Know Your Why
If you don't know your why, your what and your how don't matter.
Do you remember being a child? How about raising a child? I do. And I remember that in both situations a frequently asked question was "why"? Why this, why that, why now, why not? I also remember the lack of patience that my parents had with me when I asked "why" and that the most frequent answer to my questions was a simple “because… that’s why.” I’m sorry to say that I’m guilty of repeating the same behavior and lack of patience with my own children when “why” was on their minds. I'm convinced now that "why" is one of the essential, central questions in our lives. For each of us to know our own answer is very important.
Start with Why
I was recently in a business environment where we were discussing ways to ensure that we would be able to achieve our goals and win in the marketplace. All the talk was focused on suggestions for what we should do and how we should do it. That's when I realized that we hadn't been clear about why the goals were important to us.
The more I've thought about it, the more confident I am that "why" is the essential question for us to answer on many levels of our lives.
In business, it's critical that we are able to clearly define and communicate our mission... Why do we exist? Why are we in business? Why does what we do matter to the people we do it for? Why is doing business with us, better for someone than doing business with one of our competitors? Why?
In life the question of why, our purpose, is critical too. Why am I here? Why do I exist? Why am I doing these things? Why does this matter to me? Why am I living my life in the way that I am? Why?
The answer to "Why" will help you discover the core of your passion - your true north. And yes, when you have your answer to why, you'll find it easier to see the edge.
Discover your why. Make your what and your how matter!
Simon Sinek puts "WHY?" at the very center of the success bullseye.
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