Hey friend,
Most people say that getting started is the hardest part.
But I’d argue that staying committed is far more challenging.
Whether you’re starting a business, a YouTube channel, or posting on LinkedIn, there will be moments when you’ll consider throwing in the towel (I know I’ve had a few of those in the past!)
When times get tough, the only way to keep going is by remembering why you started all of this in the first place.
I’m a big believer that a strong WHY can conquer any HOW.
So today we’re going to talk about the importance of finding our why as creators and entrepreneurs, how to actually do it, and my own personal experiences.
Let’s get into it.
The importance of finding your why (and aligning your actions with it) cannot be overstated.
Recently, creator and entrepreneur Vanessa Lau gave us all a good reminder of that.
In February 2023, at the peak of her career, she shocked the world with an announcement:
She was burning down her 7-figure business and leaving social media indefinitely.
I’d been following her journey closely for years, so I was pretty surprised (and confused) at the news.
When Vanessa decided to quit, she had…
→ 700k+ YouTube subscribers.
→ 250k+ Instagram followers.
→ An $8M online course business.
Everyone had the same question: Why would Vanessa Lau leave at literally the best moment of her career?
This week, after an entire year of silence, Vanessa uploaded a new video explaining it all.
Vanessa’s journey began in 2018. After leaving a corporate job and driven by a passion to create, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a YouTuber.
Her channel found so much success that it soon evolved from content creation to online coaching and eventually to managing a growing business.
But as her business grew, so did her team, her responsibilities, and the pressure on her shoulders.
At some point, Vanessa realised that amidst the pursuit of success, she had compromised her own sense of self.
She was no longer building what she wanted to build.
Instead, she was building what others wanted from her.
So she quit.
To many, she was crazy, selfish, or weak.
But I believe there are so many powerful lessons we can learn from her experience.
Whatever we do in life, no matter how good or successful we are at it, will feel joyless if it’s not aligned with our WHY.
That’s why in tough times, I always try to remember my Why (and you should too):
I started my business to pursue entrepreneurship which I've always been pulled to and I also wanted to start building up my network as I know relationships are everything.
Recently I’ve realised that I need to update my why. If my intention to start a business was to become an entrepreneur and to build my network, that same why will not lead me to scale the business to its full potential.
My why was mostly about the path I wanted to choose, but now that decision has been made, I need to re-calibrate. Whether you know your why or not just remember it can change. Start somewhere and then adapt it over time.
For my lifestyle:
→ I want to have creative freedom in my work
→ I want to enjoy location freedom in my 20s
→ I want to create opportunities for myself and others
For my team:
→ I want to create an environment where my team can grow
→ I want to lead with love (if it's not the right fit for a team member at my business, I will help them find a better company)
→ I want anybody who works with me to say they were better off for it
For our clients:
→ We will treat our client's goals as if they are our own
→ We will not take on any work we can't fulfil to a high standard
→ I will never chase short-term cash
Context: I've let 7-figure business ideas pass me by since starting Amplify because they were short-term trends. I care about having high standards as this is my reputation on the line and I have that for life.
I know that finding your why can be challenging, so here’s a little framework that could help you.
Consider the three pillars of Money, Mastery and Meaning and answer the following questions:
→ Money: How important is financial success to me? What level of financial freedom do I need to feel comfortable and support my other goals?
→ Mastery: What am I passionate about learning or doing? What skills do I want to develop, and how can I pursue excellence in this area?
→ Meaning: What impact do I want to have on the world or others? What causes or values are deeply important to me, and how can my work or life reflect these?
There are no wrong answers here, but balancing these three pillars can help you design a roadmap that is not only personally fulfilling but also aligned with your goals and values.
P.S. Reply to this email with your why. I want to know you better!
What’s a big decision you’re avoiding?
When it comes to introspection, sometimes despite our best intent we can feel stuck making progress. Something I’ve learned recently is that until we make one or two large decisions in our lives they can create a form of mist.
Face the decisions, the mist will clear, and things will fall into place.
🎙 Podcast - Timing Your Light, Food and Exercise for Optimal Sleep, Energy & Mood (Huberman Lab)
- This podcast is incredible about the importance of sunlight. We can hear that it’s important to set our circadian rhythms through sunlight exposure, but it hits different when you understand why.
✍️ Twitter - Live Like The Main Character by Alice Lemée
- This year I’m living by multiple variations of “do it for the plot”. It’s easier to give advice than it is to take it ourselves, so I love thought exercises like this that help decision-making.
✍️ Twitter - Get The Big Questions Right by Ayman Al-Abdullah
- This screenshot sits on my desktop. It’s easy to get distracted from what truly matters in life and this re-centres me.
❝
Find your why and you'll find your way.
- John C. Maxwell
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