Mindset #4 - Integrate your why & your values

When I was first starting out in business, one of the most common questions I heard was: Why do you want to be an entrepreneur? For most people asking me this question, it felt like their way of projecting their fears onto my decision. Many people wouldn’t trade the stability of a “traditional” job where so much is familiar or decisions are handed to them by other people. 

Because my dad was an entrepreneur, this path seemed like a forgone conclusion once I began grad school in psychology. Therefore, I didn’t spend nearly as much time on getting clear on my why before jumping into this way of life. My quick answer at the time was probably: “because I can” or “because I don’t like being told what to do.” While both of those are true (then and now), it doesn’t tell the full story of why I chose – and continue to choose – the problems and stress of an entrepreneurial life over the problems and stress of working for someone else.

Building a business, staying in business, and cultivating a life – these are some of the most challenging, rewarding, frustrating, exhilarating, exhausting, and fulfilling things you can experience. When it’s built on the foundation of your why and your values, it becomes easier to weather the storm and much more meaningful when you have success.

As a part of our 10 E Mindset blog series, let’s dive in to Mindset #4: 

Integrate your why & your values

Let’s break this down. 

Mindset

The belief or attitude behind this mindset is this: your why and your values are the foundation for building the business of your dreams. This is your business – there is no need to feel like a square peg in a round hole. As an entrepreneur, there is no mission, no vision, no goals, and no values until you create them. When you understand your why and your values, you have a much better chance of creating a business that you love - one that truly reflects who you are, who you want to be, and what is most important to you. Now, doesn’t that sound like a business that you would be excited to work for and be more than willing to fight for in the face of adversity?

Action

When you embrace this mindset, the first action you’ll take is one of reflection. Your why and your values will likely evolve along the way as your life and business changes. Pause and consider these questions as you work to identify your why and values in this season.

• Why is it important to you to own and operate your own business?

• Why is private practice a better fit for you than another job?

• Why are you ready to take on the challenges and uncertainty that are inherent in being an entrepreneur?

• Why now?

• What really matters to you?

• What do you want your life and your work to be about?

• What personal strengths or qualities do you want to incorporate in your business?

• How do you want to show up (for yourself, with others, and in spaces)?

With that clarity, your why and your values can then serve as the foundation for many of the decisions you make in your business. Here’s just a few:

• What services or products you offer

• What technology you use

• Who your ideal client is 

• What partnerships are a good fit

• How you market

• Your pricing

• What boundaries you set

• What you wear

• How you communicate

• What gets a “yes” or “no”

• Your branding

Benefits

Integrating your why and your values - as a mindset and action - ultimately helps you and your business to function smoothly and sustainably. By clarifying and understanding your why and your values, you have a compass with which to operate your business. Most decisions can be filtered through that lens, which brings confidence when you’re faced with opportunities. 

When your business is built on top of the foundation of your why and values, you can show up in a way that feels authentic and meaningful. You’re not having to pretend to be something you’re not - instead, you’re able to build a business that is a perfect fit for you and feels in alignment. Overall, this makes this entrepreneurial journey, as difficult as it can be at times, much easier and more fulfilling. It’s no wonder we built in exercises early on in our Establish course to help budding entrepreneurs uncover their why and decide on their values - something we both wish we had done when we were getting started.

Time to reflect: What is your why? What values are most important to you? What foundation are you building your business on?

Want to dive further into this? We recommend checking out Start with Why by Simon Sinek.