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What Matters?

Written by Manager on September 6th, 2013. Posted in Entrepreneurship

Business that Matters is not only our tagline; it’s a guiding principle. Every day, the Legacy Center team begins by asking, “What Matters?”. It’s a great reminder of why we’re here. When I go to bed at night, I ask myself, “What Matters?” and, “How did I live that question today?”. (Some nights my answers are better than others.)

Prior to asking you, “What Matters?” there are some other questions that need pondering:

  • Why isthis an important question in the first place? Very simply, your answers to, “What Matters?”, are the fuel that drives you. It’s the motivation that we all need to get up in morning, be productive during the day and sleep well at night. It’s what gets us through the tough times and creates new energy to sustain us in the good times. In a word, the answers to this question are our motivators, our mo-jo.

  • Who is affected by this question?You, obviously. You need the motivation to be creative, to keep going, to do good work. Others are also impacted though. Your family feels the effects of your mo-jo immediately. What kind of mood are you in when you get home from work? What “lessons” are you sharing with your kids? Do they know that you do good work and why? How much attention are you paying to your family? Others are affected as well. Your customers feel the direct results when you clearly understand the “why” behind what you do for them. You do better work. You do your work more happily. You go the extra nine yards. Your colleagues, partners, advisors, etc. also feel and see the effects when you understand and work from a philosophy of Business that Matters. They want to work with you. They send you referrals and you reciprocate. They respect you. They have your back.

  • What will you do with the answers? Ah, this is the critical question. This is the “Now what?” and “So what?”. It’s where the rubber meets the road. In other words, it does no good to explore why you do what you do if you don’t act on it. I can’t answer this question for you but I can suggest some thoughts for getting into purposeful, mindful action. First, once you answer the question, “What Matters?”, create reminders for yourself. Post it on the wall, your desk or on the bathroom mirror, create a bookmark out of them, tell your family, think about it at before bed and before getting up. Review your actions. Did you act out of what matters or out of some other motivation that isn’t really true to who you are. NOTE: Following ourAnatomy of Successtmmodel may help you to take purposeful action by making strategic decisions.

Ok-I think you’re ready to begin exploring question, “What Matters?”.

  1. Start by brain-dumping a list of whatever comes up. Here’s my initial list:
    • My family
    • My relationships
    • Being of service
    • Success discovery
    • Individual’s success
    • My growth/continually learning
    • Sharing what I know
    • Teaching
    • Creating
    • Caring-deeply about my clients, members, contacts
    • Legacy matters
  2. Then, prioritize
    • My family
    • My growth/continually learning
    • My relationships
    • Caring-deeply about my clients, members, contacts
    • Legacy-having lasting impact
    • Individual’s success
    • Being of service
    • Success discovery
    • Sharing what I know
    • Connecting
    • Teaching
    • Creating
  3. Now, combine any overlapping concepts
    • My family
    • My growth/continually learning
    • My relationships
      • Caring-deeply about my clients, members, contacts
      • Individual’s success
    • Legacy-having lasting impact
    • Sharing what I know
      • Being of service
      • Connecting
      • Teaching
    • Creating
      • Success discovery
  4. Clarify/combine/add/subtract
    • My relationships
      • My family
      • My clients, members, colleagues, other contacts
      • My self: continually learning & growing
    • Legacy-having lasting impact
      • Sharing what I know
      • Being of service
      • Connecting
      • Teaching: Writing & presenting
    • Creating real solutions to affect the individual,entrepreneurial leader’s as well as their organization’s overall success
      • Seeking & growing new relationships
      • Community structure (for support, accountability, connection to each other and other resources, knowledge sharing)
      • Learning programs
  5. Simplify-Can you get this into ONE sentence that reflects your overall purpose?
    • I am creating a program that affects the lasting entrepreneurial success ofpeople now as well as those coming in future generations.
  6. How about the purpose of your company?
    • The Legacy Center for Entrepreneurial Development is creating the solution to sustainable success in small business, moving from an 80% chance of failure to a greater than 80% success rate!
  7. Simplify MORE! Go from what matters and overall purpose to a MANTRA!
    • The 80% Shift!
  8. NOW-it’s YOUR turn! Share your greatness as you uncover and evolve your “What Matters!!