Why?
Or a minute of purpose.
Ever asked yourself why you do what you do?
Yes, I mean business.
Really asked.
Dug deep inside yourself.
Sorted things out?
Most people start with, “To make money and live comfortably.”
Later on, many change their WHY.
Once they gain more experience and perspective.
Have you thought about it?
What’s the goal of any business?
To make a profit.
Period.
Entrepreneurship, in essence, is the same.
It’s about profit.
But...
There’s a difference.
And often, that goal isn’t just profit.
Here are two examples that probably most stand out:
Coca-Cola.
A perfect example of a finely tuned, flawlessly operating machine.
There’s nothing entrepreneurial left here.
All the shareholders care about is profit.
Anything an entrepreneur could create was done decades ago.
New bottles, ad campaigns, flavor variations—
it’s all just part of a well-oiled system.
Nothing more.
Elon Musk.
Founder of countless companies.
Tesla, SpaceX, Starlink, X, Neuralink, The Boring Company, Hyperloop...
For him, they’re just tools.
Like a hammer.
To solve problems that Musk finds important for himself and… for humanity.
They’re all connected in some way.
Reinforcing and complementing each other.
But, ultimately, they’re resources for achieving a goal.
Just like microchips, aluminum, or technology.
Nothing more.
Obviously, these are very polar examples.
There’s a whole spectrum in between.
From hungry startups to heavily regulated global corporations.
So, why do entrepreneurs start businesses?
Simon Sinek explained this well in his Golden Circle theory: “Start With Why.”
The entrepreneur is the WHY.
The foundation.
Business is the HOW and WHAT.
The shell.
Or, as I like to say, the tool.
Entrepreneurs create businesses to achieve goals.
And those goals change over time.
Some create startups with one goal—to sell.
Whatever they say, it’s about the money.
Maybe it’s a bit of a game, too.
But mostly, it’s about money.
Others build lifestyle businesses for decades.
Adapting to the times.
Pour their soul into it.
Selling it?
Why?
That’s fine.
There are no rules.
What you decide is right.
Business gives opportunities.
To leverage efforts.
To reach goals.
But the most important thing?
Understand your WHY.
Reflect on it.
It’ll give you peace of mind.
And help you see the path to your goals.
You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where or why you’re going.
If you want to know more about other mess-ups and lessons on my entrepreneurial journey — subscribe to Eugene’s Stories.
See you soon!
- Eugene
Join the “most offbeat” storyletter on entrepreneurship.
Who is Eugene?
Here, in my sandbox, I share stories from my entrepreneurial life, along with thoughts and reflections on business, life, and philosophy.
I am obsessed with helping non-tech entrepreneurs demystify web design, development, automation, and new tech.