But Why?

 If you’ve got a toddler, you’re likely sick of that question. But as business owners, it’s important to ask yourself this. 

 Knowing WHY you dove into this world of entrepreneurship will propel you to grow and thrive in your business, and help you push through in the tough times.

 Your WHY is your raison d’etre.  It’s your personal driving force behind your business and it’s what compelled you to start this journey in the first place. 

 For me, my WHY is part selfish, and part selfless. I talked a little about how I decided to become an entrepreneur in one of my first posts [click here], and shed a bit of light on my why, but here it is…

The selfish reason

I was tired of working on someone else’s schedule and missing out on our family.  Our kids were 6 and 7 at the time, and I’d taken a total off 11 months off for mat leave between the two of them.  Now believe me, my husband was THE BEST stay-at-home dad our kids could ever have wanted, but I was jealous, and bedtime stories and weekends weren’t enough. As a family, the income cut was far less important than that (fleeting) time with the kids.  It was the perfect time for me to do this – our kids were young but in school full time, and my husband had a job we could rely on to pay the bills while I grew my business.  For us it made sense.

 Fast forward 10 years and my “kids” are now finishing up high school!  Our lives are very different, but I have to say that it is still my #1 priority to be available to my kids.  Sure, most of the time they’re with friends, or doing their own thing in their rooms, but they always know that their Momma’s here if they need me.

The not-so-selfish reason

 I am a total numbers nerd.  I love spreadsheets, and budgets, and step-by-step systems.  Lego and Ikea furniture are my ABSOLUTE favorite.  So, for me, taking that passion (which I appreciate, is insane to some) and using my powers to help others is what gets me excited.  It broke my heart to see so many new creative business owners LOVE what they do, but be in such FEAR about how to do it.  Starting and running a business can be intimidating – all the books seem to be written for big corporations with org charts and “resources”…what about us bootstrappers that do everything?

 So my REAL WHY is that I want to empower creative entrepreneurs to not only love what they do, but be confident in HOW to also run their business.  Curing your anxiety and stress is why I get up in the morning.

 That’s me.  Now ask me my why another day, and I might say it a bit differently, but at its core, that’s why I do what I do.

How did I come up with this?

Well, that took some soul searching…and a bottle of wine ;)  But seriously, I’m not saying you NEED to drink, but you need to do SOMETHING to get out of your own head.

 30-year-old Tanya was WAYYYYY too worried about what other people thought (or would think) about me. 45(+) Tanya is way better and shutting that crap down, so know yourself, and where you’re at.  And whether you need liquid courage, or a friend to tell you to STOP when the negativity monster shows up – you need something to help keep yourself in check.

Once you deal with your mental blocks, here’s some things you can ask yourself: 

1.      Reflect on Your Passion: Start by asking yourself: What sets your heart racing and your mind buzzing? Your passion is the heart of your creative endeavor. Is it painting, writing, designing, or crafting? Reflect on the moments when you feel most alive – those times when you're so engrossed that hours seem to pass in an instant. Your "why" often resides within these moments of pure creative joy.

2.      Identify Your Impact: Think about the impact you want to make with your work. How do you want to touch people's lives? It could be inspiring them, sparking joy, or making their everyday better. Visualize the smiles on your customers' faces or the positive reviews that light up your inbox. When you know you're making a difference, you're tapping into your "why."

3.      Connect with Personal Experiences: Often, your personal experiences can be a wellspring of inspiration. Did a childhood memory, a life-changing event, or a struggle shape your creative journey? These experiences shape your perspective and connect you to your "why." For instance, if you're a photographer, maybe capturing moments became your "why" after a meaningful trip or a family celebration.

4.      Define Your Values: What do you stand for as a creative entrepreneur? Your values are like your guiding principles. They shape your decisions, your interactions, and the way you run your business. Whether it's sustainability, authenticity, or inclusivity, your values play a significant role in defining your "why."

5.      Envision Long-Term Goals: Where do you see yourself and your creative venture in the next five or ten years? Envision your future success – not just in terms of financial achievements, but in terms of personal satisfaction. This vision of growth and accomplishment can help crystallize your "why."

6.      Embrace Authenticity: Your "why" is unique to you, just like your creative expression. Avoid trying to replicate someone else's purpose or passion. Embrace your authenticity – it's what makes your journey truly remarkable. Trust that your individuality is your greatest asset.

Remember, discovering your WHY takes time, so be patient. And most importantly, WRITE IT DOWN.  All of it.  All your ideas, and thoughts, and seemingly meaningless tangents – record it.

 I had 10 different documents with just as many different answers, stories, and versions.  It was only after I had these all down and took a step back to go through it all, did I piece together something that captured my WHY.  There’s a lot of thoughts and inspiration floating in that head of yours so don’t let it go to waste!  Get it down and let the answers emerge.

 Your WHY is your entrepreneurial North Star; if all the books, and all the experts, and (gasp) google disappeared, your WHY is what’s guiding you.  So let’s make that puppy shine bright!