Finding Your “Why”

Success is a product of passion, determination, and having a clear vision. However, to truly thrive in the ever-evolving competitive space like venture capital, especially when you are building something new, it is crucial to know and understand your "why.”? Simon Sinek’s viral TED talk gets to the heart of this theme of self-discovery and drives home the fact that your “why” should always be tied to your life’s purpose.

Here are my top tips on Finding Your Why

1): Align your actions with your values

Identifying your "why" allows you to align your actions with your core values. When you are clear about your purpose and values, you can make conscious decisions that are in line with your beliefs. For me, it has always been important to invest in women. Women who are entrepreneurs, like me.? I’ve faced many trials and tribulations as a female leader in male-dominated industries, and I want to share what I’ve learned to help other female entrepreneurs win. I “win” with them by investing in them! If I did anything else, it just wouldn’t be me. This alignment provides a sense of authenticity and integrity, building trust with investors and stakeholders and showing and proving my track record.?

2): Fuel your passion and motivation

Venture capital, and entrepreneurship in general, can be an arduous journey, filled with challenges and setbacks and with no clear path and no clear official training ground.? Quite honestly, my experience in VC and entrepreneurship has been a, “you're on your own” type of industry. It’s hard to know where to start and who to trust. VC is an “apprenticeship” industry where you have to “earn” the right to play on the field. ? A clear understanding of your "why" can serve as a powerful source of motivation and resilience. When you are driven by a deep-rooted passion and purpose, you’re more likely to persevere through obstacles, setbacks, and uncertainties. The "why" becomes the fuel that keeps you going during challenging times, allowing you to maintain focus and dedication to your goals.

3): Let your “why” guide your decision-making

In a fast-paced and competitive industry like venture capital, you are confronted with numerous decisions on a daily basis. By identifying your "why," you can use it as a guiding principle and intuition checkpoint for decision-making. When faced with choices, you’ll be more equipped to evaluate them against your purpose and values, ensuring that your decisions are aligned with your long-term objectives. This will help you to avoid potential distractions or opportunities that may deviate from your core mission.? I have created a decision-making tool that I share with my team, an investment “Scorecard.”? Every successful VC has something like this, but the one I have created not only includes financial metrics and KPI’s, but questions like, “Is this founder trust-worthy?”, “Do I want to work with this founder?”, and “Does this founder care about other founders? Does this founder have empathy? Are they resilient? Can they pivot when and if necessary? Do they have what it takes to overcome adversity?”? I look at my investments as part of my “family,” and we all want good people in our family.?

4): Inspire Others

When you have a clear understanding of your "why,” you are better able to effectively communicate your vision to others, especially LP’s (Limited Partners) when raising your fund, or asking to share an investment in other investment vehicles. Sharing your “why” helps you draw in founders, attract talent to your firm, and makes fellow VC’s want to syndicate and share startups with you. However, your story and point of differentiation MUST be authentic and real for it to be to have longevity.? Anything fake or fabricated will only cause you to fail in the end. When your “why” is authentic and real, it motivates others to be authentic and real.? A compelling “why” helps you create a network of supporters and collaborators who are passionate about the same cause, believe in your financial investment strategy, and see you as a leader and change-agent in the industry. I’ve loved doing this with my Blazin Babes and continue to do it as I expand my Blazin Babes empire, impact and legacy.

Identifying the "why" is a fundamental step for VCs to establish a solid foundation for their goals. It aligns actions with values, fuels passion, guides decision-making, and inspires others, leading to sustained growth, success, and fulfillment on your entrepreneurial journey.

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