What’s your WHY?

The commitment I made when I started my Through The Roof blog was to speak from the heart and show you the behind the scenes of my business…even when it’s messy.

Today’s post speaks to this intention and I have to confess…I feel vulnerable sharing it.

So, let’s just get down to it… *gulp*…

I gave my team the exciting, thrilling, up-all-night-because-you-love-it-so-much assignment of updating our operations manual.

If you can’t tell from my sarcasm, the operations manual is a bit of a pain in the ass…

It’s a huge undertaking and very easy to put off, but extremely important. And don’t worry, I promise a super exciting blog about all things operations manual and why your business needs one soon. 🙂

But for now, just know that we hadn’t updated ours in three years… which does not an operations manual make!

I gave my team the month to work on it and deliver a completely up to date, fully functioning, how-to guide for the ins and outs of my business

We were one week away from the deadline and curiosity got the best of me so I poked my big, fat nose into the operations manual to see the shape it had taken.

It was SO beautiful. I was very proud of my team. Every section had this big green header with a little paragraph explaining what it was and then a brief how-to. It was exactly what I had hoped for.

Then I got to section seven.

“Our Mission” sat at the top in big, bold green letters followed by nothing but blank space…

Here I am, with this extraordinary team who’s working hard, but they don’t know why. I felt a huge knot form in my stomach when I realized that I, as their leader, had lost my way.

Whew. Re-living that moment is hard even now. Let me back up to fill you in.

Over the last couple of years my team and I have experienced extraordinary transformation. I’ve launched a second business; we went from working under one roof to working remotely; we’ve cut some offerings and added others; we’ve had staff changes; I’ve had a baby; and most dramatically — I’ve gone from working 800 hours a week to 30 hours a week!

And though it’s all been planned for, working half as much really means making half as much. So, in the last couple of years, I’ve been focusing so much on profit that my purpose has gotten a little cloudy.  And, truthfully, as my business has evolved and I’ve grown, my why has too.

Here’s the reality: If you want to make more money, you must clarify your purpose.

So, what to do?

I’ve been thinking a lot about Simon Sinek and his extraordinary TED Talk about your WHY. I won’t go into too much here but will invite you to watch his video, and watch it again if you’ve already seen it. He talks about how incredible and purposeful leaders and businesses start with the “why,” not the “how” or the “what.”

I’ve been spending the last few weeks asking myself about this. What is my why and has it changed?

When I look at what I’ve provided for my actors in the Thriving Artist Circle or my coaching clients in Through The Roof, the transformation I provide is clarity. Hands down, across the board. I help my tribe get clear about who they are, what they want, and how they’ll make a difference.

For me, clarity is the foundation that supports confidence, action, ambition, knowledge, focus — you name it.

That’s my why. One simple word: Clarity.

So, the mission of my team is to create an environment where clients and students feel so clear about what it is that they want that they can crystalize a plan to bring that goal to fruition, carrying with them the courage to make it happen.

Our mission statement is a simple one:

In every aspect of our work, we strive for clarity.  Clarity of purpose, clarity of action and clarity of intention.  This clarity supports our clients to know who they are, define what they want, and understand exactly how to get there.  

So though this has been a wakeup call, I’m so grateful it happened. Not only did it allow me to get clarity (no pun intended!) around my mission, but it made it possible for me to re-motivate my team and re-energize my goals.

And let me add, it’s no accident that since I’ve been meditating and contemplating on my purpose I’ve received so many surprise checks in the mail! In fact, I got another one today from the IRS for $1,010 for over-paid taxes from FOUR YEARS ago!

Thanks for the high five, Universe…

You already know what I’m going to ask — What’s YOUR why? Answering this seemingly simple question will be invigorating. Sharing it below will be empowering!