Getting Clear on Your Purpose

Have you ever had one of those days where you don't know what you're doing or why you're doing it?

Or you feel discouraged about pursuing your dream and you haven't any idea of how you're doing to make it happen?

That was me today.

Some of my appointments were moved around and I felt like I was losing momentum. What started out as a busy week felt like it came to a screeching halt with nothing to do. Well, of course there are things to do, but nothing that made me change out of my pajamas and take on the outside world.

And it's probably because I was cooped up all day. Alone in the house. One of the minuses of working from home, and working alone, there's no one to bounce ideas off of at any given moment. I have to make appointments with my colleagues to hang out. Sometimes, entrepreneurship can be a lonely road.

Oh man, I'm sorry to sound like such a downer today, but it's just one of those days.

So this got me to thinking about my purpose. My purpose behind my business. It's not to make a ton of money. It's not just to take pictures. It's a lot bigger than that. It's a lot heavier than that.

I attended a Business Planning workshop a few weeks ago where we had to write our mission statement. Before the workshop, my only recollection of a mission statement was the one from my high school. For some reason that was the first one I could think of.

And so we went through the mission statement writing process. It's not an overnight process. It's a constant work in progress. But this was a totally intriguing exercise because it really got all of us to think and consider what it is we do, why we do it, and for whom.

I loved hearing some of the mission statements of huge companies such as Starbucks and Disney. Starbucks' is " Our mission: to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time." Disney's is "To make people happy." I really enjoyed learning how everything in our business should revolve around and reflect our mission statements.

So my mission statement is still a work in progress, but since I'm talking about purpose, I wanted to share it here. To encourage those of you who do read this blog to come up with your own personal mission statement. I don't think you have to have a business to have a mission statement. Your mission statement should reflect you and who you are and why you do what you do. Whatever that may be.

Your joie de vivre may be your mission. Your mission may be your joie de vivre.

So what I came up with to reflect myself as well as my business is "To inspire others to live their passion." I didn't want to keep it narrowed just to photography, but broad enough to span to my other project, including this blog.

Have you thought about your purpose?

Have you ever written a mission statement?

Have you ever just had one of those days?

If you have, I'd love for you to share it in the comments!

Merci a tous,
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