We live in a world drowning in answers: dashboards, hacks, frameworks, opinions. Everyone has a “how” or a “what.” But in all that noise, we’ve lost touch with the question that matters most:
Why?
Why does this work deserve your time? If you can’t answer that, things start to break down. Your Why matters because it:
This week kicks off an eight-part series on Why, because clarity around your purpose makes the difference between companies that endure and those that stall. When your Why is explicit, everything else — strategy, culture, priorities — flows with more focus and less friction.
PERSPECTIVES
“Success demands singleness of purpose.”
— Vince Lombardi, Former Coach of the Green Bay Packers
MARK MY WORDS
I’ve worked with hundreds of founders, and one pattern stands out: When a company loses sight of its Why, everything else starts to fray. Strategy, tools, and talent can’t compensate for the absence of purpose. Without it, people chase motion instead of meaning, and Work starts to feel like checking boxes instead of building something that makes an impact.
That’s why I wanted to write this series. Because your Why is more than a slogan to put on your website. It’s a discipline that has to be reinforced at every Stage of Development. None of the day-to-day work matters if you can’t answer the most important question: Why are we doing this?
Over the next eight weeks, we’ll sit with that question, not just philosophically but practically. My hope is that this series helps you find clarity that sticks. Because when your Why is strong, alignment follows.
GOT A MINUTE?
Why Is the Question That Changes Everything Asking Why isn’t just about purpose — it’s the foundation for how we design the future of our work. In this clip, I share why answering Why well is one of the most important responsibilities of a leader and how it connects to the ideas behind my book Work 9.0. If we can’t articulate Why with clarity, we risk building systems, cultures, and strategies that won’t hold up when things get hard.
In case you missed it, here’s more from Founder’s Framework:
The Founder's Edge: Why Being Wrong Is How You Win
What happens when your plan doesn’t go the way you expected? This article explores how clarity of purpose turns setbacks into stepping stones — and why antifragility is one of the greatest strengths a founder can build.
A bold, upbeat track about chasing big goals and refusing to give up when the odds are stacked against you. It’s a great reminder that conviction and persistence are essential when you know your Why.
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