Being an entrepreneur is hard — there’s nothing that’s ever going to change that.
So what motivates you when times get tough? What’s your personal “Why?”
When I first met Nicole Walters, her energy and drive to create a new life for herself reminded me of how hungry I was when I first started my business.
Because it’s easy to forget that being an entrepreneur means more than just hustlin’ or working 60-hour weeks.
Something drove you to risk the non-traditional career path and choose a less secure life…
And staying connected to that “Why?” — to your purpose as an entrepreneur — is one of the best ways to empower your business.
Here’s a little of Nicole’s personal journey and why she chose to be an entrepreneur, in her own words:
“Entrepreneurship is hard, and I think we have a tendency to make it seem like if we just had a magic recipe, whether it was the numbers or the algorithm or if you could just figure out Facebook ads…
That all of the sudden you could unlock your success. You would unlock riches. You would unlock your freedom.
But the truth of the matter is no matter what it’s going to be hard, and it’s not for everyone.
And that also means that the thing that’s going to keep you going day in and day out is going to be a strong “Why?” — a strong sense of purpose.
You need to know what it is you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
I just adopted three kids from foster care, and my three girls are my “Why?” every single day.
They’re a symbol of resilience, they’re a symbol of strength, and they’re also a symbol of the fact that if people decide to live in their own purpose and pursue their own destiny, anything is possible.
At the end of the day, my real “Why?” is so that I can show my girls that people who look just like them and started just like them with nothing are able to do anything and make a huge impact in the world.
So whether you’re a mom making hair bows or you’re a subscription box owner or you’re a digital marketer helping people with social media…
There’s a “Why?” behind why you show up every single day, and people need to know that.
That’s what’s going to make them buy from you and stick with you.”
You know there are easier and less demanding careers than being an entrepreneur.
But if you stay connected to your personal “Why?” — to whatever it was that motivated you to start your business — and you communicate that to your customers and your team…
It will help motivate you through the difficult times and help you enjoy the success when it comes.
Highlights:
0:15 Entrepreneurship is hard and it’s not for everyone
0:22 The thing that is going to keep you going is a strong “Why?”
0:42 If people decide the live in their own purpose, anything is possible
1:14 People need to know your “Why?”