Welcome to Episode 103 of Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing

Welcome Aboard for Episode 103 of the “Praestabilis: Excellence in Marketing” podcast! We’re celebrating completing over one hundred episodes of this podcast and looking forward to more! In this episode, I’m asking the question “What is Your Why for Becoming an Online Entrepreneur?

During the years leading up to my coming online in 2006 and leaving my previous life behind, my “why” was building up to a single moment where there would be no turning back. But, I did not realize this until a year or so later because I was not in tune with my body and mind nearly enough to recognize the signs of what was occurring in my life experience. What’s your “why”?

I’m really not sure who coined this phrase – If your “why” doesn’t make you cry, perhaps it isn’t big enough, but I’ve now heard it multiple times over the years, across multiple different industries, and know it holds significant truth.

Answering the question “What’s your why?” leads you to statement of purpose that describes why you do the work you do and why you live the lifestyle you do. It is your calling. It is your conviction.

WHY did you choose the career you started your working life with? WHY did you get married, have children, and move into your first home? WHY did you make the conscious decision to leave your career at some point and start your business? WHY do you want to be an author or entrepreneur, or coach? WHY do you get up every single day and do the work required to become more successful on an ongoing basis?

Everyone must have a WHY and there are no right or wrong answers here. But if you find yourself unmotivated to work or if you find yourself procrastinating on projects, then it’s time to re-examine the main reason for your business.

Name Your Reason – or Your WHY – for Starting a Business

Focusing on your WHY can help motivate you, so write down your reason for starting a business on a regular basis. Did you want to fill your free time? Did you want to earn some play money or contribute to the family finances? Did you want to pay the medical bills of an aging parent or a sick child? Did you want to pay for your child’s higher education or private school tuition?

In my case, my answer to “what’s your why?” was always around having enough income to live life on my terms. Over time, I came to the realization that every choice I was making, and each time I could not do something that had meaning for me, was all related to me needing to earn a paycheck or a commission from the classroom teaching and real estate work I was involved with each day.

I missed just about every family event, vacation, and other activities because I was working 60 or more hours a week in order to cover my bills and other expenses. I wasn’t angry or resentful because I believed that I didn’t deserve to have a better life during those decades. This all changed in 2005 when I began reading books and attending events based on self improvement and personal development principles.

Writing these reasons down – no matter what they are because every person’s WHY will be different – should help motivate you to work hard. You should feel driven to make your business a success. You should be willing to tackle things outside your comfort zone because you know the end result will help your business.

If you’re not feeling motivated, then you need to dig deeper. I worked closely with a woman who was struggling to make her online business become profitable, and she continued to tell me that she had no problems or struggles in her life, currently or during her younger years. Then,