Starting with Why?

[Former_Member]

I am currently reading the book Start with Why by Simon Sinek. He writes about defining your "WHY" before you define your "WHAT". I've been giving this a lot of thought and have realized that my "WHY" behind what I make is, at best, fuzzy.

A good example is Apple Inc. defining their WHY as challenging the status quo, leading to their WHAT: they make and sell well-designed consumer electronics. They don't define themselves as a computer company, but rather as a rule-breaking company. And people flock to them because they are inspired by the iconoclast nature of the company, not necessarily because they're the only ones that make an awesome smart phone...

I'm certainly not explaining this concept as well as Sinek himself does, but I still want to ask: do you know what your WHY is for being on Etsy? I am currently working on articulating mine and will share when I've got it figured out. In the meantime, I'd love to hear some of yours and learn about how you share your WHY with your customers. :)

[Former_Member]

Why am I here? Because of the outlet to sell my printables to people who are looking for organizational tools.

[Former_Member]

No, I mean more WHY do you sell printables to people who are looking for organizational tools. ;) Do you have a larger mission/value in mind? i.e. improving the lives of busy people?

[TOMgirlApparel]

Because women deserve to be comfortable, supported, and still look cute. We have sacrificed long enough!

[ClairAshley]

Mmmmmm....thought provoking...I like it!

WHY?

I love to express myself through jewelry therefore, I want to help other women express themselves with jewelry.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for sharing! I like how your WHYs are open ended enough that WHAT you sell could always change or shift and your WHY could still be you driver! :)

[Former_Member]

Hmmmmmm such a good question.

I think my WHY is that I want to make people FEEL. That's why I don't just make jewelry. I make jewelry that says something, usually something that makes you laugh or think. I love the idea of combining something thought provoking and something beautiful.

[ClairAshley]

Yes that's true! Sweet!

[KriyaDesign]

I was taught that life worth living is in the service to fellow mankind. Honestly... I am here partly to serve (it does feel good to do so) but the biggest reason is I am an addict when it comes to anything bling and shiny. Has been since... I was born I guess.

Life is too short, I just wanted to do something that really matters, that makes me happy to wake up every morning. Maybe the service part will come to me naturally one day. For now its about me... expressing my creative side and living passionately.

[SeagullSmithJewelry]

The why for me also was to have a creative outlet and also to make some on line friends and money hopefully. I am trying to supplement my income as a "poor school counselor ' since my husband was just laid off and we still have bills up the wazoo!! So if you could stop by my shop I'd appreciate it!! Thanks Ellen

[Former_Member]

These WHYs are super inspiring you guys! Thank you for sharing!

I have been giving my own why a lot of thought and I think that I aim to encourage people to have a deeper connection and look a little closer at the world around us. Cities and wilderness. I strongly believe that there are amazing natural wonders everywhere and want to encourage people to seek them out wherever they are.

Keep the WHYs coming!

[Former_Member]

This is very interesting. My WHY is inspiring play. I want children to have healthy, imaginitive items.

[Former_Member]

Why
Creative outlet
do what you love and get paid for it
Teach my sons to achieve.

[Former_Member]

This is an excellent question. The why for me is two-fold:

I chose to sell soap because it is a usable, personalizable, practical and fun item to use as gifts and favors and because as a mom of 4 I HATE goody bags full of candy and cheap plastic crap that I have to furtively toss out.

I choose to offer custom soaps with custom labels because I think part of the fun is to have the customers feel they have had a hand in the creativity and because it provides a creative challenge for me which keeps me engaged and provides and outlet for all my creative juices. And I love scrapbooking and the lables give me a chance to play.

Ok and there is one more element. Soapmaking is a full sensory activity that engages my smell, sight and haptic senses which keeps me intersted and also allows me to jump from one activity to another when one task becomes tedious.

So those are my whys. Thanks for challenging me to put these in words.