Discovering Your WHY
A few weeks ago, my PR Firm took the plunge and started a Personal Branding service offering in partnership with the good people at Futuresoft.
One of the key elements in building a personal brand is discovering your WHY. This is where it all begins with our personal brand clients.
The search for one’s purpose can sometimes be an uphill battle, some stumble in their searches, while others make successful discoveries. Receiving clarity very early on, they know exactly where and how they want to impact but for most the search for purpose is a daunting task, however, it’s one we must conquer.
Discovering your WHY provides direction and that direction gives confidence in decision making. You will have clarity on why you’re doing what you’re doing, why you want to do certain things and why you would refuse to do certain things.
Simon Sinek, author of the book Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Finding Purpose for You and Your Team, writes that it is only when you discover your WHY that you’ll be more capable of pursuing the things that give you fulfillment. It will serve as your point of reference for all your actions and decisions from the moment of discovery, allowing you to measure your progress and know when you have met your goals.
For me, my journey to discovering my WHY started in 2006. It was my final year in secondary school, with A Levels and University as the planned next steps. I had a natural flair for accounting, although I found it particularly boring however, I loved writing. This was evident, I was the president of the student press club, a member of the debate club which required penning carefully thought out arguments and I regularly enrolled in speech writing competitions. At this time, I had made the decision that moving forward I will only study subjects I had an interest in. This was influenced majorly by my secondary school experience where I was forced to take on subjects I had absolutely no interest in — still hate biology! This began the journey to discovering my WHY. My A Level subjects had to be a precursor to my chosen course at university which had to be aligned with my future profession. I wanted to be intentional, to know that the steps I was taking were towards a goal — a desirable outcome.
Fast forward to years after my undergraduate degree in Global Communications , a career in lifestyle journalism with BellaNaija and finally establishing my own PR Firm, my WHY is:
To positively impact the media and communications landscape through policy and to build legacy brands known for their commitment to community and for supporting enterprises and startups to innovate, accelerate and grow.
This statement is the source of my short, mid and long term goals. It’s the driving force for every decision I’ve made and will make. It’s my compass through which I navigate the world.
In order to find your personal WHY in life, you really have to take a shovel and dig deep down in your conscious mind and ask yourself a few questions, and be 100 percent honest with your responses.
- Why do you get up everyday and do what you do?
- What activities do you do that give you the most fulfillment?
- What will make you get up in the morning with joy?
- What are your innate strengths?
- Where do you add the greatest value?
- What do you want to be remembered for?
Answering these questions truthfully will get you closer to discovering your why and unlocking your purpose, which is a total game changer.
The power in discovering your WHY cannot be overemphasized. A clear sense of purpose enables you to focus your efforts on what matters most, compelling you to take risks and push forward with determination and courage regardless of the odds or obstacles.
Ijeoma Balogun is a Communications Specialist — Consumer, Lifestyle & Tech with experience in CSR Strategy Implemetion and Brand Building across Mass and Niche markets.
