Episode 173 - Discovering the Secret to a Lasting, Purpose-Driven Business and Life

 Good day and welcome to The Budding Entrepreneur podcast. I'm your host, Randy Bridges. In each episode, we dive into practical business strategies that you can put to work in your business right away. 

We also focus on inspiring stories from leaders who are shaping and making things happen in their industry. It's all about giving you the tools and insights to take you and your business to the next level. So get comfortable and let's jump right in. 

All right, all right. We are on episode 173 of the podcast. Today is Friday, November 15th, 2024. 

That means we are technically halfway through the final quarter of the year. Now, given that we have some major holidays coming up, that means that this quarter from here on out is going to be compressed even further. We're dealing with the Thanksgiving holiday and all the the Christmas holidays. 

And then, of course, we'll be getting into the run-up to the new year. So a lot of this is going to impact how our quarter is going to go and how we're going to be able to express ourselves as business owners through the end of the year. So if you think, hey, look, I've got a month and a half left.

Actually, when you all put it all together, you might be looking at maybe a month left of the year. So looking at our agenda for the day, we're going to do a quote from two gentlemen who are going to see two different sides of the same coin. And that is, in fact, our idea and our focus today for the podcast, the things that are going to make a difference in what you do to discover the secret to a lasting purpose-driven business. 

Now, one of the things that we're going to be talking about is the two journeys of Norman. Norman is a gentleman that I like to call my ideal client. And so we're going to talk about the two journeys of Norman today as we get into the end of this, and then wrap up and go into next week's topic. 

Let me ask you something. We'll deal right into the strategies here, and I'm going to position this so that you can really, really think about it. Have you ever felt like you're constantly pushing forward in your business? Just trying to get through some of the tough days that you're facing? You've been told that the struggle will be worth it. 

And for the most part, it feels like it. But you sometimes wonder, in all of this grit and grind, is it really where you want to go? Is it getting you to the kind of life you want to live? Now, imagine a business that's not only strong enough to withstand challenges, but one that's deeply connected to a vision that makes those challenges worthwhile. Ah, interesting point, huh? It's about finding a balance between resilience and purpose, action and reflection, about why it might just be the evolving strategy you're looking for, particularly as we go into a new year. 

So today's episode is all about exploring powerful, but divergent worlds with different experiences, lives, and businesses by diving into two powerful, yet two different approaches to building a business and a life. This is going to be focusing on what I like to call the endurance framework versus the purpose framework. You might sometimes hear endurance framework as grit, or grind. 

And you might hear purpose framework as ontology, or the overall purpose in what you're doing. So we're going to look at why both of these matter, and how you might be able to live a balanced life. So in our quotes, the first one, this is related to grit. 

Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory. And that's from William Berkeley. On the opposite side is George Berkeley. 

To be is to be perceived. In other words, who you are is how you will be perceived. And this is why when you run into a person or a group of people that are working authentically, it resonates with you. 

It really takes and turns things into a slightly different perspective for you. And you're like, wow, that is really interesting. What are they doing that is really making me attracted to them? And so that's something that we're going to kind of look into and focus on as part of our business strategies. 

So we've talked about this briefly, I've already mentioned it, but the first thing we're going to focus on is the endurance framework. And I want to talk about what I mean by that. Endurance framework, as I define it, is all about that unstoppable drive to keep going, to push through barriers and make things happen no matter what. 

You generally work on momentum and resilience. You tackle one problem, then another, because you've got to put that fire and keep it going inside of you just to keep everything moving with you. Now, on the opposite side is a purpose framework that takes a different approach.

This perspective is less about constant motion and more about purpose. It's about asking the big questions that make you reflect on why you're doing what you're doing. In a purpose framework, we're not simply looking at what we accomplish, but the essence of why we're choosing this path and how it aligns with our vision. 

I want to dig into this a little deeper. We're going to look at the core of endurance framework in action. Now, picture yourself facing a challenge.

Maybe it's a tough client project, or maybe it's a cast flow crunch. Whatever it is, grit, or in this case endurance, means finding your way through it. You're pulling from that inner drive, that commitment to see things through no matter what.

