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By ARNELLE ADCOCK
Business Matters columnis
STOP! Don’t do those resolutions!
Yet.
Before you make resolutions for the new year or business plans for 2012, take another look at yourself and answer this question: WHY?
What is your WHY? Your vision for your life? What inspires you? What is the purpose behind the plans you will make?
Over the course of life certain activities, achievements, events, and people attract you more than others. Over time, I’m sure you have recognized the pattern of your preferences. Knowing your reasons and your WHY enable you to plan your way forward rather than by being distracted by bright momentary diversions that do not fit into your plan.
Finding your WHY may be a surprise for you. It was for me. At one time I thought my WHY was WHATs -- a grey Jaguar and a million dollars. However, my WHY turned out to much more valuable than those things.
WHY is purpose and passion. It is emotion derived and emotion driven. Because it is emotion centered, WHY can be difficult to uncover and even more challenging to put into words. WHAT and HOW are much easier to recognize and determine. However, those areas of life and business derive their consistency with WHY. WHY must come first.
Our purpose—our WHY—defines us. It is the currency of our worth, and it validates our existence. No longer must we be defined by WHAT.
My WHY is my most precious possession. The world and my place in it make sense. No one can take it or depreciate it. I now know where I BELONG.
When you want your world to make sense, when you want to be happy to get up in the morning, when you want emotion and passion in your life, when you want to make a difference, then you are ready to discover your WHY.
Arnelle Adcock is a partner and president of Brentwood-based Clover Management Group — a team of seasoned professionals who help business owners. You can reach her at 615-900-0777, aadcock@clovermg.com, or www.clovermg.com.
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