What’s your why?

Millions of self-help books have been written. Yet, many make it to several best-seller book lists and sell millions of copies.

?How is this possible when similar messages are being fronted in the majority of these books? And why should you go ahead and write a book if that is something you feel strongly about doing?

?Well, the thing is, what makes several authors able to sell their books is not necessarily because they are sharing ground-breaking revelations, but rather because they put their personal touch into their work.

?It’s the same thing with music. You can like several Rhumba artists or even Gospel artists who sing the same lyrics, praising God, but you have a collection of songs on your playlist from five artists. Why? There’s a personal touch that each musician puts in their music that resonates with you. In the same breadth, liking one artist doesn’t stop you from liking others in the same genre.

?What’s my point?

?I have seen many people abandon their dreams because they got discouraged by someone or people who asked them: “What’s special about what you’re offering”.

?Think of that person who wants to get into fashion design and has ideas of stunning pieces to make, but when she shares her idea of starting a fashion brand, she’s told: “The market is flooded. There are so many people in the fashion business. Look at all the ready-to-wear fashion stores in the CBD. What makes you think you succeed in the business?”

?And just like that, this person who has a talent in fashion design gives up on her idea and settles for an uninspiring job and let’s her talent go to waste.

?Today I want to challenge you to reflect on the things that energise you; the things you are talented in and have wondered if you should use your skills and pursue, but have been held back by the thought that “there are already so many people doing it”.

?So what!

?You can add to the number of those doing it and there is space for all to thrive.

?The only thing I challenge you to do before plunging in, is to ask yourself, “What is my why?”

?For example, do you want to get into the fashion industry because you have heard that there are good margins people are making and you want to make money too? Or do you have passion and skills in fashion design that you want to share with the world through styling, making pieces, and more?

?Can you tell which is a good why, that will enable you to keep going even when the path is not as straight and smooth as you would like and which one you might abandon if things don’t go as smoothly as planned?

?Aim to do purposeful activities and once your “why” is right, go for it.