Future Work/Life is my newsletter in which I explore ideas focused on the future of work and how to design legendary careers. If you find it interesting, please share it!
Before taking the plunge into building a business, ask yourself this question:
Does the idea of doing this every day inspire curiosity?
Hang on. Surely it's more important to spot a gap in the market or find an effective way to monetise your expertise? Well, those things matter, of course. But running a business is a long-term decision. The ultimate outcome may be making money, creating a more flexible work/life, or changing the world. But you'll only achieve it if you're highly motivated and stick with it.
Which is where curiosity comes in.
As part of the research for my book, Work/Life Flywheel, I surveyed more than 4,000 people. Three-quarters of them expressed a desire to make big changes in their careers. This doesn't always mean a fundamental career change like starting a company. But it invariably requires taking a step back to decide what really matters to you.
You've heard people suggest you do what you love. If you can, then I would encourage you to do so. But it's not always possible. When contemplating taking that first bold step in a new direction, it's enough to love what you do.
As podcast guest Dorie Clark shared in her book, The Long Game:
"Wherever we are in our lives, we may not yet have identified something overtly meaningful that we want to do or are good at. But we all have things we're interested in and want to learn more about. A passion for photographing birds, for instance, may not seem particularly 'meaningful'. But if it's interesting, that curiosity spurs us toward mastery and ultimately may lead in useful directions, such as new personal and professional connections, a book deal, or a successful campaign to preserve local wetlands."
We get so bogged down with the significance of 'discovering our purpose' that it puts us off even starting. Don't overcomplicate it. Concentrate on things that you enjoy and make you feel good.
Here are two approaches to help you determine whether this idea is right for you.
1: Track your daily highlights
You'll already be doing things you enjoy, but can you remember them? Every evening, write down three daily highlights. You start noticing patterns when you've been doing this for a while. It could be that you love writing, jamming with people over a campaign idea, or analysing data. Whatever it is, aim to do more of it.
2: Notice how you spend your time
What do you do for pure enjoyment? It might seem outlandish to incorporate a personal interest into your work, but try introducing it slowly. Perhaps your love of history will bring a different perspective to a client's problem. If you can't get enough of listening to podcasts, could you use them to create a new way of sharing knowledge within your team?
Let's use this lens to return to the original question:
How do you decide whether to turn your idea into a business?
As I discuss in this week's podcast conversation with founder and investor Emmie Faust, it's tough to imagine quite how much time and energy launching and growing a successful business takes. A start-up that presents no meaningful challenges to your sleep and sanity is, as a friend of mine succinctly puts it, "as rare as rocking horse sh*t." So you really need to fall in love with the problem your business is trying to solve. And be curious about every day you get to solve it by incorporating the things you enjoy doing.
Once you find that problem, the challenges don't seem so great, and there is no choice but to start your business.
To read how entrepreneurs like Kathrin Hamm and Jeff Kofman followed their curiosity to found Bearaby and Trint, order a copy of Work/Life Flywheel.
And learn more about the pleasures and pressures of start-up life by listening to my podcast chat with Emmie Faust of Female Founders Rise.
Have a lovely weekend,
Ollie
My bestselling book, Work/Life Flywheel: Harness the work revolution and reimagine your career without fear, is out now. You can order your copy HERE (UK) or HERE (US).
Speaking of Kathrin Hamm, here’s what she said about it:
"Ollie Henderson's Work/Life Flywheel offers the practical tools to redesign your work and reimagine the career of your dreams. Whether you're amid a big pivot or you're looking for a healthy dose of inspiration to find what your next chapter will hold, the tangible insights and success stories in Work/Life Flywheel will help harness your mindset, spark your creativity, and lead to substantial breakthroughs for harmony and alignment in both your personal and professional life.”
