Forums

[Dr. Bob Clarke Company: MyLeadSystemPRO Contribution Level: 3]

I found myself wondering today about "My Why".

I've seen entire books and training courses dedicated to this subject -- finding your why and it's importance to your home business -- but is it really that important?

Can you build a highly successful home business without a "why?"

[Richard Bravo Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 9]

.

Great question Bob...
The simple answer I think is yes.

Yes you can build a successful business without doing the exercises
associated with defining "your why" or bypassing putting any substantial
or conscious thought towards "your why."

But I also believe it will take a lot longer and you'll encounter a lot more
frustration that is necessary than if you were to put conscious energy
towards defining your why.

One super easy way to do this is simply defining what you want your life to look like.

It seriously pains me to talk with so many people that are "chasing the dream"
but the reality is they have absolutely no idea what they're chasing.

They see someone on stage or in a video or sales page and the life they are living,
the things they have, the accomplishments they have achieved, awards, checks, cars, etc.,
and they jump in and start "building their business."

The problem is they're chasing someone else's dream, someone else's picture of success,
someone else's check, car and awards. They don't own that dream...
It already belongs to someone else.

That only going to fuel the drive for so long, before they reach the crossroads of their own reality, in the business they are building with the people they are connecting with, the challenges they experience and the victories. It's a unique experience and when they come to that place, and they will, it will be a very strange experience.

The Talking Heads have some great lyrics that go like this...

And you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?"
And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife"

Building without knowing why, but more so defining why,
I think is a lot like that song.

Someday you'll wake up, look around ...
And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"

You may wake up one day and realize you've created a life that was meant
for someone else instead of creating the life that was meant for you.

We see it all the day, hear about it in the news, read it in magazines.
Famous people that chased the dream, just to wind up front page news the day
they realized it was a house of cards, depressed, unfulfilled and unsatisfied.


I know that's a little depressing.
But I see it all the time. People frustrated that "it isn't working."
I think the root of that problem is the simple fact they aren't aiming
towards something at a personal level that they have defined for themselves.



.
.

[Delton Contribution Level: 2]

Richard, I don't like to compliment people on answers they give to a post but You deserve
one here. You did a great job with your answer. Now I know who to look for when I need an
answer.

[Jerome Ratliff Company: Nu Skin Enterprises Contribution Level: 4]

I hesitate to say this, Bob because it should not be misconstrued...but you can build a business without a why. How is that possible? Well many, many successful people were unaware of their "why" all the while they were taking action and getting wonderful results. The key word there is UNAWARE and it wasn't until after they had success or they reached their breaking point did they ask themselves "why" should I do this and for what reason.

So yes, it possible. But in reality, their "why" was actually so embedded in them that they were using it as fuel to feed their actions.

Jerome

[Lynda Cromar Company: Empower Network, LLC Contribution Level: 9]

A WHY alone means nothing if there is not a purpose that drives you and makes you get out of your comfort zone and take action. So yes it can be over-done.

I can follow that up with a story. Early on when I got into the internet scene, I was introduced to a program by the people that had a system I was part of it. And we went into hyper-mode searching out our why reading from "Think and Grow Rich," and reporting to the mentor. The funny thing is, I saw people that never took any action at all. It became so cultish to me, that I was no longer comfortable there.

Many just stayed in that environment of massaging everyone and patting on the back, but seriously, there was no real action. I decided that its also about that daily action, that will lead to where you want to go. Reading and believing and a "Why that makes you Cry" is only a piece of it, not the whole thing.

Just my thoughts

Lynda Cromar

[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

Part of us live in a virtual world and part of us live in a real world. We can spend all of our days in the virtual world searching for our 'why'. It can get overhyped trying to find some connection online in our own virtual world.
But in the real world where we live, we can actually find out what people want, how they cope with life and other issues affecting their lives.
I got a chance to sit down with two ladies at the Ice Creamy and just talk to them. The daughter had her teaching degrees and in school for another degree. She was very large from a goiter disorder. I learned that everybody who is big in not fat. It may be a physical disorder and probably not from just overeating.
The mother who claims that she is not single, not looking to get remarried, still wearing her wedding ring, but is widowed. She buys her cars but is known that she never drives them.
By living in the real world, we can find our 'why' or understand why we continue do what we want to do in finding ways to help people to attain their goals.
"Finding Your Why" is not overhyped. We are only at the tip of helping people attain their goals and understanding why we do what we continue to do.

[Joyce Penner Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 8]

A WHY alone means nothing if there is not a purpose that drives you and makes you get out of your comfort zone and take action. So yes it can be over-done.

I can follow that up with a story. Early on when I got into the internet scene, I was introduced to a program by the people that had a system I was part of it. And we went into hyper-mode searching out our why reading from "Think and Grow Rich," and reporting to the mentor. The funny thing is, I saw people that never took any action at all. It became so cultish to me, that I was no longer comfortable there.

