What do Starbucks, Apple and Ben and Jerry’s have in common?
They all make tons of money, right?
Wrong!
Well, those businesses all do make heaps of money but that’s not what I want to talk about here. What I do want to draw your attention to is the fact that all those companies were founded by people who cared more about an idea than they did about the money. Let me explain…
Steve Jobs dreamed of a streamlined computer that was as beautiful as it was simple. So simple and intuitive, in fact, that even your 90-year-old grandma could learn how to use it.
Howard Schultz dreamed of a coffee shop that was so cozy and inviting that it would feel like an extension of your living room. A place where people would sit around all day working, chatting and meeting the locals without worrying about taking up too much space or being kicked out.
Ben and Jerry’s didn’t just want to make delicious ice cream, they also wanted to make life that bit better for those around them. They dreamed of creating prosperity for everyone connected to their business – suppliers, employees, farmers, franchisees, customers, and neighbors.
What got these visionary business leaders out of bed each morning was not the thought of making money, it was the thought of making their mark on the planet. Of adding their unique stamp to some small part of the world. Sure, they might be making a few million/ billion in the process, but that was not the sole driving force behind their taking action, day in day out.
We all have a little bit of the dreamer inside of us. We all have something we care about so deeply we would do almost anything to make it a reality. Some of us have to dig deeper than others to find that thing.. But I promise it’s there. You might think you only go to work to get your paycheck and that the best hours of your life are those spent outside the office, and that might be true for you. But I want you to know that there IS another way. If that’s really how you are living out your work days, you may be missing out on not just fulfillment but also profit.
Yes, profit! Apple was recently valued at $206 Billion. Starbucks was recently valued at 30 Billion. Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s was recently reported to have a net worth of 150 million. Living your dream does not have to mean living in a shack in the wilderness and subsisting on the land. Some dreamers make a lot of money from their dreams, but what is it about living out dreams that brings success?
Few people had heard of British-American author and motivational speaker, Simon Sinek before 2009 which is when he published his first book (and accompanying TED talk sensation) “Start With Why.” Today, his book graces the bookshelves of top CEOs and business masterminds the world over.
Sinek, in his sheer genius, realized that “people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” The most successful businesses in the world, and the most brilliant leaders, all have a very clear vision of what they want to achieve and usually, that vision is also their passion. Sinek noticed that “very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY I mean your purpose, cause or belief – WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?” Those that can answer these questions, and communicate these answers, clearly to their customers and fans, are the ones who really win at business and at life. Says Sinek, “all organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.”
We all dream of finding work so meaningful and fun that we don’t consider it work at all, but how many of us get to really live that way? Go to any first-grade class in school and ask how many kids want to run a kitten hospital, be a firefighter, astronaut, inventor, or sweet-shop owner. How many of those kids are living the dream twenty years later? True, they might have changed their minds as they grew up but do you really believe so many of us dream of being accountants, actuaries, engineers, and lawyers. By the time most of us reach college age, we have hung up our cat syringes, helmets and hoses in favor of spreadsheets, calculators, and hefty textbooks. We throw away our dreams in pursuit of what we think will bring us safety, stability, and comfort. But sometimes, we inadvertently throw away the baby (aka. our dreams) with the bathwater!
But then someone like Steve Jobs, or Howard Schultz comes along to remind us that pursuing your dreams isn’t just frivolous and stupid, it’s the very best way to make your mark and simultaneously, open the door for possibly the greatest success of your life. Why? Because when we live our passion, we can light up the room with our enthusiasm. We actually want to get out of bed every day and work on that thing we feel so strongly about. We actually care enough to put in the hours, the blood, sweat and tears. And it shows. Your customers can see it. People who feel such a passion for what they are creating in the world simply infect others with their enthusiasm, paving the way for ultimate success.
So where does Purple Chia come into all of this? Much as we wish to be considered on par with the Steve Jobs’ of this world, we are not quite the same (our bank balance is a bit smaller!) however we too have a dream. We too dream of using our talent to contribute to those around us. To use everything we have to offer to make our corner of the world shine just that bit brighter.
We (Emily and I) were two, bookish, extroverted-introverts, living largely uneventful lives in the USA and England (respectively), almost single-handedly keeping Amazon afloat with the sheer volume of Kindle books, Audibles, paperbacks and hardbacks we would buy each year. Just two gals with a passion for words and a “big love” for communicating. We might never have met had we each not each individually, families in tow, left our home countries to pursue the dream of living in one of the most exciting and dynamic countries in the world – Israel.
The startup scene here has literally knocked our socks off! So much talent, innovation, drive and sheer guts to get out there and “do”, all stuffed into one tiny, postage-stamp of a country. We wanted to do our bit to help out and naturally, we turned to our true gift and passion – words.
We don’t write because it offers us the possibility of a stable income in our native tongue. Nor because we were good at writing essays at school (heard that one before?) We write because we have something to say and we know you do too. So many business-leaders are brimming with ideas and vision but the gift of communication eludes them. And if you can’t communicate who you are, you have very little hope of thriving in a competitive market. That’s why we are dying to become the mouthpieces and keyboards for all those amazing businesses out there that need our talents.
Yes, we found our “why”! Now we want to help you find yours (if you haven’t already). And once you’ve found it, we want to help you shout it from the rooftops so all those who could benefit from what you offer, will know where to find you. As Sinek said in Start with Why, “We are drawn to leaders and organizations that are good at communicating what they believe. Their ability to make us feel like we belong, to make us feel special, safe and not alone is part of what gives them the ability to inspire us.”
You see, we know that when you tap into YOUR why and start communicating it loud and clear – as we and so many before us, have done – magic will start to happen for your business. Let us be part of that magic.
Talk to us today and see how we can help your business define, and communicate your “why”..
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