Ikigai. Scopo. Kumu. Raison d’être. Injongo.
In every country, in every language, we’re all looking for it – the elusive “thing” that is unique to us and which has the capability to fuel us to our dying day.
In English, we use many words and terms for that which we seek: satisfaction, happiness, meaning of life, passion, value, the reason we get up each morning.
One word covers it all: Purpose.
The few who discover their purpose find clarity; they know what they’re here to do.
With that clarity comes an opening of opportunities.
If you know your purpose, you have direction. No more second-guessing yourself. No more endless confusion, doubt or wondering if this is “it”, the right step, the best, right or wrong choice.
Your path becomes straighter, easier – there are no more (or much fewer) turns, detours, forks in the road or dead-ends.
For those who are clear on their purpose, each choice is made with confidence. Each decision has a deliberate reason and focus – it’s purposeful.
Your life and business become purpose-built.
YOU are purpose-driven.
Your life becomes more joyful because you are living “on purpose”, guided by your goal which is in alignment to your desired outcome.
Most of us spend our lives seeking our purpose.
We are seeking what we should be “doing” when the truth is, your purpose is based in who you are “being”.
Discovering your purpose is about finding out what you bring to the world in a way that is uniquely yours THEN finding something that lights you up because it fits who you are at your core.
I often hear the term “purpose-built business” or “purpose-driven entrepreneur” and I find it usually refers to businesses or owners who are trying to fill a social need somewhere. Their “purpose” is to make life better for someone else – and that’s great! That is so needed and I think we need more of that. However the term is viewed from the customer’s perspective or a secondary beneficiary – the purpose is to serve them. The trouble is, the term rarely refers to the purpose of the owner.
What I see are entrepreneurs who start off with a lot of drive and passion but who are soon feeling stretched, tired, disillusioned, overwhelmed, over-worked, deflated… The passion that fuelled them to start the business has faded – now only the work remains.
If you build your business based on YOUR purpose and shape it in a way that allows you to consistently bring your best self to the table, that’s when it never gets old because you are continually fuelling your fire.
THEN go on and fill the social need you see lacking, the niche that piques your interest, or the quirky service that brings joy to people’s lives.
WHAT you do isn’t as important as WHY you’re doing it IF your WHY is one that serves who you are at your core – not a “business only” why. (Psst…the first is your purpose, the second is your mission.)
You have a singular WHY that weaves through ALL you do. It’s the thread that stitches your business mission and goals together with your personal mission and goals to allow you to create a business you love.
Building your business with your purpose as the foundation is the magnetic force that will draw people to you because you will be showing up as YOU, consistently authentic and always on purpose.
The choice is yours: continue on the path of struggle, frustration and uncertainty or experience la joie de vivre, la dolce vita, a joyful passion-filled purpose-driven life and business.
Ready to find your purpose and create a business you love?
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