On Purpose

"Companies that have and exude a core purpose
outperform their peers 6:1."

- Jim Collins, "Good to Great"

Those of you that know me know how much the book and video "Start with Why" influenced the way I looked at the power of the "soft concepts" of coaching people to be better leaders and build better companies. As an old corporate guy, I always thought I would be helping people 90% of the time with the "hard business concepts", and maybe the other 10% would revolve around these so called "soft things", the personal development, habits, focus, motive and building things.

I have found that nothing could be further from the truth. We spend a lot more time working on the habits, the discipline and the values and core purpose of an organization than on anything else. That work pays off many times over and produces the biggest bang for the leaders and their companies.

The very first thing I would suggest you do in a journey to get your business to the next level is uncover the core purpose of your business. You know what you do, you know how you do it, but have you ever thought why you do it? This is your core purpose for coming to work every day.

Defining and communicating this not only to your employees but to your customers will do more than anything to grow your business profitably.

Purpose makes you money, it drives sales, it attracts Ideal Customers, it inspires your employees, and it inspires you.

Purpose does not have to be world changing. It simply is how you help people have better lives by doing what you do, how you do it, and why you do it.

For example my purpose is:

"Helping business owners build better, more profitable businesses so they can realize their dreams."

What do I do? I'm a business coach. How do I do it? By learning, sharing this learning and creative problem solving (these last 3 things are my personal Why's , I love doing them, I'm having fun while I do them and I am doing my best work when I am engaged in one of these 3 things. Regardless if it is at work or home, this is where my passion comes from. )

Study after study shows that salespeople who understand and believe in their companies purpose outsell their "benefits and features peers" time after time. They have that added passion of believing what they are selling will help people instead shooting for a target or incentive by commissions.

What are your Why's and what is your company's core purpose? Think about it and define it, then communicate it over and over to employees and customers. It is powerful when you do something on purpose.

To get started check out this 18 minute video:
 

Start With Why

 

All the best,

Rick Wallace

What's Important?

"Time is a created thing.
 To say, "I don't have time" is to say, "I don't want to".- Lao Tzu 

From Steve Chandler:  

"When something really important comes up, I create time for it. 

So my question at the beginning of my day is going to be WHAT DO I WANT TO MAKE IMPORTANT? 

We are more creative than we realize,  especially when we activate our creativity as a deliberately chosen action. Soon this activation grows like a muscle grows when you use it more."

 

All the best,

Rick Wallace

Zuckerberg - 6 Secrets to His Success

"Great minds have purposes, others have wishes."

- Washington Irving

The 6 Secrets to Success from Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg were disclosed recently in an article from an insider who worked with him to build the company. As they embark on a huge IPO, I think it is helpful to peer into his world and see what he views as the keys to his success. 

1. Believe in yourself.
2. Just get it done - even if it is isn't perfect. "Don't let perfect get in the way of good", you can tweak it later.
3. Stick to your vision - tune out the naysayers.
4. Loyalty breeds success. "Helping other people actualize their dreams and hopes is central to how the world turns."
5. Live below your means.
6. Follow your passion - not the money. His "why" or core purpose is to "make the world more open and connected."

Read the whole story here.