your “why”- completely exposed

You started a business.

You probably started your own business for several reasons, but have you ever peeled back the layers on those reasons?

Yes, your why is just like an onion - multi-layered, with more flavor the deeper you go.

You think “I started my business because I wanted to work when I want to” is why you chose the life of self sacrifice, longer hours, increased stress, and dancing with the ever changing market? Wrong.

Let’s start peeling. We’re going to peel away seven layers of your why.

On the surface I started my business because I wanted to choose my own hours (1) was a driving force in motivating you to start your own business.

But, ask yourself, why is that important to you?

It’s important because the shift times for jobs in my field aren’t always compatible with what my family has going on. (2)

Here, you’re realizing the reason for starting your own business connects to your family values. Why is it important that your work schedule balances with your family schedule?

My family relies on me to get them to appointments, provide dinner, help with homework assignments, and be there when they need me. (3)

Ask yourself why that is important.

I want to be an involved, supportive parent and partner while still providing a substantial income. (4)

You want to be Wonder Woman, got it.

Why is it important to you that you are all of these things?

Because I want to do better and be better than my parents were. I want to show up for my kids when my parents gave excuses. (5)

Whoa. This is getting deep. Let's keep going. It might be starting to burn at this point. Keep going. Why is it important to you to do better than your parents did?

Because I think I would have been more successful, earlier in life, if my parents would have shown up and been more supportive of my endeavors. I remember the excuses came more often than the times they actually showed up. I don’t want to do that to my kids, ever. A regularly scheduled job won’t be flexible at the drop of a dime if my kids need me - without penalty of course. (6)

Wow. Why do you think it’s important for them to be supportive of what your doing?

Because parents are their children’s safe space in this cold world. Parents are supposed to lead their children, and teach them how to grow into people who want to contribute to their community and society in a positive way. Parents should be involved in and revel in their children’s growth, creating unbreakable confidence, so they can be everything they want to be, not what their parents expect.

Well. This turned out to have nothing to do with the work itself and everything to do with being able to unequivocally available to the family that makes it all worthwhile.

Magic!

What did you find when you peeled back the layers?