The Importance of “WHY?”

You fancy yourself an entrepreneur, a member of the 6% of the U.S. population (according to the Kauffman Foundation) who has what it takes to build, sustain and/or lead a going concern ​(defined as one’s main occupation, established 5yrs+, at least 50 employees).   Rare air.  You’ve likely put a lot on the line and made a lot of financial, personal, emotional & physical sacrifices in order to see your dream through.  
 
In my experience, regardless of size, most of the companies in that stratus, although perhaps successful, aren’t GREAT companies by my own measure.  To be more specific, while “Rome may not be burning”, most companies lack that special spark - - that infectious energy - - that draws people in and makes them yearn to be a part of it.  That same energy draws in top talent, customers & partners/alliances, and all critical components that aid in championing the entrepreneur’s vision.
 
A logical question may be, “from where does that infectious spark originate?”.  The answer is in discovering the very specific reason WHY the company exists in the first place.  What is the importance of what your company does and WHY does anyone care?  As Simon Sinek states, “People don’t care what you do, they care why you do it”.
 
What is the importance of answering this simple yet often difficult question?  Once the entrepreneur clearly understands WHY they are building their company and WHY the company exists only then can they tap into that infectious passion that drives their vision and energizes everyone around them to help in furthering the cause.  Yep, the cause.  It’s rarely about the business.  The business is merely a means to an end and a tool that aids in bringing the bigger picture into reality and truly having a meaningful impact on the world.
 
Once an entrepreneur is able to make themselves vulnerable and tap into the very reason for their existence, then things really begin to flow & many of the bumps & frustrations of business smooth out.  Decisions become simple (although not always easy) and success takes on a new meaning and dimension.  As the leader of your organization, you are responsible for developing the vision of your company and its direction. 

​ Are you up for the challenge?