In practical terms, it's like setting ambitious goals and taking daily action to reach them. You might find yourself being told that you need to do this on a regular basis, and that's not a surprise. We're told that all the most successful businesses do this.

It's not waiting for the perfect plan. It's putting one foot in front of the other regardless. This grit that we're talking about is what keeps you moving forward, and this forward momentum is powerful. 

It builds character and resilience and lets you take on bigger and bigger challenges. But here's the kicker. It's only one side of the coin. 

Let's explore the purpose side. We're going to flip that coin, and the purpose side says, before we push forward, let's make sure we're on the right path. It's really about reflecting on questions like, what am I building this for? Does this business align with who I am? And in business, this means ensuring that your work resonates with your values and your vision. 

Now in the group of people that I've been working with for the last over two years now, this is a common theme. They're bringing to the table this idea that if you build the better plan for you, this won't be as much work. You won't be grinding it out every day. 

And I agree that a purpose-based approach such as this might look like setting up a mission that's true to who you are. It would be a set of core values that guide your decisions, not just for you but for your team. And this approach keeps you anchored. 

These are important things. You're not just moving for the sake of it. You're moving with purpose.

And here's the kind of thing that they talk about and I see in what they're doing. It's magnetic. This is the purpose that we just discussed in the very beginning.

People are drawn to businesses that know why they exist and where they're headed. But here's a question for you. If you do this, are you guaranteed to make it through the hard times? No. 

And that's part of the reason why we're talking about this today. Because we want to see how different approaches affect our lives. In this case, the endurance and the perfect frameworks.

And we want to see how each one plays out in business and personal life. So I'm going to be digging into the frameworks of these a little bit deeper and we're going to talk about how they might affect your life going forward. Now when it comes to the endurance framework, what we might call grit and grind, we're going to be dealing in the two journeys of Norman. 

Now this is the first journey where Norman's focus is all about relentless determination and sheer grit. And this is really taken from a client that I've had in the past and he's he's a great guy. Norman is not his name of course. 

But we're going to be looking at how things worked for him in each of the different strategies. Now if he's taking challenges like a champ, he's dealing with every setback just as another opportunity to flex his endurance mechanism and his muscle. For Norman, building his business means putting in the work and grinding it out.

Growth, success, goals, these are all results of sticking with it day in and day out, no matter how tough it gets. Now if we look at his business, in strategy, Norman would likely set goals, big goals, and go after them with everything he's got. He's driven to grow and expand and keep moving forward even when things get rough. 

In leadership, he's leading by example, setting a tone of resilience and perseverance for his team. He's the kind of boss who encourages people to push through and stay the course. And in his mindset, Norman's motto might be something like, the harder you work, the luckier you get. 

That's a quote I heard many times from one of the baseball heroes. He talked about luck being what you make of it. Now in this case, Norman's all in.

He knows that every ounce of grit that he puts into his business gets him that much closer to his goals. Now let's look at the purpose-based perspective in his business. Let's flip this switch and look through this new lens. 

Here, Norman isn't just asking, how do I succeed, but why am I doing this? See to him, it's now about finding purpose and meaning in his work. Instead of charging forward no matter what, he's looking to create something that's deeply aligned with who he is and what he believes. His focus shifts from pure results to building a business that feels authentic and true to his values. 

So here's how that shakes out. In strategy, Norman's making decisions that are connected to his core purpose. It's not just about growth, it's about growth that matters, growth that reflects what he stands for. 

In leadership, he's creating culture that isn't just about hitting targets, but about building a team that feels connected to a shared mission. He's not just looking for employees, he's looking for people who resonate with the why behind the business. And in his mindset, instead of working harder, he's asking, how does this align with who I am? Every decision has a purpose and a meaning behind it. 

So how would each of these approaches shape Norman's view of a fulfilling life? Okay, that's a great question, and we want to kind of put these in comparison with each other so that we really see what's going on. In an endurance framework lifestyle, Norman's life would be all about hustling, achieving, and conquering goals. He'd thrive on pushing through challenges even if it meant sacrificing personal time to reach the next level. 

