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Finding Your Why and the Importance of Living With Purpose
A deep connection to your “WHY” in business, will help you stay clear, connected, and graceful on your path.
Let’s get honest here. There is more than just a product, a desire to write blog posts or share pretty pictures behind your business. It was a calling you had to answer on your own terms. A deeper form of creative expression.
What happens when we first start a business? There is a fire ignited within us that drives us to buy the domain, choose a beautiful color palette, and get to work.
In many cases-what happens three months later? Well, perhaps we set some lofty goals- and didn’t meet them on our first go around. Our fire gets dimmed, if not snuffed out for a few weeks and we lose momentum.
Momentum is crucial when building and maintaining a business- and this drive, this power- comes directly from getting crystal clear on your “WHY”.
I’ll share some prompts with you in a bit to dive deeper into your personal WHY, but I want to tap into how effective knowing this truth- and why you should revisit it often.
Being Clear on Your Why Can Help Your Business
First of all, if you are a creative entrepreneur (which I am sure if you are here- YOU ARE!) you know how much fun the idea stage can be. It’s like this fantastic unicorn just shows up and you get to fly it to the moon and create this amazing offering or a personal blog that you know is going to change the world.
Totally awesome and engaging- until we start to realize just how intense shifting into soul centered business ownership or an authentic side hustle can be.
That’s when the doubt creeps in- and if you haven’t established your WHY it will be the one thing that will hold you back from major success.
WHY were you called to step into a side hustle or create this business entity of yours?
I can guarantee you- that there is a deeper answer then you might currently be aware of.
Sure, it sounded fun- and this is certainly the age of DIY, and I bet your oil roll-ons are NEXT LEVEL….but what truly called you to step into this work?
What sacred level was activated by you saying “YES” to this dream?
In one way or another, you challenged yourself to grow into this space, and guess what friend- YOU ARE HERE. Now let’s get the driving force behind your momentum on PAPER and stamped into your heart and mind so there is no room for doubt or comparison along the way.
How To Focus on Your Purpose
PAUSE. Right here and grab your journal. I encourage you to take a moment, a few deep breaths, come to your center- and then tap into these three prompts:
- Why did I create my business, blog, or offering?
- Why is my offering important for others?
- Why is success important to me?
I want to take a minute and explain the value that your answers to each of these questions hold.
Having a Why Will Give Your Business Purpose and Clarity
Looking at the first questions, knowing why you were called to create the business that you have created reveals a lot. Especially if you are currently up against any blocks, or are feeling overwhelmed in any way.
Did you create it because it was a call that rose inside of you? Was it a momentary flash of genius that pushed you into creation mode? Or did you see someone else creating it and get inspired by how much fun or how easy it looked? Was it the potential to make money for yourself?
Let me also give you grace around this, and help you to KNOW that there are no wrong answers here.
However, if you are finding yourself answering that first question in a way that isn’t making you feel BRIGHT- it might be time for an honest reframe. Go even deeper. If you need to crack into some emotional stuff- get it out of the system so you can receive the clarity we are digging for!
Understanding Your Why Can Help You Better Serve Your Audience
Reflecting on the second question will help you get even clearer on your ideal client or niche market. You have to know so deeply WHY your work is important not just for yourself- but also for others. Often, we have these moments of deep understanding that our work is needed in this world. But often that gets swept up with the productivity and hustle mentality. Next thing you know we are feeling resentment in our work and that is never where we want to be.
Reminding ourselves of how our work might be in service to our community, or to the other amazing humans out there trying to get their dreams growing- will always help to ground you and reignite the light in your work.
Finding Your Why Can Improve Your Life
Finally, crystallizing your WHY on success, will help you stay graceful (and grateful!). In those seasons when it just feels like SO MUCH WORK. Everyone’s version of success is unique. It is always nice to tap into what being successful means for you. And then to remember why it is important to you.
I want to take a minute here and just honor you so much for the work you are doing. It is so powerful, valuable, and you are creating massive impact. By committing to deeper clarity around your mission- you will not only be able to write more aligned content, a richer bio, and create content that LIGHTS everyone up- you will feel better doing it. In all honesty, isn’t that a big piece of your work?
