Find your Why – Get Unstuck
Why are you doing what you are doing? Why are you in the specific business that you are in and why do you continue on the entrepreneurial path that you are currently on? Is it to provide for your family? A means to an end or are you aware of your deeper purpose that you strive to fulfill? The burning passion why you are getting out of bed each morning with passion, zest and vigor.
Dream vs Reality
I can hear the pessimists amongst us saying that striving for that more profound passion that fuels your energy is a whiffle waffle that has been thought up by psychologists who have no idea how everyday life works.
There is after all a massive difference between the idyllic dreams that we have dreamt while still in school, at the varsity, or while tripping on some grass. But let’s not let the pessimist that exists in each and every one of us, get a hold of you just yet. Hear me out before you make a judgment call.
So what is your why?
Some people find this a very simple question to answer. Some people think they know and others are completely lost from the onset. When last did you consider why you are doing what you are doing? It seems to be a question with a very simple answer. To provide for your family or to afford the luxuries that you strive towards, seems to be a logical answer. Experts believe that if your why is centered around money, you will never accumulate enough. If you have a tinge of a deeper soul, you could reach the answer: “to make a difference”.
But why?
Why the specific journey that you are on? Is what you are doing, really what you want to do, or are you busy cultivating someone else’s dream? In a recent study done by Wits University, it was found that approximately 25% of all South Africans are depressed.
The statistics for entrepreneurs get even higher. A study done at UC Berkeley shows that approximately 72% of entrepreneurs have mental health issues. The definition of mental health issues are extremely broad. It could entail feelings of melancholy, overindulging in food or alcohol, or whatever semi-addiction that takes you away from the realities of life as an entrepreneur or it could manifest in something far more serious such as clinical depression.
In my coaching practice, the question of mental health issues is omnipresent. The fact that you are a high-income producing entrepreneur or just scraping by is almost irrelevant. The only difference is the size of the problems causing your stresses, strains, and self-doubt.
Purpose drives energy
Simon Sinek writes in his book ‘Start with Why’ how insanely depressed he became in his entrepreneurial venture. The classical part is where you think you are the only one suffering from feelings of being lost, being a failure, and that it is time to look for a ‘full-time job’ or just to retire. Eventually, Simon came to realize that he had lost his ‘Why’. He knew what he was doing and how he was doing it, but he forgot why he started doing what he was doing in the first place.
Achievement vs Success
There is an irony to success. Many people who achieve massive success, don’t always feel it. It is said that if your focus is on how and what you do, you will always aspire to new heights as you progress up the ladder.
In the Netflix documentary, Break Point, some of the worlds top tennis players share their mental health issues and the impact it has on their game. Players like Nick Kyrgios and Matteo Berrettini’s number one reason for loosing their winning streak is shown to be their loss of focus on why they are doing what they are doing. This is people who fly around in private jets and only stays in the best of hotels. Money is definitely not lacking.
The Golden Circles
Simon Sinek is famous for his theories on why some leaders and companies inspire beyond belief, with seemingly the same resources at their disposal. He looks into the concept of why people become obsessed with collecting Apple devices and why others will go as far as tattooing the Harley Davidson logo on their forearms.
It all comes back to the Golden Circles and the innate relationship with the human brain. If you view the cross section of the human brain, you notice that the Golden Circles of Why, How & What corresponds directly with the circular shape of this cross section. The NeoCortex is responsible for all our rational and analytical decisions. That is the ‘What’ we do.
The limbic brain is found in the center of our brain and corresponds with the ‘Why’ we do what we do. The limbic brain has no capacity for language. One of the reasons why it is difficult to put our ‘why’ into understandable sentences. Feelings such as trust & loyalty are often attributed to gut feelings. In the end, we make our decisions vocal through the data collected in the how & what stage, although the real reason we do what we do comes from the feelings and emotions it provides us.
That addictive feeling of elation if we achieve what we have set out to do.
Practice Makes Perfect
As with anything in life, we need to practice explaining our feelings and emotions. To put it in words. Not just to divulge to everyone and his best friend, but for ourselves to understand. To write down. To keep on checking back in.
If you have a clear vision of what is important to you and where you are going, it becomes so much easier to check in from time to time to ascertain if you are still on the right path.
If what you are doing aligns with your values and whether your motives are still in check.
The last thing that we want to do is continue blindfolded down a path that makes us more depressed, lethargic, overworked, overweight, alcoholic & burnt-out. Because we did not make the time and effort to check in with our ‘Why’.
No matter how successful, talented & strong-willed we perceive ourselves to be, it helps to have an impartial sounding board.
Need help?
AddVenture Business Coaching provides a one-on-one coaching service to help you to define your ‘why’ as well as to go through the steps to ensure that everything you do aligns with your why.
Alternatively, addVENTURES provide workshops in group and virtual format to help guide you through the same process.
We would love to talk to you no matter in whatever shape or size you are in.
Click on the ‘chat with us link in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen, pop us a question on the contact us page or you could sign up today to become part of the addVENTURES family.
My Why?
My passion is to inspire and assist entrepreneurs like yourself to write and share their stories in order to grow your business and fulfill your passion.
And if you are serious about changing your business story, I am here to help you rewrite it with you.
Your story, good or not so great, can make a difference in someone else’s life.
