Living On Purpose: Make Your Life Count with Bill Goodwin

The Moment That Changed Everything

When Bill Goodwin was twenty-eight, his life changed in a way he never expected. On November 23, 1999, two days before Thanksgiving, he was driving to work in Arizona and decided to take the family dog to the groomers. That simple choice led to a life-altering experience. Bill had struggled with asthma and allergies for years, and while dropping the dog off, he suddenly felt short of breath. He tried his rescue inhaler, but it didn’t help, and panic started to set in.

Driving home, Bill made it just inside his garage before calling out a desperate prayer: "Jesus, help me." He tried his nebulizer but soon blacked out. Later, he learned his daughter had called 911. Paramedics arrived and worked to revive him, but for a brief moment, Bill’s spirit had left his body. What he experienced during that time profoundly shifted his perspective on fear, purpose, and how to live intentionally. Bill says, “Fear is forward thinking about negative possibilities, whereas faith is forward thinking about positive opportunities.” That moment taught him that fear often holds us back more than reality ever could.

Living Beyond Fear

After his near-death experience, Bill’s approach to life completely changed. Fear lost its grip on him. It wasn’t about taking unnecessary risks but about living boldly and intentionally. He tells stories like skydiving with his eighty-year-old mother to show that stepping beyond fear can open up new and amazing experiences. Bill encourages embracing life with courage and curiosity, reminding us that growth usually happens just outside our comfort zones.

Faith became his compass. Instead of worrying about what could go wrong, he focused on what could go right. That mindset inspired him to help others do the same, showing that courage is a practice, not a one-time decision.

Purpose is Everything

Bill’s life philosophy revolves around intentional living, and it’s built into a framework he calls Priority Living, which he details in his book Priority Living: Seven Pillars to Make Your Life Count. The seven pillars are purpose, growth, impact, rhythm, explore, connect, and give. Bill believes purpose is the foundation for everything. Clarity comes first, followed by peace and success. “Purpose is giving the best of what you have to others,” he says. When you connect with purpose, you experience a kind of fulfillment that energizes every part of your life.

Purpose, for Bill, is not limited to your career or job. It’s a combination of your natural strengths, skills you’ve developed, passions, and what he calls your origin strength—the resilience and lessons you gained from early challenges. He emphasizes that purpose evolves over time. Every stage of life builds toward the next opportunity to make a difference. “Whatever you’re doing now,” he says, “do it to the best of your ability because it’s preparation for what’s coming next.”

Growth as a Lifestyle

Growth is another key pillar of Bill’s philosophy. He started learning about personal development as a teenager, thanks to his uncle, who shared motivational books and cassette tapes. That early exposure set him on a lifelong path of learning and self-improvement. Growth doesn’t happen automatically; it’s intentional. It comes from seeking out knowledge, learning from mentors, reflecting, and being willing to step outside your comfort zone. Bill says, “You don’t go to the top; you grow to the top.”

His mentors, including John C. Maxwell, influenced not just what he learned but how he leads. Listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and valuing the people around you—these are all part of how Bill lives intentionally and encourages others to do the same. He calls it human currency: the energy and attention you bring into every interaction. It’s a reminder that the way we show up matters.

Making Your Life Count

Bill’s message is ultimately about hope and possibility. He encourages people to examine their life stance, cultivate positivity, and surround themselves with those who lift them up. Life isn’t just about getting by it’s about leading intentionally and making a difference in the lives of others. “We are all elevator people,” Bill explains. “We are either taking people up or bringing them down. Why not be the person who lifts others and yourself along the way?”

For those ready to explore his framework, Bill offers a free chapter of Priority Living on his website along with resources for coaching, group cohorts, and leadership development. His work shows that no matter where you are in life, living with purpose, embracing growth, and stepping beyond fear can help you create a life full of meaning, fulfillment, and impact.