Are You Clear On Your Why?
There are so many things to figure out as an entrepreneur. An immediate question to ask yourself is, are you clear on your “Why”? You’re excited and full of energy as a new business owner, but that’s not your “Why”. You like doing what you’re doing, it’s fun, and you can make good money. But that’s not a true “Why”, either.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
What exactly is your “Why”?
It’s the reason for doing what you do that moves you forward when you hit obstacles and difficulties. And it goes deeper than that. It's a specific passion you connect with on an emotional level. You lean on your “Why” every time you make a decision for your business, and what you go back to when you need motivation or inspiration.
When you take an appropriate amount of time to ask yourself things like:
What type of work excites you?
In what scenarios are you driven to take action?
What type of work do you find most fulfilling?
In past work experiences, what made you feel confident and successful?
What comes naturally to you professionally and makes you want to learn more?
You wake up to what you’re passionate about and qualified to do well. That will attract people to you with a similar “Why” because it’s relatable to them.
How did I get clear on my “Why”?
When I worked in corporate for a number of years, it made me aware of what truly mattered to me in my work and in my life. Someone else got to decide when I worked, what my responsibilities were, and how much I could earn. I came to loathe the limitations of working for someone else.
I had two stepsons at the time and then I found out I was pregnant with twins. I knew my corporate job would not allow me the flexibility to be available to my growing family in the way that I planned. I wanted to work, but I also wanted to control the when, how, with who, and for how much. I wanted the freedom and I also wanted to have a big impact on the people who chose to work with me.
Working for myself meant I could honor my non-negotiables - things like being off on holidays, scheduling a personal appointment during the day, or being at home when one of the kids got sick.
Having control and freedom when it came to my family and work priorities was only part of my desire to leave corporate. I also wanted to decide what work I would do and how I could help my clients. I wanted to develop the perspective, philosophy, and programs that I implemented in my business. There were times I was embarrassed or even offended by the ways the companies I worked for chose to do business. I had worked in environments that didn’t always align with my values and there wasn’t much I could do about it. I wanted to show up in integrity every day, not just on the days that the company made choices I could respect.
Now integrity is imbedded in all of my actions, with all of my clients. I focus on what I do best, and delegate other things to contractors so I can offer my clients the high level of service they deserve. I attract wonderful clients with my “Why” who are looking for the same things - flexibility, freedom, and control over their work and personal lives. They can connect with my “Why” because it’s clear to me, so it’s clear to them when I talk about my business and what I offer.
By positively impacting my clients, I allow them to do the same. I’d love to hear about your “Why” and see if I can help you impact your clients by taking action and executing what’s necessary to achieve your goals as a business owner.
P.S. Ready to stop spinning in place and get to the other side of your goals? Here are several ways I can help:
Download my free weekly planning guide - it will help you become more intentional with your time, develop a clear action plan for your week, and ensure that you are focusing on activities that will move your business forward - Download Now
Join our next CEO Power Planning Session and spend two and a half hours ON your business. During this facilitated workshop, you’ll set and prioritize your next 12-week goals, break them down into an executable action plan and create a resource plan - Join the Wait List
Apply for the next Close the Gap Program and stay on track to achieve your most important goals. 1:1 support and guidance on prioritizing goals, creating a plan and putting structure and routines in place. Then 12 weeks of group support around execution - Apply today