Back to the Basics

Regularly visiting why we became an entrepreneur, joined a non profit, formed an organization or volunteered for a board is a great activity. You never know what you might discover.

Some of these questions are designed for the individual to ask themselves, they can be rephrased for organizations, committees or associations.

1. Why am I in business or involved in this organization?

Does the original motivation to start your business or join a particular organization of committee still exist?

What inspired you to step into your role as an entrepreneur , employee or member?

What did you wish to influence, modify or introduce?

Having the refreshed clarity around your original "why" for choosing a particular direction allows us to reinforce that this choice continues to work or course correct where applicable.

It is best that we are authentic about our answer. It starts with you. While others may be impacted by your choices understanding your why will permit the right type of conversations to ensue.

2. How does my why currently align with my interests and desires?

This is a deeper dive into identifying our current interests and desires. Perhaps new information or insights have come forward at this particular time in your journey.

A good start to identifying what your interests are is to take a look at where you are spending time.

Another approach is to pay attention to what your body is telling you. Our heart rate, breath location and energy levels are undeniable indicators of how we are responding to life and work.

A few factors that help with the concept of alignment include the following; am I experiencing joy, does what I am doing work for me or is it unworkable for me, ( from the perspective of time, money and energy) and am I fully expressing myself or am I spending more time biting my tongue?

3. Am I serving the clients/ customers/ patients/members that align with my vision?

All about the people we are interacting with during our career/life journey. Sharing our skills, experience and talent with others so that we all mutually benefit is optimal, it is what living is all about.

How is what you are currently involved with reflecting this co-creating collaboration?

The potential for satisfaction, expression and even joy and laughter are possible with these exchanges. Explore what could be modified or changed if this is missing.

4. Identify 3-5 key words that reflect how you wish to do business: ( with joy , with courage, with integrity ).

This is all about creating a fun Acronym with the first letters of these 3-5 words.

Like CREATE. C-Courage. R-Resourceful E-Expressed A-Adventurous T-Truthful E-Excellence.

Look at this as a lighter way to embrace your personal or professional culture. It's meant to be a malleable and playful process. Simple words to encapsulate a culture, values, vision and mission without having an entire strategic plan.

5. What key outcomes are most important to my career/ business/ org? (qualitative and quantitative)

This question asks us to explore what we want to accomplish, attain after all is said and done. A reflective process to examine what matters at this point in our personal and professional journey.

Outcomes will be different for everyone and they will surely change depending on what stage of life we are in.

Outcomes can include both qualitative; (a level of joy, security, connection)

and quantitative ( # of $ per month, # of clients/customers per month, # of projects completed etc.)

Visit these quarterly . Update them. Talk about them with key people involved in your various activities.

Most of all have fun, unattached and iterative!