In this view, he'd feel satisfaction from seeing results and knowing that all his hard work paid off. But in a purpose-based lifestyle, Norman leans toward a life that's balanced, intentional, and deeply fulfilling. He wouldn't just look for wins, but for moments that align with his sense of purpose. 

Life isn't just about what's next, but also why does this matter? This view would allow him to connect with his work and his personal life in a way that feels true and aligned. So the bottom line of the takeaway here, in business strategy, endurance is about staying the course and pushing hard, while purpose is about making sure the course itself feels meaningful. In a leadership style, endurance emphasizes grit and resilience, while purpose encourages authenticity and a sense of shared purpose. 

For life fulfillment, endurance sees success in achievements, while purpose finds fulfillment in alignment with one's values. See, for Norman, endurance promises results, while purpose offers a path to a conscious-driven, value-aligned life and business. Now the choice between the two would shape everything about how he approaches both his company and his life. 

But if you've ever looked at a really good company, you notice that they don't just have one or the other. This isn't, a good friend of mine says later on, it's not a choice of either or. It's a both and choice. 

And here's why. I like to use the example of Grant Cardone. Very successful, driven person. 

He and his wife do amazing things. He is just the 10x guy. But if you look at what's going on behind the scenes, he has a very fulfilling family. 

He and his wife both want to make a difference for only 8 billion people in the world. Now that, to me, is a bigger purpose-driven concept. He's a balance of the two.

Because businesses that lean too heavily on grit and endurance without purpose tend to burn out. The constant grind drains you and there's no greater meaning behind it. It just is work.

And you might face this quite frequently as you're growing your business. On the other hand, businesses that lean fully into purpose without that grit can end up getting stuck in the planning phase where nothing ever really takes off because you're constantly looking at things and it just takes a lot longer to achieve. But imagine a business on only grit. 

Eventually you'll reach a point where you're just doing things for the sake of it. The purpose, that deeper connection, is what turns the grind into something more meaningful. It's the reason you stay resilient through the tough times. 

And what if we didn't have to choose? What if we could balance endurance and purpose to create a truly sustainable business? What does life look like to balance endurance with purpose? I would encourage you heavily to look very much at what you want your life to be in addition to your business. See, anyone can start by setting clear ambitious goals. That's where grit, or what we call endurance, kicks in. 

You see, you know where you're headed and you're determined to make it happen. But you check in regularly making sure that each step you take is still aligned with your core purpose. Notice the balance there. 

It might look like setting time aside, maybe quarterly or monthly, to not just execute and build your plans for the coming quarter, but to say, is this still the right direction? Does this still resonate with my vision? There are many times when I've been making changes over the last few years that I've looked at and just don't feel, they don't resonate, they don't feel real to me. It's because I'm going against my own purpose, my own values, right? And when you can make certain that your life and your business are driven by the combination as opposed to one or the other, the results can be very powerful. Not only can you push through challenges, but you feel fulfilled along the way, leading back to this same example with Grant Cardone. 

In our case, Norman was able to kind of balance this out, but I had to have him go through both in order for him to be able to blend them and know when to use one over the other. So today we looked at endurance and purpose as cohesive but separate frameworks. We talked about why both are essential, how endurance pushes you forward, whereas purpose keeps you grounded. 

As a business owner, having both means you're not just surviving, you're building something truly valuable, something you can be proud of in the long run. And the fact of the matter is when you're running, you need at least one of your feet on the ground, and that's the grounded part. Because if you're not, you're pushing against something that doesn't exist. 

So in your business journey, I would recommend for anybody having troubles with one or the other of these, that you look at doing both. You can and should bring both of those to the table at the same time.

That's it for this episode. I hope you picked up some valuable insights and maybe even sparked a few new ideas. If you want to keep the conversation going, or maybe even explore partnerships, don't hesitate to reach out. And hey, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this with someone who needs to hear it. 

The steps you take today could be the start of something big tomorrow. For The Budding Entrepreneur, I wish you the best in your health, your wealth, your business, your family, everything about you. Take care, and we'll see you back here next week.