The case of the forgotten why

Several years ago I left the “corporate” world to run my own business. My objective: I wanted to do more creative work. And at the beginning, I did. I was screenprinting, mixing colors, creating daily posts, going to events, meeting people.. You know, all the things a “creative” entrepreneur should be doing. But then, worries started to creep in. Hmmm was I selling enough? Ah! I needed to make more money! How about investors? Ah! I needed to raise money! Was I wasting away my potential? Ah! I needed to get on track to run a unicorn business!

These thoughts led to important changes in my day to day. I started to replace my paint with spreadsheets. Brainstorming with Zoom meetings. Random musings with structured and very serious project plans. Very soon I managed to make myself miserable running my own business. Congratulations, Rita. 

I had escaped a corporate job that had started to feel like a jail (an air conditioned one with amazing people and free snacks) and was now building my own jail cell, brick by anxious brick. No A/C. Some snacks, mostly Doritos.

So yes, I left a job to be more creative and ended up being less creative. What happened here?

Here’s my take: I call this: the case of the forgotten WHY.

I got so busy focusing on the WHAT and the HOW, that I lost track of WHY I had started my own business to begin with. Life is hectic and we are constantly bombarded with different messages about what we should be doing to be successful, or happy, or balanced, more of this, less of that. It’s hard to not be influenced by these messages… that is unless you have your WHY super straight. Like tattooed into your soul straight.

Have you stopped to think of why you’re doing the job you do? Is it for the money, for creativity, for human connection…? That WHY, whatever it is (and there are no wrong answers) should drive your WHAT. Your WHAT are your actions and your actions….well…  they make up your life. So, no pressure, but it’s good to make the best of them.

For more rambly but amusing thoughts on work/life, check out my podcast Work on Joy. Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.