Why are you at the starting line? The importance of purpose

I should have started with why I start this on this blogging/ content creation journey as that's usually the first question to ask brand owners. Often, this question is intimidating and tough to answer off the bat if you aren't prepared. It is common to take decisions as they come, weighing immediate pros and cons, but what about future implications or the long-term plan?

Why is having purpose important?

A clear purpose is important to ensure foresight and motivation throughout a long journey such as brand building or in life. It guides big decisions that are in alignment with your vision, mission and values. This results in a sense of fulfilment for the value you have created. In short, it makes action meaningful and creates a positive difference to those around you.

Simon Sinek's Golden Circle – The What, How and Why

In his book, Start With Why, Simon Sinek introduced a framework that is great to start thinking about your purpose. Let's break down the framework below:

Why: This is the raison d'être (reason of being). Why do you do what you do? While most business minds would immediately think of profits, that's often a result. Dig deeper and ask why does your company exist? Why should a talented person work with you instead of another? On a personal level, you might ask why do you get out of bed every day?

How: Some people and companies know how will go about achieve their purpose. In business context, this often refers to the value proposition – how are you creating value for your customers and employees. For an individual, this is your guiding principles, your non-negotiables that guides your decisions and actions.

What: This is the easier question to tackle out of the three. What do you do? You can describe what you offer to customers or to others. This could be a product or service for a business, or skills, knowledge, experience, and perspective for a person.

Example: The Walt Disney Company's purpose statement is "to entertain, inform and inspire people around the globe through unparallel power of storytelling". Their purpose are detailed in verbs – to entertain, inform and inspire. They also included their how, which is through storytelling. Of course, Disney is known for many offerings – from animation, movies, theme parks to merchandises.

While in his book, Sinek recommended to work your way from inside to out of the circle (Why - How - What), most would flounder but have clarity on what they can do. There is flexibility to start with the "What" too - bearing in mind that they are merely the proof of your purpose. Ultimately people have to resonate with your "Why" in order to have their support and buy-in. I'd argue that there's no right sequence but what works for you to figure out your purpose through this framework.

My purpose for this venture – creating value

I confess that this content creation journey is triggered by the need to keep up with an increasingly digital world where creator economy is gaining more traction aided with AI and technology. Deloitte has projected the creator economy to be worth $250 billion and it continues to be the popular way that brands solve its branding and marketing efforts.

Aside from job security, this is also a challenge for me as an individual to create something of value independently – meaning not riding on someone's company or brand name to provide value to customers or clients. As I turned thirty last year, it felt like a milestone check and despite all that I've gained and experienced throughout my twenties, I somehow felt like I fell short (more on this next time). Importantly, I felt that it was time for me to stop dreaming and talking about building a brand, but actually do it.

So here's my purpose statement:

"To share and grow in knowledge and experience with an audience in the discovery and acceptance of self".

Till the next!

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Little lines of after thought:

• What are issues you see in the world that are yet to be solved?

• Which issue matters most to you that prompts action?

• Think of the legacy you may leave behind, what would you like to be known for? How have you positively contributed to your loved ones and community?