Knowing Your Why
It was 2008, I was having a crisis and I signed up to attend an event.
As I shuffled along with the hundreds of others registered for enlightenment and inspiration, a feeling of anxiety crept into my chest, and thoughts began racing in my head.
“Crap, they’re gonna find out that I am terrified and insecure, and don’t have my shit together like they think.”
Keep in mind, in actuality, I was running a successful and profitable business, making decisions and executing on goals with military precision.
The first speaker – looked out from the stage and asked me, “Why do you do what you do?”
Okay, maybe he wasn’t just talking to me…but it sure felt like he was. My mind raced, I knew my what and my how – but I had no clue as to why. After the talk if you went and talked with the speaker, he'd give you this coin - with the word why - in the middle - just like the target it should be. I lose my keys every day - and I've never lost this coin!
That talk, and that speaker Simon Sinek changed my life. Shortly after that, he gave a Ted Talk that is one of the most viewed of all times – check it out if you haven’t seen it.
Why do you do what you do?
The words echoed for days and weeks, and I journaled and journaled and began an odyssey to know my why. Do you know yours?
Why do you do what you do?
Yesterday was a full circle moment as I delivered a talk at Business Theatre Live where I shared a bit of that day and the journey that has followed as I sought my why.
These are the 4 questions I gave the audience yesterday; the same ones I used to determine my why…..
What makes you come alive?
What are your strengths?
Where do you add value?
How will you measure your life?
This was not an exercise that I accomplished in 30 minutes…it took time, and a lot of refinement.
I finally figured out that knowing my why, allowed me to become crystal clear on what I should say yes to and what I could say no, or not right now to.
Is that easy for you to do - knowing what to say yes and no to?
If you know your why – I’d love to have you share it with me here.
….oh….and in case you were curious here’s my why: To create unlimited opportunities for sustained economic independence for women around the world.
