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Making Growth Visible, Measurable, and Manageable

We study, teach, apply, and measure the developmental mechanics that help people navigate cultural norms, embrace evolution as a calling, and make purpose operational.
Our work focuses on exposing the roots behind growth. We understand that when people have more visibility, they exercise greater stewardship over growth. Our training gives them the necessary tools to build the mechanics that lead to a heart for change. 

Our clients are better stewards over the roots that support their calling.

Global leadership recognized our work before we conducted the research.

Our Research

 Led by Dr. Lily Jenkins, PDI's research examined the role of purpose in career advancement through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. That research became the foundation for our work in understanding how purpose influences growth, development, and the decisions people make.

Today, PDI organizes these insights into developmental mechanics that help people build the capacity to grow in Four Dimensions of Callings.

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Career —
Called to evolve in how we use gifts and talents in  contribution

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Leadership — 
Called to evolve in how we lead and grow in influencing others

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Relationships — 
Called to evolve in how we relate to others and our surroundings

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Health —
Called to evolve in stewardship over physical and mental well-being

Evolution is a Calling

Dr. Lily Jenkins' doctoral research explored how purpose serves as a resource for personal evolution—not simply what people do, but who they become. Her findings connected purpose to meaning-making, personal growth, and the ability to navigate life's challenges. This revealed a deeper dimension of calling: We are not only called to do something. We are called to evolve in our relationship with growth. Growth requires us to be free from simply a concern for growth to constructing the mechanics responsible for  growth.

92% of Developmental Credit Score participants linked growth to cultural norms. They struggled to cross over from being concerned about growth to constructing mechanics for growth.

Click Play To Experience The Vibes For Crossing Over From Concern To Construction.
Click Here to Download White Paper to see how we help you cross over to building mechanics for growth.

Dr. Lily's research surfaced the patterns for crossing over to build mechanics for growth. It allows us to help people view growth as more than an aspirational idea. It's the foundation of the PDI's work in helping people to evolve in making personal growth visible, measurable, manageable, and operational through the Developmental Credit Score (DCS).

We understand that if evolution is a calling, we need a standard for measuring the heart for change.

The Gold Standard for Measuring the Heart for Change

Developmental Credit Score (DCS) measures the heart to change your relationship with growth by examining the roots of your existence. These roots make up the mechanics for meaningful evolution that lead to change. 
By exposing the roots, DCS helps you understand where you are in your personal evolution and what it takes to move from thinking about growth to doing something about it. Because changing your relationship with growth changes how you play the game of life.
"When evolution loses its place as a calling, cultural norms can become the organizing influence over your relationship with growth. DCS helps you unpack where you stand between the two."
Donald Jenkins, CEO, Chief Architect
Dr. Lily Jenkins, VP, Principal Researcher
Purpose Development Institute
Atlanta, GA

What Professionals Are Saying About PDI

AI and smartphone technology are creating major blind spots in how we treat evolution as a calling—licensed counselors are sounding off about the role of purpose in uncovering clinical blind spots in preventing culture from interfering with calling.
Thanks for all the work you and Dr. Lily put into helping licensed professionals.
licensed counselor
I'm going to have to rethink how I interact in therapy and how I can structure my interventions. 
licensed counselor
I never thought about how behavior on social media is impacting how we behave.
licensed counselor
Thanks for restoring my authority as a licensed professional because I felt like I was losing it to technology.
licensed counselor

Download Free White Paper To Cross Over From Concern to Construction

Gain life-changing insight into:

  • The research behind the Developmental Credit Score
  • The Five Relationships With Growth
  • Why you need to align your calling with the PDI
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