What is your why in 2010?

As credits roll on 2009, before the lights come up and we move on to a new year, I suggest you answer this question: What is your why?

Next week gyms will be crowded, sporting goods stores will be sold out of workout togs. Many a diet will begin. Noble efforts every one of them; too many will fade and fail. Without an adequate why, the how has nothing to steady it when winds of resistance and same-old-same-old blow.

“If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will get you there”
–Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland.

Where will 2010 take your business and you?

Why before How is a principle every bit as important to your bottom-line as it is your waistline.Whether it be business practice or marketing initiative, failure to define your why in ten words or less that you can recall without effort will put the odds against your success.

Just like gyms and sporting goods stores, office supply stores will be a buzz with anxious buyers of organizational tools next week too. Every team is in first place on opening day and 1/1/10 seems a ripe time to embrace the latest organizational method.

Change comes from the most unlikely places

I can’t complain. You might not be reading these words had a man I worked for about 25 years ago not given Franklin Dayplanners to his employees as Christmas gifts. Many scoffed at the idea. I took it to heart.

After two weeks of listening to Hyrum Smith explain his system to identify and integrate my guiding principles, I found a why beckoning me to get into radio sales. That why led me to become top billing rep at a major station, then tops in the market, then out to start the firm I run today. Why? Exactly. Because I knew my why.

Your why may not be what you expect

Guy Kawasaki makes an excellent point: instead of merely making money, what if we all set out this year to make meaning in our businesses? Invest a couple minutes to watch and consider his suggestion. 2010 could be just another year of the same, or an explosive 12 months–if you’re willing to connect with and follow your why.