Many motivational books talk about finding your “Why?”. The thing that gets you up in the morning, what motivates you and keeps you pushing forward when times get tough. Your Why can be very powerful – many people simply want to prove someone wrong which can be one of the biggest motivators there is. “Turning others doubts into your motivation” is the very reason the employees you fire seem to thrive in their next position or why they turn into a competitor. Your Why can be something very admirable however – reducing the number of homeless individuals in your neighborhood or something as simple as you wanting the money to pay for your daughter to take dance classes.
When looking to market your business, your companies Why is just as important as the one you hold personally. Most companies devote time thinking of their why – this ends up being part of the purpose statement, the tagline, the mission statement, the rally cry, the core values, the thematic goal or whatever new buzzword they are calling it this year. Whatever your company calls it, it’s extremely important that everyone in the organization understand it, and support it. It’s what will guide every decision and provide every person within the organization a reason to put the effort in.
Companies that loose site of their Why are easy to spot and this frequently occurs when companies grow. Success can cause companies to forget what they started the business in the first place. When the message starts looking boastful or doesn’t consider the target market and the solution they provide, you can bet that someone is a little too proud of themselves. Yes, your business is successful, good for you! No one else cares!! …well maybe your mom.
