Creating the Business of PURPOSE

In keeping with the spirit of the new year and decade, I want to talk about purpose and how it plays a major part in our lives and businesses.

Purpose is one of those things that defines our lives. Some of us have it early on, while others spend a good part of their life trying to find it. As with the personal side of things, purpose in business can set us on the path to success, or keep us wandering in the desert.

However...luckily for us, there is a stupid simple secret to finding and creating a purpose-filled life.

There was a time in my life a few years back that lasted for about 6 years after I got out of the Marine Corps that was absolutely brutal. I was okay financially and keeping my time occupied, but I was lost. I spent those years searching for my "purpose" in life. I filled my time with the gym, getting multiple degrees, dreaming about all of the different business ideas I had, and pushing forward to make myself better. But that overarching purpose was missing. It wasn't until I met my wife and we moved across the country that I began to understand it. Even then, it took another 3 years to fully realize i

Purpose is a fickle thing. It's always there, yet somehow still out of reach at times. Or so it would seem.

But the secret to finding that life-filling purpose is actually quite simple IF you can grasp the understanding that you create it. Simple and easy as that!

Like all things, this is easier said than done. Anyone can say "you can make your own purpose" and technically be correct. However, as most of us know and have experienced, it's not always that easy.

As someone who has been lost for quite some time, and studying a lot of psychology, I finally came to the realization (and not just mentally) that purpose is the mindset of creating for yourself. I felt it in my bones once this finally clicked. It isn't about just making opportunities and goals, purpose is the realization and comprehension that you create your own purpose. Humans are a very creative race. We thrive when we build and discover. Our nature is to constantly develop our ideas and dreams. If you really think about this, you'll see that everything we do that brings us happiness and joy is when we are creating. Having children, designing a house, painting a picture, photographing nature, etc...these are all examples of how we create.

Once I truly comprehended this, I began to realize that, no matter what fate has planned, my purpose is one of my own and, for the first time in my life, I started to find joy in the little things. This has not only sparked a new level of productivity and commitment, but has shown me an entirely different world from the one I saw before. I have better clarity on the direction I want to grow my businesses in, clearer financial and life goals, and a lot less stress working to make my dreams come true.

Establishing a solid purpose in business is no different. While I would argue that your personal and professional purpose can (and should) be aligned, having a very clear and stated purpose separately for your business is essential to growing sustainably and profitably year after year.

When you create purpose for your business, it does several things.

Purpose in business gives you direction - a clear sense of where you want to be with the beginning understanding of how you are going to get there.

Creating purpose, providing it's aligned with the view of your customer, will be received positively by many and serve to attract old and new customers alike. This helps to secure your business's identity and help build trust with your market.

Purpose helps build an internal culture that can be appreciated and enjoyed as opposed to your employees flying off in all different directions and wasting time. When you convey your purpose to others, you will begin to find people along the way that reflect those views. This can be incredibly beneficial in helping to find the correct people for the roles you need to fill.

Think back to June 29th, 2007. This is a day that changed our modern world forever. No, it wasn't war or anything of that nature, but the day that the original iPhone was released. Steve Jobs took a solid medium-sized company and upped the game. He created a new purpose for Apple; one that was still was aligned with the values of who they were before the iPhone. Other companies had touch screen displays before Apple, but Apple modernized this tech and made it excellent for the average consumer. Their purpose was to make an experience so easy that anyone could pick it up and be familiar with it. This purpose still remains true to this day. As it stands, Apple is one of the highest valued companies in the world!

Finding and creating purpose isn't the magical bullet that solves all of your problems. In fact, unless you comprehend true purpose, then you're likely going to be turning in different directions trying to find it. As I said earlier, it's so simple, yet still one of the hardest things you'll ever have to understand. But once you do, the game is changed forever.

As we continue this new year, make 2020 the year you state a solid purpose for your business. Discuss it with your employees and get them on board. Get friends and family involved as well. You'll be pleasantly surprised how having support can help you achieve your goals. If you already have a purpose established, make sure it aligns with how you view your identity as this will affect how customers see you - this can help build trust or destroy it. If you're not quite sure what I'm talking about, just look to your closest politician! Always saying one thing and then doing another. 😉

Make this year and decade another memorable "Roaring 20's" and set your business up for success with distinction and prosperity!

Finding or creating purpose can be difficult at times, but that's when you should push all the harder for it. Let us help you find and create that purpose for yourself and your business! Give us a call/text or contact us HERE.