Many just stayed in that environment of massaging everyone and patting on the back, but seriously, there was no real action. I decided that its also about that daily action, that will lead to where you want to go. Reading and believing and a "Why that makes you Cry" is only a piece of it, not the whole thing.

Just my thoughts

Lynda Cromar

Lynda. I know your story well. There was a bigger why to what you were doing although it wasn't your why. You were involved with a master manipulator. Why would he want anyone to "do" anything when he could keep them massaging (I like that term) each other and his business and system just kept making him more money.

That was and is a classic example of manipulation for his own gain.
Joyce

[Adam Taha Contribution Level: 8]

I found myself wondering today about "My Why".

I've seen entire books and training courses dedicated to this subject -- finding your why and it's importance to your home business -- but is it really that important?

Can you build a highly successful home business without a "why?"

Bob, you can build anything without the reason why. Plenty of people successful today, in their jobs, earning from £25,000-£100,000 but as I've noticed, a time always come when the question is..

"Who is it really for and where am I going with this? Is it really worth it?"

There's a short clip in one of the famous novels which became a movie called Alice and the Wonderland. In this part the Cheshire Cat and Alice have Dialogue, and it emphasis this very point..

Alice - Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

Cat - That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.'

Alice - I don't much care where.'

Cat -Then it doesn't matter which way you go.

Alice - So long as I get SOMEWHERE.'

Cat - Oh, you're sure to do that. If you only walk long enough.'

Every week and month, I get people who contact me and need help. Always, the trouble is, they don't know where they going. And this is because the reason why is absent.

Oh, they say they know why but that why is not even theirs. It's from some hype, it's what most are doing and they have not made it their own. It's either some guilt of the past or proving to mother, father, friend, society and it's tearing them apart to not do what they love to do.

If a person doesn't know where they are going, then it sure don't matter where they end up. AND What they end up with.

Hence, like the reply of the Chesire Cat, 'You're sure to do that. If you only walk long enough.'

But is 'somewhere,' good enough for you. Is 'somewhere' going to do it for you. If it does which it has for many people in jobs, in life then great.

However, for most of us, 'SOMEWHERE' is not good enough.

We need to know why, because it gives us what most will not have due to the work it takes to make it crystal clear.

And this is where the reason why is bigger than most even conceive. It's more than the talk about knowing your reason why, the direction.

There's a bigger picture that's missed out here...

If we look at major big companies, the successful ones such as Apple, Orange, Virgin, and even great speakers and leaders like Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Steve Bob have a special ingredient.

Martin Luther inspired the world because he knew the Reason Why.
He could explain the why, and the people resonated with it. He could paint the picture, with stories of the beginning, the middle and the reason why. The dream.

And that's what he talked about first. When he talked about 'how' it be done - people were now ready to embrace it because they were inspired by the reason why.

That one day, black and white, all men and women of all colour shall walk together as brothers and sisters, as one. Where all shall be treated equal in the eyes of God. And we will do it with peaceful demonstrations, in unifying together as one people, for one common purpose.

That purpose was explained every time in the beginning instead of talking about the HOW.

Apple,
They knew their reason why and this enabled them to create a brand that explains it in the advertising, in their message and created a culture.

Your reason why then Bob, is not just defined for you. It defines it for your followers. It defines it for your potential customers. It defines it with whoever you meet in life.

It is the most powerful source which connects with your audience, your potential customers.

It also defines your purpose with crystal clear vision.

The WHY first. Then the how.

That's what sets things apart.

How leaders, successful growing company focus on the WHY...first.
The why tells the story to themselves and also to their staff, to the customers on the purpose, the direction - and this defines and creates the solutions, and....the CULTURE.

While most define the what and how first.

How Reason Why Is Defined In The Company's Brand Name
You can see their reason, the vision, the culture, the feeling, direction, the product solution in the name. And where they are going - because their advertising hammers the nail in, to make sure.

Orange doesn't have a name that says 'MOBILE DEVISES.COM.

It's called Orange.

Virgin isn't called Media or Flying Planes, or whatever.

It is called Virgin.

How Reason Why Helps Companies To Diversify And Adapt
Because successful companies got the reason why sorted first, it helped them to be ready to adapt. They understood about the science of marketing and branding than most ever will. You can see below what I mean...

- Virgin Media - Mobile phones, Internet broad band, and other digital products.
- Virgin Airlines - Flying people to countries, travelling, tourism.
- Virgin Railways - Traveling on train.
- Virgin Aerospace - Travel space.

Apple isn't called 'SellingComputers.com.

It's called Apple.

They did not start with...

- What
- How

They lead by greater purpose called WHY. This pilots from the ground up. It starts by..

- Knowing what your values are
- Knowing your reason why
- Knowing your greater purpose

How many go through the work to define these? We know who. The successful.

Someone who understand the reason why without text books but at a deeper level, can appreciate the world around him or herself. They see life bigger than they ever imagines.

They understand what is happening around them. They see concepts to ideologies and how these were created because the formula, the steps is the same.

