Check your Why-It is critical to your Wellness.

 

Simon Sinek wrote a book entitled ‘Start With Why?’ This is very good advice for any entrepreneur who wants to do well for themselves and in the process achieve the greater good. It is easy to answer the question by simply saying I want to make money which begs the follow up question why do you want to make money? The next logical answer is that you have bills to pay and want to give your people a good life. Does it mean that if I gave you all the money you will ever need and add a blank cheque for you to draw from anytime you need to you would close down your business today? A few people would answer yes but I guess many would still wake up and open shop the following day. What is this that would push you to keep going when your own issues are well taken care of?

What does your vision and mission statement say? For some people, it is possible that they hardly think about this when they wake up in the morning to go and open shop. If this describes you, then you need to sit down and rethink your motivation for going into business. I have an untested theory that says many businesses in Africa die with the founder because they weren’t started with the thinking of being passed on to the next generation. The vision wasn’t big enough to be fulfilled in subsequent generations. It is very easy to find businesses in Europe and Asia spanning more than 3-4 generations because they are built with that in mind. Many of our businesses in Africa are subsistent in nature just like our Agriculture. Divorce the need to pay bills and many collapse.

Your business should be an answer and a solution to problems bigger than you and your needs. Elon Musk for example didn’t build Tesla, X, Space X and every other company he has interests in simply to pay his bills. These are companies worth billions of dollars solving some of humanity’s biggest headaches both present and future. What challenges are you helping people deal with as an entrepreneur? What problems does your business solve for people? How does it contribute to a better quality of life? When do you get to say I have done what is required of me and I can now pass it on to the next generation?

We burnout because we do not know when to stop. We are not clear what it is we are chasing. This leaves us going in many different directions and as a result we fail to know when to say it is enough. The motivation behind you is very important to examine. When you are driven by greed, you will never know satisfaction. You will keep going without caring about the impact it is having on your health, family and many other important aspects of your life. When you are chasing money just for its own sake, it will never be enough.

For your own sake, make effort to define your why. Seek clarity on the demographic you are meant to serve. Understand the geography your business is meant to serve. Find the niche that you are meant to take care of and focus your attention on it. This will determine the opportunities you chase and those you leave for others. It will guide the hiring decisions you make, the business resources you need to acquire, the skills you should pursue and a lot more. You will stop being a jack of all trades which leaves you exhausted, burnt out and not really world-class at anything. This leads me to pose another question: What can you say you are world-class at or well on your way to becoming? You will realize that it is a narrow path and it requires you to cut off a lot of the baggage that you carry with you everywhere you go.

I recommend that you read the Book Essentialism: The Disciplined pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. A strong why is a catalyst for a smoother how.  

Here are some wellness benefits to help you consider building a purpose-driven enterprise.

🧠 Mental & Emotional Wellness

1. Reduced Stress & Burnout
• When your business aligns with your values, the daily grind feels less draining. Even tough challenges feel more “worth it.”
2. Greater Resilience
• Purpose acts as an anchor during setbacks, giving you the emotional strength to keep pushing without losing hope.
3. Enhanced Fulfillment & Joy
• Work stops being “just business” and becomes a meaningful mission, which brings a sense of joy and pride.
4. Clarity & Peace of Mind
• A clear mission reduces decision fatigue. You know what to say “yes” or “no” to, which lowers mental clutter.

 

❤️ Physical Wellness

5. Healthier Energy Levels
• Founders driven by purpose often report higher energy and stamina because their motivation is intrinsic, not just financial.
6. Reduced Risk of Stress-Related Illnesses
• Lower chronic stress can protect against issues like hypertension, migraines, ulcers, or sleep disorders.
7. Better Work–Life Balance
• When your work feels meaningful, it’s easier to harmonize it with personal life instead of feeling like you’re sacrificing yourself.

🌱 Spiritual & Social Wellness

8. Sense of Meaning & Contribution
• Having your work tied to something bigger than money gives you a sense of legacy and spiritual satisfaction.
9. Deeper Connections & Support
• Purpose attracts like-minded people (mentors, partners, employees, clients). This support network contributes to your social wellness.
10. Alignment Between Who You Are & What You Do

• Living in alignment reduces inner conflict, guilt, or feelings of “selling out,” which boosts overall wellbeing.

✅ In short: A purpose-driven business helps the founder thrive personally—mentally, physically, socially, and spiritually—because the business stops being just a hustle and becomes a life-giving mission. 

How differently will you approach your business after this? What will you do to inculcate purpose into your thinking and strategy for the business? Share your thoughts and resolutions.