Knowing your Why and why it matters

Do you know what your “why” is in your business? Why did you start your business? Can you remember what it was that made you decide to start your company or take ownership of a business?

Finding your “why” in business is about identifying your purpose or the reason why you do what you do. 

It can help you stay motivated and focused on your goals, and it can also help you build a brand that resonates with your customers. 

Here are some steps you can take to find your why in business:

1. Identify your values: Consider what values are important to you in your personal and professional life. What drives you, inspires you, and motivates you? Knowing your values can help you identify your purpose and your why in business. If you’re not sure what your values are or how to find them, we talked about that a few weeks ago. 
2. Define your mission: Your mission statement is a declaration of your business’s purpose and how it aims to serve its customers. It should describe the core values and beliefs that drive your business and what makes it unique. This is not simply about making money. Think deeper than that. What is the bigger goal of your business?
3. Ask yourself why: Start by asking yourself why you started your business in the first place. What problem were you trying to solve or what need were you trying to fulfill? Then ask yourself why again, and again, until you get to the core of your purpose.
4. Connect with your customers: Talk to your customers and listen to their feedback. What do they value most about your business? How are you making a difference in their lives? Understanding your customers’ needs and desires can help you identify your why and shape your business accordingly.
5. Look for patterns: Look for common threads or themes in your values, mission, and customer feedback. What keeps coming up again and again? This can help you identify your why and build a business that aligns with your purpose.

Remember, finding your why is an ongoing process that may evolve over time as your business grows and changes. Stay open to new ideas and experiences, and keep exploring what drives you and your business forward.

So now what? How does knowing your ‘why’ make a difference?

Knowing your why makes it possible to show up at work each day excited for the day. Knowing your why means looking for opportunities to fulfill your purpose, to make a difference, to be a part of something greater than your yourself. 

And isn’t that really what life is all about? Making a difference for a purpose greater than just yourself? 

“And remember the most important lesson. The goal is not simply for you to cross the finish line, but to see how many people you can inspire to run with you.” Simon Sinek 

What is your why? I would love to hear what your why is and how knowing your why has impacted your business. Join the Blue Shirt Community on Facebook to participate in the conversation.

And if you’re not sure what your why is or you feel like you’ve taken a different path from where you started, I would love to help you get back to your why. It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of doing the work, hiring employees, and filling out paperwork and you forget the why. It gets lost in the shuffle. If this is you, consider joining a BLUE Shirt Mastermind Group. It’s less intense than one-on-one coaching but has all the benefits of group coaching, accountability, and expertise that will help you rediscover your why.