Finding Purpose and Standing Out: Gabrielle Bosché on Be The Giraffe

Change is hard. In fact, as Chris Jarvis says in the intro to Be The Giraffe, “Change or die.” If we want different results, we have to see things differently.

That’s exactly the spirit of this episode, where Chris sits down with Gabrielle Bosché — bestselling author, two-time TEDx speaker, and co-CEO of The Purpose Company. Called “the next generation of motivators” by Tom Ziglar, Gabrielle has worked with the U.S. Navy and Air Force, been featured in Glamour and the Los Angeles Times, and built her career around helping people uncover their true purpose.

From Teenage Author to Global Speaker

Gabrielle’s journey began at just 17 years old, when a challenge from one of her mom’s friends inspired her to write her first book.

“I had no idea what I was doing,” she admits. “That book was terrible. But it showed me that sometimes, you have to be bad before you can get good.”

That early exposure to mentors and motivational leaders like Jim Rohn and Zig Ziglar gave her permission to fail, learn, and keep moving forward. She didn’t have a straight path — in fact, she had a speech impediment and stage fright to overcome. But her competitive drive and willingness to stumble forward eventually turned her into one of the most booked millennial speakers in the world.

Exposure, Mentorship, and Stalking Success

One of Gabrielle’s biggest lessons is the power of exposure. Surrounding yourself with people who challenge you, encourage you, and model success is essential.

But Gabrielle takes this a step further with her concept of “stalking success.” Each month, she chooses someone to study deeply — reading their books, listening to interviews, and even analyzing the stories they repeat on press tours to find the principles that guide their decisions.

Now, she even leverages AI tools like ChatGPT to create a “board of advisors,” training chatbots to simulate how leaders like Brian Chesky or Arnold Schwarzenegger think, so she can run her own decisions through their lens.

“Mentorship is really about trying on someone else’s brain,” she says. “Some things you’ll keep, some things you’ll toss — but it accelerates your growth.”

The Difference Between Being Seen and Being Known

Another theme Gabrielle returns to is the tension between being seen and being known.

In today’s social media culture, many people want to be seen for their clothes, meals, or achievements — but they’re afraid to be truly known. Because if people know the real you, they might reject you.

“Every single person has imposter syndrome,” Gabrielle says. “At the beginning, you’re new at everything. But just because you feel something doesn’t mean you are something.”

Instead of chasing approval, she encourages people to lean into their story — the challenges they’ve overcome, the grit they’ve built, and the identity they’re still shaping.

The Purpose Factor: Finding Clarity

All of this led Gabrielle to co-create The Purpose Factor Assessment, a tool designed to help people uncover their purpose in about 20 minutes. Built over a decade, including 1,000+ interviews and work with the U.S. Air Force, the assessment provides clarity on:

• Your Purpose Factor Statement

• Your Fulfillment Factor Statement

• Your Core Values

• The four dimensions of purpose

Purpose, she explains, is not tied to a single job or role — it’s about who you are called to help.

When individuals know their purpose, they make better decisions. When organizations empower employees with purpose, it strengthens the whole mission.

Chris’s Reflection

Chris shares his own moment of clarity: growing up as the child of divorced parents, he felt caught between the two people who loved him most — who didn’t love each other. That painful experience gave him the drive to become a connector, both in life and in business.

“If I can connect people and eliminate the hurdle of money, that feeds my soul,” he says.

It’s a powerful reminder that our hardest moments often become our greatest gifts.

Key Takeaways

• Exposure matters. Put yourself in rooms with people who think differently.

• Failure is part of the story. Do it bad, do it nervous, but keep doing it.

• Mentorship can be hacked. Study great leaders, even through AI, and learn their decision patterns.

• Be known, not just seen. Vulnerability creates true connection.

• Clarity creates confidence. Knowing your purpose makes every other decision easier.

Watch the Full Episode

Gabrielle Bosché’s story is packed with wisdom on resilience, leadership, and purpose. If you’re ready to elevate your path, align your purpose with your work, and break free from the herd, don’t miss this episode of Be The Giraffe.

👉 Watch the full conversation with Gabrielle Bosché here.

P.S. If this episode resonated with you, you’ll love my Be the Giraffe book.