Ask Yourself Why?

I just hosted a teleconference the other day for my Business Club members, and I talked about the reasoning behind the topic of my new book. I wrote A Different Business after realizing that my most successful client relationships came from working with those entrepreneurs who were driven by purpose in business. Purpose-driven businesses have a reason that drives their business, they're less chaotic, less undecided, and they don't create completely different businesses every year. It's as if this purpose drives them to be different in business and create meaningful office cultures and services.

So just the other day, I decided to do an exercise that I gave to my clients--I sat and thought about the real reason I started my business and formulated my purpose statement. Two days later, I ran across the first brochure that I created for my company. Within my mission statement then, were the words I had infused into my purpose statement now--"help create a level-playing field for people starting a business."

What I realized was that the "how" changed for me but the "why" did not. The mission for Isaac Business Services is this,

"To create a level playing field within entrepreneurship for new entrepreneurs; where everyone has the chance to be star players."

We do this through simple business planning methods, simplified business education, personal relationships and accountability, a one-stop-shop of business advisors, individual hand-holding, business club environment, etc. We still have far to go (and a website to update if I must be honest), but I can assure you that we'll be around for the long-haul.

Some people may say that entrepreneurship is already about a level playing field so why bother? But is it? When centers for entrepreneurs host classes that are taught by non-entrepreneurs, is it really a level playing field? When business planners charge $8000 or more for business planning services, and cater to mid-sized businesses, do new entrepreneurs really have a chance to play on that field? When certain institutions only offer training and funding to new tech-based companies, is it a field where every new entrepreneur can be a star player?

If you want to find out the "why" that drives your small business, do this simple exercise I gave to my clients. Draft this short sentence for yourself and fill in the blanks:

I help people _______ because I truly believe that if they ___________ they will be able to __________.

It's a short and simple statement but it will lead you to your purpose in business.

Some say that it is too premature for a new business to create a mission statement. I disagree. Every business, no matter the stage, has a reason for starting. The responsibility lies on the shoulders of the founder to dig deep and find the core of his/her business' existence.

Cheryl Isaac is a business planner who helps make business planning simple for new businesses and small businesses starting something new in business. She is the author of the book, A Different Business and the Founder of Isaac Business Services.

Posted in: A Different Business Book,Columbus small business conference,new business,small business book