What is your why?
I’ve got a confession to make. I’m a fan of Simon Sinek.
I recently bought his book ‘Start with Why’ and after reading and reflecting on his perspective, it makes sense that understanding what your ‘why’ is would underpin your life and happiness.
Being in recruitment I’m always asking “Why?” Now this question comes in many forms during a conversation with me. So why do I do this, and what does it mean?
Understanding what your why is means you understand why you do what you do. Now this doesn’t just mean your job, it also drives your personal decisions too, on everything from life partners through to your hobbies and goals. Recruiters ask this question as it helps us understand you and what direction would suit you best.
So how do you work out what your why is?
What are the things in your life and work that bring you joy?
This is a good place to start. Think about the things you do from interaction with others, hobbies and the activities at work that you really enjoying doing. Write them all down.
What do you consider your strengths are?
No, not how much you can bench press, your inner strengths. What are you naturally good at? You shouldn’t need to overthink this.
In what situations do you add value?
This could be your background like previous work experience(s) or any activities you may conduct in your personal life, such as volunteer work or coaching kids' sports teams. These are skills and traits that you are using where you add value. Often, we do these things without thinking as they come naturally to us, so think about how you go about doing these things to see where the value is.
What matters the most to you?
This is where your core values come in. Your core purpose as such. These are invariably not material and more around you and your life purpose and what you stand for.
I have gone through this process and it led me to setting up my own business and fulfilling my purpose, a huge part of which is to serve others, and through that I gain a great challenge and satisfaction with my work in recruitment.
As Simon Sinek says.....
Happiness comes from what you do.
Fulfillment comes from why you do it.
If you would like to chat with me about your why and see how that aligns with your career goals, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me.
Simone Storey