Kristina Santiago
http://www.kristinasantiago.com
Kristina Santiago is an Energy Muse and Business Coach. She supports soul-centered CEOs in building businesses that help them to Exist Brightly. It’s her mission to help others reveal their sacred purpose, stay aligned with that calling and create an amazing brand + abundant lifestyle!
Download her free guide “5 Keys to an Inspired Income“.
So many reasons brought me here. And then as I grew, more reasons came up. It is fun and I am learning something new after finishing up a 25 year career in something totally different. And now, guess what? I even helped a couple of newbies! A new “why”!!
That’s so exciting, Jenny! It’s so wonderful when you start something new and your passions come alive!
Love this post….it’s so needed, especially in the beginning when you don’t get the results that you expected, and moving forward seems like you’re still at the bottom of climbing a mountain! Great advice for all of us to clarify our “why”.
Absolutely, Kate! I have always found that I get off and running and it’s usually at the point that I feel stuck (like you mentioned) that I finally tackle my why for motivation. It’s so much easier when you can determine this right in the beginning instead! Thank you for your kind comment 🙂
I love the three prompts to really help narrow into the purpose. I’ve been focusing on my why/purpose the past few months to create better blog content. Thank you for this great post!
Thank you, Heather! I’m glad this post found you at the right time to help you with figuring out your why!
I love that you’re helping others find their ‘Why’! That’s so powerful!
Thank you, Sarah! Kristina has done an amazing job on helping people to figure out their purpose and their why.
Having a clarity on your “WHYS” is super important in all aspects. In blogging or any kind of self employed work it is even more critical. Thanks for sharing this.
Absolutely, Nadia! I’ve struggled in the past with figuring out exactly what my why is and I’ve found that writing it down and really getting to the heart of my plan always helps. So glad that you enjoyed the post.
Very timely article for me as I navigate this crazy and fun blogging path I’m on.
I appreciate the questions to ponder as I plan for the future.
I’m so glad this article found you at the right time, Wendy! Writing down your thoughts can definitely help with clarity on your why and purpose.
I wrote down the 3 prompts listed in the post. I will work on these tonight! Loved this post.
So glad you enjoyed the post, Jess! Writing down your thoughts can be so helpful when determining your why. You’ll have to let me know how it goes!
I started my side hustle initially because I wanted something extra to do on top of raising a newborn and a toddler. I had worked since age 11 and I felt a little lost as a new mom — like, I didn’t know how to just be a mom, if that makes sense. Then my side hustle turned into a business because my “why” was taking care of my kids when I suddenly became a single parent. Now I have a new “why” in blogging, which is helping other moms build successful side hustles and businesses of their own. Great post!
I totally understand what you are saying Rebecca! I never felt like I had all the pieces being “only” a stay at home mom. Like you, I’ve worked since I was really young and being a go-getter and entrepreneur is built into my being. I’m so glad that you found your big why and that you are achieving success with it!
These journal prompts are perfect for tonight! I really need to take a good look at the direction of my blog
Hi Julie! I’m so glad that you found some inspiration in this post. Sometimes writing it down is all you need for clarity.
Hi Sasha,
I totally agree it’s up to each individual to define what success is to them. It may be different for everyone and it’s not always just about dollars. Sometimes it’s about having a purpose. And believing that your work matters and can help someone else. But of course, a few dollars don’t hurt either, lol!
Absolutely, DeShena! Each person’s success path is so different. But yes! DOLLARS 🙂
Having a purpose (your why) is so important when working towards your goals. Great read – thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Angelina! I’m glad you enjoyed the post on understanding your why! Such an important topic for personal and business growth.
This was very inspiring to read! It’s easy to get bogged down from working on your business. It’s important to take a moment to reflect why you’re doing it and determine if it’s serving the purpose you originally intended. It’s not a failure to take a step back to regroup! You’ve done something that many others don’t do…you simply got started! Great job with this post!
Absolutely, Keesha! Your why can always shift and change direction on your path and so it’s never a bad thing to take that step back and reflect.
Oh, man. I really needed to read this. I feel like I started out with a good idea, and now I don’t know what to do with it. This has given me motivation to look more at why I want to move forward and how I can get there. Thank you.
I’m so happy this gave you the motivation to keep moving! It’s great at any point to step back and look at your focus and what your why really is. So glad you enjoyed the post!