“Purpose is understanding why you do what you do.” -Billy Cox

What do successful small business owners and coaches have in common?

It’s not experience.

It’s not extraordinary skills.

It’s not even a powerful drive.

While all of these can certainly help your business grow, they’re not a requirement to succeed. After all, no one is born with experience or skills, and plenty of
successful people lack drive.

The one thing that does make a difference, though, is your “why.”

Why did you decide to become a business owner or coach?

Why do you spend too many hours in front of your computer every week?

Why do you stay up too late and get up too early, just so you can work on growing your business?

The “why” is what ultimately drives us to success, but here’s the thing: it’s different for everyone. Your why is not my why, and my why is your not your why. It’s a deeply personal choice that can have great meaning… or not.

For example, a survivor of cancer might happily spend 50 or 60 hours each week assisting cancer patients or counseling them and their families. Their big why is a strong desire to prevent other people from suffering in the same way they did.

A mother of small children may be saddened at the thought of sending her kids to daycare just so she can go to work to (barely) pay for it. Her big why is a drive to spend as much time with her kids as she can, while still supporting her family.

A young, fresh out of school entrepreneur might decide against take the same path his parents took, working for a corporation for 40 years, only to retire and find themselves with barely enough money to get by. Instead, he dreams of having the income (and freedom) to travel the world while he’s still able to enjoy it.

So what’s your big “why”? It might be the freedom to travel, the option to spend time with your family, the ability to take weeks off at a time to care for a sick family member, or even to earn enough money to support a charity that’s close to your heart.

Whatever it is, your “why” is the driving force behind every action you take. When you’re deciding whether or not to take on a new client, ask yourself if it’s aligned with your “why.” When you’re setting goals for the year, ask yourself if those goals are moving you closer or further from your big why. Thinking of branching out into a new business venture? Make sure it’s in alignment with your big why, and success is suddenly much more attainable.