What are the key factors to success in business and life?
The first and most fundamental of the 4 key success factors for success in business and life….. WHY…..
Do you know WHY you are doing what you are doing? Do you know WHY you are in business? Do you know what you want to achieve personally, for you and your family, and WHY? I have met with and worked with countless business owners and their teams over the years, and it never ceases to amaze me how many don’t know their WHY. Nor do their teams. Amazing!
To do things without knowing your WHY leaves you at the mercy of the world around you, without vision and focus. It is sad, and perhaps it is because of the economic downturn in recent years, more and more people I talk to don’t know their WHY. Is it because they have lost hope? Do they not have any dreams and goals?
I think not. I think they have just become disconnected from it. But you can recover! Let me show you how ….
When people know their WHY they can do things and achieve things that others are not able to do. There are countless stories of rags to riches. How do these people do it? Was there a miracle? Was it luck? Not likely. They define and focus on their WHY! It drives them forward in everything they do, every day. It leads to intentional actions and activities. They know exactly why they are doing everything they do and why it is important and what they intend to gain. Their passion and focus is unwavering. It helps them overcome roadblocks and obstacles. Their businesses and their teams grow and prosper. When an obstacle or roadblock occurs, they assess it and determine the way around it or over it, rather than let it stop their journey. Their commitment is 100% and without any doubt. WOW! Can you do that? ABSOLUTELY! Let’s work on it together!
So ask yourself:
• Why are you doing what you are doing?
• What is it you want to achieve in your business?
• What is it you want to achieve in your life?
Let me help you walk through these questions and help you start to define or redefine your WHY. First, “Why are you doing what you are doing?” If you answer is “I want to make MONEY” then you need to dig a little deeper and add some details. Do you want to make money to put your children through school? Do you want your business to be successful and making money so you can have more flexibility when splitting your time between work and family? Is it so you can build your business so it runs without you and you sell it to someone else and have it fuel your retirement? Is it so you can travel? Spend more time with your grand children? Is it so you can retire to somewhere warm? What is it? Draw it out, envision it, collect pictures for it, document it! The more detail you can add to your WHY the more power it has to help you focus and work toward it. For many women, because of our nurturing nature, the WHY is centred around family and life balance. Work at it, focus on it, don’t let people derail you!
Second, “What is it you want to achieve in your business?” Do you want your business to grow and your team to grow? Do you want a business that will operate without you so you can take a vacation and spend more time with your family or travelling, and still have the business running and growing? Do you want to be a leader in your field or industry? #1 in Calgary? #1 in Alberta? #1 in Canada? #1 Globally? Do you want to be the ‘go to’ person in your field and network? Diagram it, plan it, document it for your wall. Start creating a timeline roadmap to get there, listing your goals and targets! Add your emotions and what you will “GET” when you reach each. How does it “Feel” and what will it “Look” like when you get there.
Third, “What is it you want to achieve in your life?” What things do you want to achieve from now to the end of your days? Do you want to help people? Do you want to run a number of businesses over time, each adding value to the community? Do you want to be a world renowned public speaker? Do you want to help people in underdeveloped countries? Do you want to see all your children through school and into healthy relationships? Do you want a 2nd home in an exotic place? What is it? Write down, draw it, commit to it! Again remember to be specific and detailed so you can feel it and visualize it!
Once you have worked out some of the details be sure to have it up where you can see it and review it every day and when you need encouragement and reinforcement. Tell the important people in your life what your WHY is. Be sure that your team knows your VISION and your WHY. Verbalizing your business WHYs and your personal WHYs helps to solidify it in your mind and increases your commitment to get there. Everyone needs time to reflect and remind them of what is important. When you feel things are not going quite as planned, revisit your WHYs and it will help you to refocus, regain motivation and regain energy.
The next step is probably what I would say is one of the most critical – Everything you plan and do should lead you toward your WHY. So ask yourself for each task and strategy you work on – “What is this doing to get me to my WHY?” or “Does this support me getting to my WHY?”
One last point I must add from personal experience. I have met many skeptics over the years and have had them try to derail me, drain my energy, sabotage my focus and drive. I could feel the impact of this experience on me, draining my energy and motivation. I resented them and hated being around them. So what did I do? Every time I refocused on my WHYs, distanced myself from the negative thinking, aligned myself with positive like minded supportive people, and guess what – Things kept happening driving me to my WHY! Because I refused to be derailed and kept a positive attitude about my direction, plan and WHY. Today, I move one step at a time toward my WHY! You can too!
So next time we meet be ready to share your WHY and let’s make it happen! Knowing your why, reflecting on your WHY from time to time (I do it as often as I can, and sometimes even without even knowing it), will give you energy, motivation, commitment, focus and drive to stay on the rails, or if need be to get back on the rails. If you need help ASK ME !! Stay tuned next time for the 2nd factor.
Cheryl Dyck, MBA, ISP, ITCP, IP3P
Certified Business Coach
Business Edge Coaching Inc / ActionCOACH
Coaching Consulting Training
Canada’s #1 Business Coaching Firm
Cell: 403-615-6440
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