Remember Your Why

Remember Your Why

Four years ago, my wife and I took a huge step toward our dream by deciding to build our forever home. As our family grew, we realized our current home no longer met our needs. The excitement we felt during the planning stages was incredible. We carefully crafted every detail, from the layout to the color choices for each room, because this was a journey we had long envisioned together.

As construction began, everything fell into place. However, we soon encountered some unexpected and significant obstacles. Our local cement company in Trinidad and Tobago faced a strike, halting production and causing cement prices to skyrocket by 100% overnight. To make matters worse, we experienced financial difficulties that completely derailed our budget. Ultimately, we had to stop construction on the home we had dreamed about for so long.

This setback was not only challenging but profoundly disappointing. I found myself grappling with feelings of blame and lost enthusiasm. It felt like I had lost sight of my purpose amidst the struggle, which made the situation even harder to bear. During times like these, it’s so important to remember our “why.” Why did we choose this path? Why did we invest so much of ourselves into this dream? Whether it’s your career, your family, your home, or any significant goal, knowing your purpose can be a guiding light through adversity.

When challenges arise, and they inevitably will, it’s crucial to hold on to that initial inspiration. By focusing on purpose, we can support our families, our teams, and ourselves through difficult times. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the heart of our dreams is what truly sustains us.

In an impactful video talk, comedian Michael Jr. discusses the importance of knowing your “why,” as highlighted by Naphtali Hoff, Psy.D., a contributor for HuffPost. He shares a clip from a previous event where he asked an audience member, a music teacher, to sing the opening stanzas of “Amazing Grace.” The teacher began with a deep baritone voice and delivered the refrain flawlessly.

After praising his performance, Michael Jr. invited the teacher to sing it again, but this time, he asked him to imagine a scenario filled with sincere appreciation, such as a family member being released from prison. Unsurprisingly, the second performance far exceeded the first. This time, the song was infused with deeper emotions and feelings. The words were delivered with more animation, and the tone was more profound and vibrant. Michael Jr. concluded, “When you know your ‘why,’ your ‘what’ has more impact because you’re working towards your purpose.”

The late, great Dr. Myles Munroe once stated that the biggest tragedy in life is not death but living without a purpose. Your purpose keeps you alive and focused, and, most importantly, it provides the excitement and energy necessary to keep pushing forward and overcoming challenges. Many leaders who transformed their industries or communities faced their own difficulties, but they persevered because they understood their purpose. They consistently reminded their teams of this purpose and recognized that their mission in life was far greater than mere self-preservation.

You can never climb a smooth mountain and reach the top. Challenges are part of the journey; they are how we grow, improve, and ultimately become better. To remain relevant in your industry, your purpose must be the driving force behind you.

In Simon Sinek’s now-famous TED Talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” he presented a simple yet powerful model for inspirational leadership: the Golden Circle and the question “Why?” Sinek explains that the fundamental difference between “Apples” of the world and everyone else is that they start with “why.”

Because Apple begins with “why” when defining its company, it attracts customers who share its core beliefs, as Sinek puts it, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” When Steve Jobs returned as CEO of a nearly bankrupt Apple, he discontinued almost 80% of the product line to focus on just a few key products.

Jobs returned the company to its purpose, emphasizing that core mission and infusing it throughout Apple. Today, Apple is one of the world’s most valuable companies, disrupting industries with its breathtaking and innovative products and services—all because it rediscovered its “why.”

In 2007, Ford was on the brink of bankruptcy when Alan Mulally took over as CEO. To put Ford’s situation in context, the company recorded a loss of $12 billion in 2006. Mulally refocused Ford on its original values, which became the catalyst for its remarkable transformation. If you aspire to become an inspirational leader, you must always start with your purpose; begin with your “why.” While the journey may be challenging at times, your purpose—and a shared purpose among your team—will help you navigate through difficult times.

About The Author

Gifford Thomas is the founder of Leadership First and understands the challenges that many leaders face. Gifford is deeply committed to sharing the best inspirational quotes and articles to encourage and uplift every leader by providing a daily dose of inspiration to support you through your leadership journey.