GNT #39: 5 simple questions to find your business purpose

read time: 2 minutes
 

Ever wondered why some brands, like Apple or Nike, just seem to get it? It's because they know their ‘why’, their purpose.

Purpose isn't a lofty, abstract idea.

It's a business' core, their essence, and it's what makes them unforgettable.  

Your purpose is your anchor in the storm (we all feel that storm at some point), preventing you from drifting off-track.

So if your business’s ‘why’ feels more like a ‘why not’, here are 5 decisive questions to help you clarify your business purpose.

Let's dig into yours.

1. What’s the REAL problem you’re solving?

NOT what your business does or the solutions you provide. But what is the real and painful problem are you solving?

Example: Airbnb

They saw the impersonal side of travel (problem) and transformed it into a journey (solution), into experiencing places with a local’s perspective, making travel more human, more real.

Deep Dive Exercise: 

Reflect on the change you want to bring. Are you merely selling a product or are you changing lives, even in a small way? Define the transformation from point A ➔ B.

2. What values and beliefs guide your business? 

Your values are your compass, they shape your culture and your brand’s personality.

Example: Patagonia

They took environmental conservation and made it their brand’s core, influencing every decision, from design to manufacturing.

Deep Dive Exercise: 

What are the non-negotiables for your business? What will you stand for, no matter what? Identify them, embrace them, and live them.

3. Who’s it for and what do they crave?

Your customers are your path to purpose. It’s about knowing what they truly want and need.

Example: Amazon

They understood our craving for convenience and created a platform where everything is just a click away.

[image: ABCsupplychain]

Deep Dive Exercise: 

Who are you really serving here? Dive into their needs, their wants, their pains. Know them better than they know themselves and build your brand around them.

4. What sets you apart in this crowded world?

Your uniqueness is your magic. It's what makes you memorable.

Example: Tesla

They aren’t just selling electric cars, they’re revolutionizing sustainable energy. They're pushing beyond preconceived boundaries.

[image cred: workforcesolutionscb]

Deep Dive Exercise: 

What’s your edge? Is it your product, your service, your approach? Define it, refine it, own it.

5. What's your end game?

Your long-term goal is your guide. What are the milestones to get there? 

Example: Google

They went beyond search queries. They’re in pursuit of a world where information is accessible, organized, and beneficial for all, shaping the future of information accessibility.

Deep Dive Exercise: 

Where do you see your brand in 10, 20, 30 years? Outline your vision clearly. What impact will it have? Break it down into achievable steps, measurable objectives, realistic timelines, and adjust as necessary.

5 questions to define your business purpose

1. What’s the REAL problem you’re solving?
2. What values and beliefs guide your business?
3. Who’s it for and what do they crave?
4. What sets you apart in this crowded world?
5. What's your end game?

You're well on your way to harnessing your business purpose.

See you next week!

p.s. I'm excited to announce my husband Ed and I just launched Saunable, a mobile, wood-fired sauna builder, rental, and event hosting company serving the greater southeast Minneapolis / St. Paul area. Check it out and see you on the bench soon! 🔥 

Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:


1. Need some guidance on personal or professional growth? I'm here to help. It's easy to book time with me. Book a 1:1 worksession with me now.


2. Have a problem you want broken down into actionable steps to solve? Send it to me and I'll write about it.

3. Want short, but meaty tips on growth systems for profit, purpose, and life. Follow me on LinkedIn