So Why Do You Do What You Do?

This topic is a favorite of mine. I'm about to share with you a very, very vital (yet overlooked) technique that never fails. That’s right. NEVER fails. I always stress this technique when I’m coaching new Home Business Owners and Entrepreneurs. Works like a charm.As a matter of fact, I’m even giving you some homework this weekend because I think the dog days of summer may be getting the best of you and I want to keep you sharp ;)

So let’s dive in…

In today's society we often put a lot of emphasis on HOW things are done. Present a plan with lofty goals to the board of directors of any company and surely they will ask you how you suppose those goals will be met. Apply for a mortgage and you will be asked to demonstrate how you plan to pay it off. Give a professor the correct answer to a complex question and chances are you'll be asked how you arrived at your conclusion.

The HOW is often so predominant that the WHY is sometimes completely forgotten, as if the WHY is of less importance. Nothing could be further from the truth. WHY you want something is infinitely more important than HOW you think you're going to achieve it.

Phew. That was tiring just to write. Did you get all that?

If you’re reading this newsletter today, chances are you’re a Home Business Owner and Entrepreneur and there is a reason WHY? But do you know the reason WHY??

I hope you do…

But if you don’t (and most don’t), then it’s time you found out. If you’re not achieving the results you would like to be achieving in your Home Business enterprise, chances are very good that this is why (no pun intended).

Stay with me now. It’s gut check time…

To find out what you’re WHY is may just be as simple as identifying what it is that you want, right? Everyone knows what they want, right?

Wrong…

It's a bit more challenging than one would think. Ask an adult to write down everything they want on a list with a minimum of 10 items and you will find that for most it turns out to be quite difficult.

Stating that you want a certain amount of money, want to quit working or just want a bigger car than your neighbor can cause people to experience discomfort. After all, it may make them appear greedy or lazy and that's not generally considered positive. So they try to come up with something that's socially acceptable and in doing so, make what they want subject to the opinions of others. Not good.

Here’s the interesting part…

Kids on the other hand have no problem here. They'll come up with 10 items and more in no time, listing things you didn't even know exist. They don't worry about what others may think of it, whether it makes them look greedy, lazy or whatever. All they know is that they want it. Fascinating when you think about.

You see, kids have not yet been brainwashed or conditioned into thinking that they can’t have certain things. They just assume they can have anything they want, right?

And so can you. You just may not realize it yet.

Here’s a very effective exercise for you that will really bring to light exactly what it is that you want in life so you can pin point your WHY.

Chances are you've never done this...

Figure out what it is that you DON’T want first and what you do want will become crystal clear. This is a technique called “clarity through contrast” and it basically states that when you observe what it is that you don’t want in life it then it delivers clarity which makes it clear what you do want.

Easy enough right? Here comes the hard part…

Write it down now. Make a list of the things you DON’T want in life. It will only take you a few minutes and it’s actually a pretty fun exercise because when you actually come to terms with what you DON’T want it becomes clear what you DO want. The peace of mind you will experience by being clear is just, well…you’ll see.

After you’ve identified what it is you want, then you get to your all important WHY.

So why would you want all those things? Again, kids have the upper hand here. They'll be quick to point out why they want it all: mostly the fun they will have and the popularity it will give them. Ask an adult why they want something and you'll enjoy watching the expression on their face. You'll see them searching for an answer.

Why would you want to be rich? Why would you want to quit working to have your own business? What would you do if you no longer had to go to a job every day? You may decide you want a bigger house than anyone in your family before you ever had.

But what does that do for you? Would you sleep better? Would it make your life better? Would it make you happier? Whatever it is, it's critical that you know.

Exactly HOW you plan to achieve your success is far less important, especially early on. Too much focus on the HOW early in the process can have a devastating effect. It could paralyze you. I call it "analysis paralysis."

If your financial situation is so bad that you're actually below broke then achieving financial independence can seem so far fetched that reaching it appears impossible. You might sell yourself on the idea that it's so far out of reach that you couldn't possibly make it happen in this lifetime. As much as that may seem true at the time, it doesn't have to become your reality. Don’t be sold.

However, in order to get there you will probably have to overcome some serious hurdles. And for that to happen, you need a reason to get up and take the necessary action. That reason needs to be strong enough to pull you through the tough times that inevitably will come. That reason is your WHY.

History is packed with unbelievable stories of accomplishment. People facing seemingly insurmountable odds who overcame obstacles you wouldn't believe. Individuals with relentless determination who decided to push on in situations where most people would give up.

Why is that so many people throw in the towel when things don't go their way and only a small number of people seem to persevere?

It's not because they are genetically stronger and it's not because they have been dealt a better hand in life. What sets them apart is their WHY. That's what keeps them in the game. Their WHY is so strong that whatever gets in their way, they will find a way to deal with it. They don't have all the answers, but what they do have is an inner conviction that they can and will find the answers.

...And they are crystal clear about what they want.

Nailing down your WHY is one of the most powerful ways to improve your chances of success with your home business. So make sure that you know what your WHY is. Find it and refine it over and over again. Make it so strong that achieving it becomes an absolute must for you and the HOW will absolutely reveal itself to you over time. Trust me.

Take action.

P.S. Don’t forget your homework assignment. Make a list of the things you DON'T want and you will instantly see what you DO want. Your WHY will appear right before your eyes. Don’t take this assignment lightly. I’ve done this many times and it is quite dramatic what your new found clarity will bring you