One of the most significant things I believe anyone can identify for their life is there purpose or “why”. I coach and train professionals on developing their strategic or business plan and goals. I’ll ask the question, so at the end of this year, what do you need to see happen so you say, “This has been my BEST year yet!” Often with just a few questions they will get to an answer. Then I ask, “Why, is that important to you?” OR “For what purpose?” I often get some superficial answers like, “That’s the most I’ve ever done,” or “It will pay the bills,” etc. The reality is if that is your purpose chances are that “why” will not get you up out of bed when you want to quit. It will not be enough to pull you through when things get hard, when you’re tired, when it’s easier to just get to enough – and you risk never reaching or exceeding your potential much less your goal.
The “why” is that emotional connection that will create action and change. Think about any significant change you have ever made in your life and you will find it was driven by emotion. Emotion is what creates action. Without a positive emotional connection we will simply resist and what’s at risk is staying the same or not reaching the goal because we didn’t have enough of an emotional pull to get us through to the other side.
Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Peace Prize winner found that people make decisions emotionally first and rationally second. So the next time you set a goal or make a strategic plan make sure you have it securely anchored in a positive emotional purpose. A “why” that pulls you through the pain, discomfort of growth and change. Don’t settle for enough until you’ve reach your potential!