When you know what you’re fighting for it’s easier to stay on course and to make big decisions.
Whenever you approach a fork in the road, you ask yourself which fork would stay true to your “reason why.” Usually you won’t know all the details about both forks, but you’ll be happy that you can lean on your reason why to make an objective decision.
When you don’t know what you’re fighting for, it’s easy to get off course (you never really had a course to begin with). You’ll avoid most decisions altogether, and the ones you do make will lead you in confusing directions.
But it’s not good enough to have just any reason why. Some reasons are ineffective, and others can lead you to sacrifice other important things.
For example, “wanting more money” isn’t a very good reason why for two reasons. First, if all you want is money, your decisions can easily lead you to do things that will make you unhappy overall. You might harm other people or take on projects you end up hating yourself for.
Second, a reason like wanting money is selfish. Selfish reasons are very difficult to get support from other people to pursue. Instead of naturally attracting people who love your cause, you’ll have to go it alone or work your ass off convincing people about why they should care.
The best reasons why are the ones that will benefit lots of other people.
Helping other people reach their goals is the fastest way to reach your own, as the saying goes.
When you fight for change that will help others, people will want to help you. Some will rally around your cause and give you time and resources you don’t even have to ask for.
Whatever you decide to fight for, you have to believe in this thing deep in your bones. It has to make you feel something.
If it makes other people feel something too, you’ll be able to accomplish more than most people ever dream of.
I’m fighting to help people realize their full potential because life is an amazing precious gift. I’m fighting to empower people to start world-changing small businesses because I believe the world is a better place when motivated, creative people work for themselves doing interesting things instead of helping giant corporations that have no reason why.
When I fight for these things, I feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do. That’s how I know these goals are worth pursuing.
What are you fighting for? How do you know it’s a fight worth fighting?
This one hits me Corbett. When I get an email or even a tweet saying someone ran a personal best in a race or got over a running injury with the advice on my site, that makes me feel better than scoring another sale or client. Money doesn’t give you that warm feeling inside. Just helping someone achieve something worthwhile – and maybe a few drinks of course
I just found this post via Expert enough, and I’m impressed. I completely agree. Your choice of career and venture needs to be driven by the right desire. Not just for money, but for something more important: a human soul.
Showing kids and single mothers creativity is a sustaining option to fund your life and happiness. It is risky to ask the geniuses of the Internet to buy from us, spread the word about two radically intelligent kids and a daring mom-but my kids believe in you. Amazing isn’t it? My children have shown me they want to put American made customized products on the web so I can be home with them. The best part is, it inspires other moms to take the risk of an unpredictable paycheck and give their kids freedom to do what they dream: while they are young. If we had to give this risky fight a quote it would be Picasso:
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an Artist once we grow up.” We fight to keep artists creating every day, for the rest of their lives.
I am fighting to create the life that I want for my future children. A new mom at my day job recently came back from maternity leave and when I asked her how she was doing, her response was that she was working on “getting over the crushing guilt.”
When my husband and I have kids, I want them to be the primary focus of my life, which simply isn’t possible when I’m giving away 40-50 of my best hours each week to a company that doesn’t care about them. I don’t mean to say that parents who work are doing their children a disservice; just that I can’t get behind the idea that that’s the only way to do things. And I intend to fight that system by building the businesses that allow me to create my ideal family life in a way that I see fit.
Great write-up.
I’m fighting for a couple of reasons.
1. I just left the US Army about 2 weeks ago. I was active duty for 8 1/2 years. I have three combat tours under my belt and I’ve reached the leadership ranks. Most people in my situation would have stayed in. Halfway done with a 20 year career and I was actually good at it. But, as most civilians would assume, you don’t necessarily have a brain of your own in the military. As you gain more rank, you get to think for yourself a lot more. However, you are now required to start thinking for your subordinates. Not only do I desire the freedom to think and grow, I want it for others as well. So, because I left a STABLE and SECURE career with the military, I have to prove to myself that it was well worth it to listen to my heart and chase my own dreams instead of whatever General is in charge. That’s my professional reason.
2. I also have a family. Though I have no children of my own, my girlfriend and I raise her beautiful 5 year old girl. Sure, we’re not married… but I’m divorced. So I don’t jump into marriages anymore. I wait it out and see to it that we are where we are supposed to be before taking that leap. We are a family, though. Don’t be confused. Anyway, their future is in my hands. When we got together, she knew that I would be leaving the military in a couple of years. Though she wasn’t too worried, I let her know that I would accomplish my goals in life… and the standards were set high. When a person commits to a relationship, they agree to say “no” to the world and “yes” to you. That’s what she did by deciding to be with me. So, because she declined the world for me, I will make sure that she gets me AND the world. That’s my personal reason.
The “why” is my driving force. And I have some pretty important whys!
Love this post Corbett.
I’m fighting to change the world, one person and organization at a time. I’m fighting to demolish to false dichotomy between passion and money. I’m fighting to help others develop self-awareness and put it to work by changing the world in their own, very personal way. Because when the ripple starts, the influence keeps growing.
I believe in our ability to prosper in happiness and comfortable living, to bridge political gaps for the good of the world, to find the cure for puzzling diseases, to lift up one another and open doors to opportunity. And it all starts with helping one person at a time find their passion and put it to work.
I’m fighting for my Generation, Y. Because it’s time for us to step up and make a dent in the universe. And I know I can help.
I want to increase people’s overall health and help them realize that they can do it!
Exercise is not as hard as they think it is; It’s neither unpleasant as most people believe. It actually makes you feel better!
Exercise is not just a mean to achieve something else, e.g., exercise to lose weight, improve blood test results, etc.
Exercise helps you enjoy life more. Even after just 5 min of exercise, your body feels better, and you feel better psychologically too! This is what exercise is about! That’s the message I want to spread.
I’m fighting for my daughter. For her continued educational success, even when her school is having a hard time figuring out exactly what that means. To spend more time with her. To be PRESENT, not just occupying space in her world. That’s worth it.
Hey Corbett,
I recently started a self imposed challenge about overcoming fear of speaking in front of a camera on my site.
I did reviews on Amazon products that I currently use but I made it super clear right from the beginning, I was NOT doing it for a sale, it was the sole purpose of helping myself get rid of creating videos myself.
And you know what, not only a few have already starting to make progress on this issue by themselves but I also made one sale!
It is true that when you change the focus of what you do, from making some money towards actually providing value instead, money rolls in on its own.
Many say this but really few understand it and even less actually do it.
Great article buddy, keep them coming!
Sergio
Hey Corbett
Great post. I don’t know if the small business’ some people create are world changing, but they are certainly life changing for the entrepreneur and the people the entrepreneur touches.
With that said, I’m sure plenty of kick ass google engineers enjoyed their time in the machine. BCG consultants probably hate the work, but love the knowledge they gain while getting the pay checks and training… BEFORE moving into their own.
What do you think? Could you have started these successful companies without the experience consulting? What’s the learning/maturity curve necessary to really have the willpower to be successful.
cg