Why do you do what you do?
What makes you tick? What is at the very heart of your passion?
These are the questions I’ve been asking in order to find my Social Mission, the deepest Why? Of my business.
Keep asking “Why?”
Recently I was told if I want to get to the root of why I’m here I need to keep asking Why?
I’m looking at a business where my profits go towards running craft and art classes for homeless people
Why?
Because I want to build confidence in homeless people
Why?
Because I don’t think they see their value. I don’t think others see that they have a value.
Why?
Because living on the streets makes you feel worthless
(Some Whys can be more specific – you might need a critical friend for this)
Why homeless people?
Because everyone else has something of their own
(If you hit a wall try backtracking)
Why art and craft?
Because it’s what I know…
…because everyone can draw or make something…
Why?
Because people appreciate art & crafts
When you’ve been beaten down its hard to accept love for yourself, it’s easier to accept appreciation for what you do rather than who you are.
Maybe learning to be appreciated for what you make is the first step towards accepting appreciation for who you are.
Why is it important to accept appreciation?
Because maybe, if you can accept that others love and appreciate you, the next step is loving and appreciating yourself.
Why is that important?
Because, can we really change for the better if we don’t love ourselves?
Because I know what damage hating yourself can do.
I believe change comes from a belief in self worth.
I believe that art & crafts can be learnt by everyone.
I believe that creating space for arts and crafts can be the starting point.
In my own situation, life started to change when I met people who believed in me, but it was only when I learned to believe in myself that life changed permanently.
I believe if I can create an art space where everyone is accepted then lives can begin to change.
If I can show people who feel worthless, their value, I can begin to turn the tide of lives wasted.
If I can begin to change a few lives, we can change the world.
Betty Virago 
I like the excersize of drilling down to the ‘why’ of each answer. It can get sticky, but ‘why’ is the question worth asking.
warmly,
Beth
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I think, if you’ve got an
Attention span like mine you need something to anchor everything to.
My anchor is bringing confidence and a sense of worth to vulnerable people.
Without the anchor in place it’s far too easy for me to… oh, look a butterfly… and I’m off becoming a butterfly hunter.
The root values (the anchors) become the bottom line of everything your business does, otherwise you’ll get side tracked and follow business opportunities that don’t fit your root value.
Now I’ve figured out what is at the core of my passion I know whatever comes I have to ask whether it fits the core value.
A successful social enterprise is one that remains true to their values, but often charities and enterprises don’t even know what they are.
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