Purpose and the inevitably horrible, deplorable, sucky, schmucky, no-good really bad day. { or } How to stay faithful to your core values

So you found your true purpose. Your “why you do what you do” that has helped your business refocus and will help your company become more profitable than ever. That was four months ago.

Now what?

Good question. It’s a question every business owner faces when the initial excitement of the Purpose Journey wears off. The newness of making purpose-based business decisions is gone, and now it’s Monday. It’s raining. Several employees called-in sick. Your server is down, your tire goes flat and … and you get the point. You’d rather just get through this day and be purpose-focused tomorrow. Welcome to what we call “Purpose-Based Reality.”

Committing to be a purpose-based company is the easy part. Carrying through with that commitment on a tactical, day-to-day basis is, well, not easy. Especially on no-good, really bad days. So what’s your fallback plan? You do have a default plan, don’t you? (Don’t you?)

And that’s where most companies fall right off track. Following your purpose is a lot like following a diet. It’s a great idea when it’s new, and the first few weeks go pretty well. You feel great – and then, you hit a plateau. That’s where the real work starts, and that’s where a lot of companies stop short. Just as they’re beginning to GET NOTICED for the positive changes they’re making, their changes lose traction, and the company backslides. That’s why you need a long-term plan.

Falling off your purpose path is not uncommon. It happens. You need a support person (or people) to help get you right back on track, and stay there. This is why it’s critical to be working with people who are just as passionate as you are about your company purpose. Set that check-and-balance system in place, and make sure your partners are just as loyal to your purpose as you are. There are days when they’ll need to get you back on focus, and vice-versa.

It also doesn’t hurt to have your core values written somewhere where you can always see them. On your dashboard, on your desk. In the foyer of your office. On your refrigerator. The easier it is to see them, the harder it is to ignore them. Even on Mondays.

If you’re still having a tough time staying focused, call me. Hey – admitting it is the first step!