They can see beyond the noise how these companies came out with their ideas, direction and the true meaning of these companies strategic planning.

The why creates their brand image and everything else. It is the heart of the business. Rip that out and the business dies.

It pilots your direction with determination, vigour, faith like attitude and passion.

These comapnies have looked way ahead.

They have questioned why they do what they do. They have questioned why they create what they create and for whom.

This defines the reason why to target a particular market, how and with what.

Can you see the bigger picture now Bob?
It's not just about you or me. Or we might as well do a blog with our name on it and call it Personal Branding.

Reason why defines who these companies hire.

This defines who they outlet too and how to outlet. The reason why defines the whole business, it's culture and direction.

That reason why is also in the name of the company.
They then use advertising to reveal the reason why, their culture, combining the BENEFITS of what they are selling with one powerful slogan splash.

They do that -while-at the same time - reveal a story as formed images (videos, billboards, televison, social media marketing) that goes with their customers life. Making it a PACKAGE.

It makes that business...UNIQUE and sets them apart from the....competition.

This Bob is called Marketing Concept Philosophy.

People call it "The Reason Why.'

We call it Developing a Marketing Concept from the Ground up. Instead of what sales did in 1920s, 1930's and focused on 'our products are the best.'

Why Marketing Concept is vital?
Because in 1920's companies created products in few numbers and where able to sell them fast.

After the mass production age came in, focusing on how "awesome our products are."

But then competition came in and so companies needed a different philospgy that sales concept philosophies. They needed a bigger reason why which connected with their audience and use a marketing medium to win against competition.

They would focus on the reason why when Televising their products instead of talking about the feature of a product. This connected with their audience, as it showed the customers life, struggle, family values etc. The reason why which the company stands for and how that's the reason why they created these products.

So, your reason why isn't just for you. It must be integrated into your business and the culture of your business, and the marketing too.


At a basic level and for an individual -
The reason why helps a person to first have meaning in their life. A greater purpose, with goals, vision.

This helps the person to shut off the noise easily because that person has a strategic plan that focuses on making this purpose, the vision, the dream realised. Every hype, every get rich, bounces off this person because they are not interested in these.

They know what it takes, what it needs and already have a plan. They are sticking with it no matter how big the hype becomes with campaigns online.

The person understands that success is far beyond material. You get material and then why? Growth stops.

Success is someone who knows what they want, why they want it and uses actions that works towards getting closer to achieving their dream.

How Reason Why Helps A Person Succeed In Life and Business
Below is the steps I took and this is from my note pad...

Start with define your values - My philosophy shapes my belief and attitudes, habits.
Why - giving meaning to my life, philosophy, pulsating desire and greater purpose.
Where - Gives me direction, goals through each stage.
What - The products, the solutions, what it does. Revealing what knowledge, skill, mentorship needed to remove these obstacles.
How - The Road Map. The master strategic plan, the marketing plan, the marketing medium. The type of team and mindset they need to have. The structure of the business. The NAME of the company. All on paper.

Why first. Then rest flows, bouncing one after another. I then filled in the gaps and I say right now, I am more focused than any of my relatives and crystal clear on where, what, how.

Hopefully, you see there is a bigger picture of the importance of knowing our reason why.

It is much bigger than just knowing what you want in life and why. It's not just about me, I. It's about the bigger picture. We live in a world of people and the why helps to connect to the people we want to associate with, sell to and attract.

It is more than just knowing your direction.

It defines the overall picture of your business and the message to the world on where you are going.

It inspires, and creates a movement, an audience that believe in your greater purpose and the products you provide.

It makes the audience emotionally attached to what you do, sell and say - with feeling of 'ownership' and feel a 'belonging' - because now your message connects.

Which attracts customers, investors and even media attention that share your purpose story, your reason why, and how your achievements is connected to that - which connects to people who value what you value.

People do not like being lead by someone who doesn't know where they going. Who doesn't know the bigger picture of their life, company and who doesn't know the customers reason why. It doesn't give sustainability which many crave for in their life.

The one who doesn't know their reason why - cannot tell me or anyone that they know what their customers needs are.

And that my friend is where the trouble starts for the majority who want to succeed in business and life.

For someone to succeed in providing what their market niche wants - they must start questioning themselves first on what they desire in life and why.

This this branches out to a more meaningful life and seeing the world with a perspective that is enriching to the masses they desire to serve.

Reason WHY is called in today's world....
Developing A Marketing Concept Philosophy which focuses on the satisfaction of the customers WHILE moving towards the companies goals and vision.

It cannot be done if the reason why is missing.

It needs leader, a captain of the ship who knows the reason why. That reason will inspire the team and people who will want to help, get involved.

Even when hard time happens, they will stick at it because of the reason why. That's another reason why it needs to be established. A big one because life will bring many challenges.

For individuals it's called:
Reason why. Developing Your Philosophy which develops your belief, which creates your attitude, which determines the habits, actions.

Hence the results in ones own life.

Adam Taha