What Is Your Why

Why Do We Do What We Do?

As a child, I always remember being sent, with my two smaller brothers, and one older sister, to Sunday School, so that our parents could have a sleep in. I always knew that, I don't know how I found out, but kids always know what's really going on at home, and that's what was going on in our house.

It's called Undertanding The Premise. It was true, and we knew it. It was why we were there.

So, What Is Going On In Your House?

Or. in this case, your business?

Because it's important that you understand what it is you are doing, and - much more importantly - the reason(s) WHY you are doing it.

Yes, making money is important. It puts hats on heads, pays for somewhere to live, and ensures there's food in the fridge.

But that is not the premise (reason/understanding) for why a person goes into business. Making money, like not making money, is just a result.

Many new businesses fail within the first five years

This is the norm, and applies regardless of how much money a person starts off with, how experienced they are, how educated they are etc.

They failed because the new business owner was walking around, being very important, busily sharpening their pencils and rearranging the new office furniture, because they thought that was important.

They pulled their credit card out, bought fancy computers, often with money they couldn't afford, installed expensive accounting software, bought stuff they didn't really need, all in preparation for their first orders, because they thought that was important.

They had the new car, their name on the business registration, they are a director of a registered company don't ya know, because they thought that was important.

But they had absolutely no clue as to why they were really there.

They Thought (assumed) They Were There Just To 'Collect' The Money...

Don't get me wrong, some people just make money, and do it very well.

They make a satisfactory living in a satisfactory way and wonder, many years down the track, whilst they're busy battling stomach cancer, or their spouse has left them, why it is that they aren't happy?

Others just save everyone's time and fail immediately, whilst many fall somewhere in the middle. In all cases happiness, either immediately or eventually, eludes them, because they were just there for the money, so 'the money' was all they got.

It's very important, before you start anything, be it a journey, a relationship, or a business, to figure out the 'why' of the thing.

This works exactly the same as a roadmap, when going on a journey. You have to know where you are going or how are you going to get there?

Because without the why being figured out first, there is no reason to keep on just doing that thing. Which means, that at some point, you will just stop, because you will feel that it is pointless.

So, the money reason is not enough. The money reason will NEVER be enough.

You Have To Have Something To Go Back To The Well For. What is it?

People used to go (back) to a well for more water, which is where the saying originates from.

What will take you back to the well?

What will sustain you in your business when the going gets tough, or you have run out of money, or you are exhausted and the new baby is sick?

In times of trouble or strife, or when the going just feels hard, what will sustain you emotionally and mentally, thus fuelling your desire and passion to carry on? This is your why.

It cannot just be about the money. There has to be more, or you open yourself up to failure, or doing something very badly.

Ever watched somebody waste money doing something they didn't believe in? They had no why.

Some People Are Destined To Be Rich...

Don't you just hate that?

They couldn't fail to be rich if they tried with both hands tied behind their backs. They have that certain 'something' in them, and others can see it. It's what you'd call 'being a natural'. Bit like people who are musically gifted, it's the same thing. But there are also many people that set themselves up mentally and emotionally before they start a business; they identify what their strengths are and the reasons for why they go into business, and they do very well. So, either you're a born natural, or your an identifier. Both are fine and work equally well, once you've worked it all out.

Which are you, and what is your why? Because this is your roadmap to success.

Work it out before you start.

The following is a list of starter words to get you thinking about the foundation stones of your business. The why is one of those stones. You can add to this list, take away from it, not even look at it, the choice is yours. But when you understand why you are going on a journey, you then start to make plans for how you are going to reach your destination, and it is in the planning that you find out more information, like how to get somewhere faster by taking a shorter route and success just naturally shows up and becomes a byproduct of that process, as in you successfully reach your destination, or you successfully make a lot of money.

Fill in the blanks, figure out your why.

Attend business trainings around the world - this is just an example

Be a successful business coach and mentor - this is just an example

Become

Build

Call

Calling

Create

Connect

Discover

Delegate

Design

Discuss

Do

Donate

Engage

Fashion

Finance

Find

Flexibility

Get

Give

Go

Have

Help

Hold

How

Improve

Inject

Invest

Learn

Make

Meet

Mentor

Negotiate

Persue

Reduce

See

Sell

Set

Settle

Stand

Stop

What

Where

Who

Why

Mission Statements Are Visual Reminders Of Your Why

When you've figured out your reasons for why you want to be in business write your mission statement, it might look something like this.

"I want to go into business because I have a passion for designing guitars for handicapped people who find it difficult to play a normal guitar. By creating this business I will be able to sell these specially designed guitars globally and enable more disabled people to enjoy the music they were destined to play. Each guitar sold donates a percentage of the sale price to charities for the disabled children of Syria who have lost limbs from stepping on land mines."

This is your well, and will remind you and sustain you as you travel the business road to success.
Feel free to post your completed mission statements in the comments below.

Thanks for reading.

In the meantime... catch you on the flip side. :-)