Discovering the Dreams for Your Business
This past December, Jane, a perky woman in her late thirties who owned an furniture and accessories store, came to me and said she was losing interest in doing the same thing day after day, week after week, year after year. She said she wanted something new. Something more engaged with people.
We went on to discuss her interests and passions. As we explored her desires and dreams an idea that came up was she could hire someone to operate her furniture and accessories store and she could start a related interior design business.
She was overjoyed with that thought and threw herself into grooming one of her employees to take over the store. That would free her up to develop the plans for the interior design operation.
I have found that many times people get trapped with their company operating as it is currently. They think they are too far down the road to change.
When in reality if you own a business you can always modify or change the direction in which you are going. I would like to examine a process you can follow to see if you want to change the direction of your company.
What you want to do is to look inside of yourself, and “discover” a specific business that could be right for you. But what does “looking inside yourself” really mean? Here are three basic questions to explore:
What are your dreams?
What are your dreams for your life? These could be new dreams or dreams from the past. As you reflect on these dreams, wishes, and goals, envision how they could translate into new direction for your business. Do not discard any idea as impractical or “wacky.” Write down your dreams so you can go back and mull them over.
What is your life purpose?
To discover your life purpose, ask yourself questions like:
- What things am I passionate about?
- What things are important to me?
- What things get me excited and energized?
- Is there something that I feel I just have to do to help society or mankind?
As you consider the above questions, imagine if any of these passions could become the foundation for your company. Write these down and, once again, do not discard any idea or thought as infeasible or unrealistic. What may assist you with this step is to create a “personal purpose statement” and consider that statement in light of your operation.
What do you enjoy doing?
As you take the time to review and examine all aspects of your life, think about what you really like to do. How do you spend your spare time? What do you enjoy doing and would do even if you were not getting paid to do it? Keep in mind that there are degrees of enjoyment; that is, do you like doing something versus do you love doing something? Try to find things or activities that you love. Consider activities that you do in your spare time or things that you just do for “fun.” Make a list.
Next, make a list of unique experiences or accomplishments whose process you greatly enjoyed. A tool that may help is to write down your personal life history from your childhood until now including the unique experiences that have shaped and molded the person you are today. By writing down your life history and your unique life experiences, you may be able to discover an idea that could relate to modifying the direction of your business.
This step is actually more important than many people realize—a number of studies have shown that if you do something you really enjoy, you will do it better than others, and you will be much more successful than a typical person in the same profession. Whereas, if you just go into a job only for the pay or start a particular business just because you think it would be a profitable business, but you do not really like the business, you will not be as successful or profitable than if you greatly enjoyed the very nature of the business.
By identifying your dreams, life purpose and what you really enjoy, just like Jane, you may find a new and more fulfilling direction for your business.
If you need assistance in applying this three step process to take your business where you want it to go, please feel free to contact us for assistance.
www.FountainheadConsultingGroup.com
Office phone: (770) 642-4220
