You don’t have because you don’t ask… but do you even know what to ask for?
This is a question worth stopping everything to answer: What. Do. You. Want.
Simple enough, but it takes great thought to answer this because there is no right or wrong answer. Only the right answer for YOU.
This question surfaced in my own journey as a small business owner when I noticed my chronic procrastination—especially on tasks that directly drive progress.
Was I truly too busy to follow up with certain prospects? Or was I hesitating because they weren’t the kind of clients I wanted to work with?
Which led to this realisation, "Well, who do you want to work with?"
Another version of "What do you want?" Specifically for this to be exciting work.
Most of us don't take on the responsibilities and pressures of entrepreneurship to be bogged down by work that doesn't bring us joy. We ran away from that, but in order to create the business we love, we have to begin here.
So let’s get specific:
What’s your dream work?
What’s your ideal client?
What’s your perfect work-life balance?
What financial status do you envision?
What kind of community and network do you want around you?
What's the dream [work, project, client, work-life balance, financial status, community, network, ...]
When we know this, we can say, "NO, thank you!!!" to everything that does not match the dream.
This act of defining our own terms makes small business life SIMPLE and channels our DRIVE in one direction.
The Business You’re Building Shapes Your Daily Experience
Are you building…
A solo practice that allows flexibility?
A boutique agency with a small, dedicated team?
A startup designed for a massive exit?
A legacy business meant to stay in the family?
Your intention is the seed of your business.
This matters.
When you get up every morning to work on the business you're going to leave your children, it hits different [to use modern lingo].
The motive drives your actions.
If you need to get on some podcasts to promote your business (even if it's not your thing), there's an end goal driving your decision to do it anyway.
When you have a clear vision of where you’re going, it’s easier to do the hard things -- networking outside your comfort zone, or making strategic pivots.
The seed determines the fruit.
It’s Not About Wanting It Badly. It’s About Knowing What You Want.
There's that popular phrase, How bad do you want it?
But I don’t think success is about intensity of desire as much as it is about clarity around desire.
We know this! Everyone, if asked, will say they REALLY want to lose weight. But the person with a deep desire that is clear -- I want to lose weight to live well in my old age so that I'm not a burden to my children --THIS PERSON will get it done.
Clarity fuels action.
Don't shy away from having inner motivations; use them to create a mental environment (a mindset) that helps you to succeed. In business this means understanding your inner motivations—not just setting external goals.
We talk about creating external leverage all the time in business(marketing strategies, financial resources, team structures) but before all that, it starts with leveraging the way your mind works.
"Begin with the end in mind." ~ Stephen Covey, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
There are many tools, concepts, and practices to enhance productivity, achieve flow states, and aim for peak performance -- but before we speed up, it's wise to know the destination.
For Christian Entrepreneurs: Aligning With God’s Vision
For those of us who are Christian entrepreneurs, there's an additional layer: alignment of our motives with what is pleasing to God.
Sometimes, we don't have (or receive) because we don't know what we want exactly, and therefore, we never ASK GOD for it.
Other times, we remain silent before God about the dreams He placed in our hearts because of fear -
fear of failure,
fear of success,
fear of what other people will think ...
The Bible says in James 4: 2-3 :
"You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
If you lack joy in your business journey, pause, reflect and pray.
Ask yourself:
Am I aligned with God’s purpose for me?
Am I clear on what I truly want?
Am I pursuing success from a place of faith, not fear?
May your work cause you to leap out of bed every morning like a young child on Christmas day, with an expectancy of what God will present to you as you pursue His VISION.
"Lord, what would you have me do today? "
Blessings,
P.S. Need a quick boost of faith and confidence? 📖 Biblical Principles for OVERCOMING FEAR – a quick & inspiring read to help you move forward with courage!
📥 Download now and conquer fear with faith! ⬇️
P.S.S What's next? Leverage the way you naturally get things done.
For more on listen to this podcast episode, Maximize Your Performance by Tapping Into Your Strengths with Special Guest, David Kolbe
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