A Storyteller, with a Blowtorch

Know your "why".

Someone told me, not early enough in business, that to be able to withstand the turbulence of entrepreneurship, I need to hold on tight to my "why". As a creative, I think this is especially important. Our selves are so much a part of what we do, that losing the "why", would really be more of a symptom than a catalyst, of something going wrong. Do you have your "why"? Do you post a reminder of it somewhere? In what way does it influence your "how", "what", "where", and "whom"? Because it definitely all connects.

When I decided that I needed to develop a healthy business where I could optimize my skills and talents to provide for my family, I made a list of everything I am able to do, everything I like to do, and things I would like to become better at doing. I made note of where those things intersected, and started my dive into why I do what I do.

In every intersect, no matter the industry, I was drawn to stories. As a performance poet, I liked to sketch portraits with words. At the beginning of my jewellery-making career, I was drawn to styling and accessorizing performers. After college taught me to work with fine metals, I focused on repairing family heirlooms, then custom and bridal design. I loved helping to tell other people's stories.

Before breaking it all down like this, I probably would have said that my "why" is money for my family. But there are lots of things I can do if that is it. In fact, I've done some of them! So my why is more specific than that. My "why" is storytelling. My "how" is with a blowtorch, my "what" is fine metal and gemstones, my "where" is in a studio, and my "whom" is a combination of "with" and "for" - with a collective of artists, for people who value an artist's work.

Have you ever had this conversation with yourself? How did it go?

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