PURPOSEFUL HUSTLE BLOG

Establishing and developing a new business may sound as daunting as climbing Mount Everest. The sheer number of items you need to address before “opening shop” can feel overwhelming, and it may be difficult to know where to begin. However, you don’t have to tackle your new venture on your own. Many accessible resources exist that can help support your fledgling business. Just like Mount Everest climbers have plenty of support (mountaineering guides, trainers, gear manufacturers for cold-weather clothing and shoes), so, too, do entrepreneurs have a wealth of resources available to them. Additionally, many of the resources for new business owners are free or low cost. Tap into one or more of the following resources for your new business venture:

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” This declaration may seem bold, but it holds an important kernel of truth: your attitude, more than anything else, can determine your success. This is especially true when you’re attempting to start a purposeful hustle on a limited budget. You may look at your bank account, become discouraged, and put off your dreams for “another day.” I encourage you to NOT let finances be a limiting factor when it comes to pursuing your dreams! Having a strong vision, purpose, and drive is a thousand times more important than having excess cash. With enough motivation and a few smart strategies, you can start almost any type of purposeful hustle with less than a thousand dollars. Here are four strategies:

Authentic happiness, joy, and fulfillment in life is derived by leading a life that aligns with your purpose and passion. Purpose is the reason you do what you do; the motivation behind your actions and what you decide to pursue. Passion can be thought of as emotions or doing things that make you feel good. It’s tied to our innate abilities, talents, and desires. When you combine these things to fuel your career or business, it then means your life’s work is for a reason and for specific people that will benefit from it. As a purposeful entrepreneur or consultant, knowing what you want to do and how you want to do it is good, but you also have to figure out who you want to do it for and where you can find these potential customers. Here are some ways you can start to find the right clients for your business:

If your career is demanding and fast-paced, you may find yourself checking emails constantly, making calls after hours, and thinking about your duties all the time. A lot of the time we talk about blending your profession with your purpose. But for some people, that can be daunting, especially when other people in your life depend on the stability your current job offers. Fear not! This is not a 0-sum game. If you don't want or aren't ready to rethink your day job, start with these questions: who are you outside of work? What motivates you to keep going? How can you find purposeful activities in your free time? A 2010 study published in Applied Psychology found that individuals with high levels of well-being—which involves having a sense of purpose along with a sense of control and a feeling like what you do is worthwhile—tend to live longer. Sounds to me like your life depends on your purpose! Well, maybe that’s a stretch, but finding little ways to make a difference can definitely help make your life more purposeful. Here are some ways to discover your purpose outside of work:

Life is so beautiful and precious; even more so if you are living a life filled with happiness, peace, and contribution! However, many people (me included!!!) have had moments of uncertainty and fear where they’re at a standstill. In those moments, the “problems” are magnified and feel like a ton of bricks on your shoulders. The flashing thoughts of the worst-case scenarios plague your mind and making a decision seems daunting, to say the least. In those moments where we struggle, it all boils down to what you focus on. I've come across those fears in the past, where uncertainty made me worry more than anything else. In the earlier stages of my career, I had the daunting task of resigning from a job that I loved, which meant leaving peers that I felt connected with, and walking away from the majority of my family’s income and a prestigious title. It was a necessary move for me at the time. The direction the company was headed in was out of alignment with my purpose. But I was scared. It wasn’t until I did these three things to address my fears that I was able to make a purposeful shift:

Your life’s purpose consists of the central motivating aims of your life- the reasons you do what you do; essentially your “why”. Your purpose is used to shape your goals, offer a sense of direction, and guide life decisions. This translates into the type of work you do, the people you associate with, and the impact you wish to create. During the course of you striving for an ideal life, one must have pit stops along the journey to make sure you’re on the right path. Let’s call them checkpoints! This is where we check and see if all we’re doing is aligned with our desires and motivations. Here are four ways to test your purpose:

Human capital is arguably the most important asset a business has. In ensuring you get the right people that align with your company’s goals, recruiters typically have a system they follow. They check the work experience of the candidate, skills relevant to the job opening and then match them accordingly--typical stuff.

On July 25th (All my Leos stand up!) I celebrated the anniversary of my birth and although the knees may become a bit weaker, I’m still young at heart and living a purposeful life everyday! This is a time where we not only eat cake, celebrate, and get gifts, but in my family, we also reflect on how much we’ve grown in the past year. As you grow each year and you experience the world, here are some things to consider:

It was 5:30 in the morning and my full-to-the-brim teal minivan made its first stop at my grandmother’s home. Big Mama, as she was affectionately called, was sitting on her front porch with people from up and down the block. The kids I had played with my entire life came to see me off as I embarked on a new adventure; one that was not afforded to most people in my community.

Does it matter the speed we’re going if we don’t know where the final destination is? Socrates famously said, “The unexamined life is not worth living” and this has proven to be true in a fast-paced world filled with distractions and detours. How then do you align your thoughts and decisions to a life of purpose? The answer is self-reflection.