Finding Your Purpose

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An Introduction to Finding Your Purpose

When Rick Warren wrote the book, Purpose Driven Life in 2003, it made an unprecedented leap into the bestselling pages. It was unusual for a book that was Christian literature and God-focused. According to Warren, having your a purpose, would "reduce stress, simplify your decisions, increase your satisfaction, and prepare you for eternity." His view that God determines your purpose inspired thousands to look beyond the mundane to seeing a reason for why they are on the Earth.

If that's the case for your life, what about your small business?

If your life has a purpose, so should your small business. How do you find the purpose for you and your bsuiness? Why does your business exist? What do you want your business to do in your life?

Start living with purpose

Simply speaking, finding your purpose is a very efficient way to start your business. Ask yourself what your reason is for creating the business in the first place. What do you want to achieve from your business: financially, emotionally and even, spiritually? What are the goals your business will help you achieve? Will it make you happier? Will it increase your income? Will it add flexibility to your life? Will it increase your standing in your community?

Finding a purpose helps you create a plan for your life. It will guide you in making decisions and lead you to take action based on those decisions. Once you have listed your reasons, you will find that an action plan comes into place quite naturally.

Finding your purpose means also thinking about others

Your small business must have a reason for existing beyond just making you a living. Once your basic needs are taken care of, you need something to motivate you and inspire you. Money, once your basic needs are taken care of, does not inspire. Thinking of yourself all the time, considering only your needs does not inspire either. You need to go beyond; to look at how you will have an impact on others' lives. Having a business, which means you interact with others regularly, is the perfect vehicle for change. Once you see the impact your business is having on others lives, it will constantly inspire you to do more.

What's your life purpose?

You determine your purpose by your faith, experiences you've faced, what you've been influenced by. Your business is an extension of you. A business will mimic you just as a child mimics its parents.

I remember watching a clip of children talking about what they wanted to be in the future. One wanted to be a doctor, astronaut, baseball player at all once. He wasn't looking at his circumstances, his skills or aptitude. He was dreaming and it felt good. It's important to have those dreams or goals for one's life. They lay a foundation for starting the work to make those aspirations happen.

Determine the purpose of your business

Look beyond the product or service listed on your business card. Ask yourself these questions to find your purpose:

What legacy do you want your business to leave?
What's the ultimate benefit of your business? Does it enrich people's lives? Does it add to their benefit: health, happiness, wealth, self-esteem?
Does it improve your community?
Can you stand behind your product or service?
Will your business make a difference or just earn a buck?
How do you want your business to treat others? This goes from customers to suppliers to employees
What influence do you want your business to have on issues in your community?