service. Not because it looks good on social media, not because someone will notice, not because you'll get recognition. Do it because another human being matters. Volunteer. Visit someone who's lonely, mentor, write five handwritten notes. Deliver flowers anonymously. Pay for someone's groceries. Sit with someone who's grieving. Call the person everyone else forgot to call. Then at the end of the day, don't ask yourself, what did I accomplish? Ask yourself this. Whose life was a little better because I showed up? I have a feeling the answer might surprise you. Now, before I go, I'm asking you to do one small thing that could make a huge difference for others. Please go and learn more about Pink for Africa. Go to pinkforafrica.org. See how you can help support and give. And if today's conversation meant something to you, don't keep it to yourself. Think of one person whose heart could use a little more oxygen right now. Maybe they're burned out. Maybe they're discouraged. Maybe they've forgotten how much good they still have to give. Send them this episode with one simple message. I thought of you while I was listening. You see, sometimes the greatest gift isn't sharing content, it's letting someone know they crossed your mind. And if you're finding value in these conversations each week, hit follow. So lead with swagger keeps showing up in your life. Like that fret who tells you the truth, hands you a mirror instead of a mask, and refuses to let you settle for surviving when you were created to thrive. As always, thank you for spending part of your day with me. Never forget, the world doesn't need another perfect leader. It needs more people willing to lead with heart. And I know that's who you're becoming. And you're quietly becoming the kind of person who this world desperately needs more of. So keep showing up, keep doing the work, keep believing that the small things matter because somewhere, often without you even knowing it, your life is becoming the answer to someone else's prayer. And friend, I believe your greatest contribution isn't behind you, it's already looking for you. Now, until next time, go lead with swagger.