What is your why?

What is your"why?" What is it that drives you to get out of bed every day and work? What motivates, inspires and moves you? Would you be doing something different if money were no object? What burning desire and passion do you have inside of you? These questions are crucial no matter what type of business you're in or what you want to do with yourself. Something pushes you to get dressed every day, drive in your car and go to work.

I know what my "why" is. I have a few. As a single parent (and no one in my family ever having any wealth), my 13 year old has made comments in the past like, "It seems that work is more important than me." It has been tough trying to be the mom and the dad, the good and the bad cop and on top of everything else, I have been supporting my parents, as well. We all have our issues, but one of my "whys" is to be able to spend more time with my family. I want to be able to go on vacation, sit on beach, sip a blue, frozen concoction with a funny looking straw and an umbrella and for once in my life not have to worry about money. It's not so much that I'm worried, it's the fact that I'm not making any while I'm trying to enjoy my vacation.

I have been working since I was 10 years old. (I'll put my complete bio on a separate blog.) I have always been in a sales or leadership position and love dealing with people! I have sold cars, run a few mortgage companies, started a few mortgage companies and currently I'm the Senior Vice President with a financial/tax strategy firm in Montgomery County. I also am a volunteer business coach at Howard Community College. The bottom line is that I have been working a long time and any time in the past that I've gone on vacation, there's something inside of me that says, "Sitting here on this beach is not making me any money." When I was in the mortgage business, no one was originating loans for me while I was floating in a tube down a water slide in Disney World.

Another why for me ... my daughter and I love to ride and show horses. I have imported a few high end show horses from Europe and sold them here in the US for a substantial profit. Riding horses has been a passion of mine since I was 5. I wish that I could ride every day, go away to Florida during the winter and horse show for 4-5 days at a time up here during the spring and summer. One of my "whys" is to be able to enjoy our horses more and ride every day. Could I really go to Florida for a month and not have to worry about money? One of my goals this winter is to make it to FL for at least 2 weeks. Now that you all have read that, I have to hold myself accountable to you. :)

Then you have the material "whys." Maybe you may need or want a new car, a new house, etc. I know that I would love to buy a farm in Florida for the season. I also would love a beach house and a new car (or two.)

I hope that this article got you thinking a little bit. At the very least, you may have a renewed passion for whatever type of work that you do. Maybe you're already living the lifestyle that you want? If so, I'd love to hear from you so that others can learn what you did right. :)

Have a great day!