The Collegiate
26
By most measures, success came early for Brian Gavigan ’91. After building a thriving marketing business, he achieved what many expect of a successful young entrepreneur: financial security, prestige and professional respect. But beneath the surface, he felt trapped by an image of success that no longer reflected who he was or what he valued. It wasn’t until he reached his version of rock bottom that he uncovered what he had truly been searching for: purpose. His story isn’t one of overnight reinvention or dramatic breakthroughs. It’s about humility, persistence and the difficult work of letting go. In finding the courage to redefine success on his terms, Gavigan reminds us that real purpose can often look very different from what we imagined or what we’re told. Today, he runs a humble shoe repair shop, a world away from the glitz of marketing campaigns. But in his eyes, it is here — amid the smell of leather and the quiet focus of craftsmanship — that he found the real purpose he was seeking all along. BREAKING FREE FROM THE “PATH” Many young people today feel the pressure to follow a set path: college, career, climbing the ladder and not making waves. But Gavigan warns against getting trapped in that narrow vision of what life should look like. “We’re so distracted by the shiny objects,” he says. “We chase what looks successful without ever asking what really matters to us.” It’s a lesson he learned firsthand. Although his marketing business flourished, deep down he felt restless. What he candidly describes as his “rock bottom,” he realized he had been building a life based on expectations rather than passion. It was then that he began to rethink his purpose entirely. Alumnus Finds Purpose Beyond the Prescribed Path DIGGING DEEPER
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