Open Your Mind

Today’s Topics

• 99 Problems, But Your ‘Why’ Might Be One 😅

• Freedom of Choice 😁

  7 Mins Read Time

99 Problems, But Your ‘Why’ Might Be One 😅
By Jo

People always ask, what’s your why?
Why are you doing this?
Why are you building this?
Why should anyone care?

Most of the time, the honest answer—especially when it comes to business or service—is simple: you want to generate some form of currency. You want to sustain yourself, keep things running, and afford the life you’re working toward.

Nothing wrong with that.

But where people start to miss is this:
your “why” doesn’t just define your motivation—it defines your reach.

The Limitation of a Narrow Mindset

A lot of people approach ideas with a very structured mindset. They already have a vision of what success looks like, who it’s for, and how it should be used.

The problem?

That vision can be too narrow.

Sometimes people don’t even know they need what you’re offering yet. The most impactful products and services weren’t always obvious in the beginning. They became valuable because they were accessible, adaptable, and useful across different types of people.

If your thinking stays locked into one type of user, one type of experience, or one specific lane—you limit your growth before you even begin.

Accommodating More Than Just Yourself

When you’re building something—whether it’s a service, product, or even a personal brand—you have to think beyond your own perspective.

Who else could benefit from this?
Who else could use this differently?
What would make this easier for more people to adopt?

Because that’s how you capitalize—not just financially, but in impact.

Take something simple like a watch.

Are you only creating a watch for a specific niche? A very small group of people with a very specific taste?

Or are you creating something that can be viewed as universal—something that different types of people can use, relate to, and find value in?

The broader your accessibility, the greater your reach.

Why Businesses Struggle

A lot of businesses don’t fail because the idea is bad.
They fail because the idea is too limited.

The audience is too niche.
The use case is too specific.
The flexibility isn’t there.

And because of that, growth stalls.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with starting niche. But staying there without expansion? That’s where the ceiling forms.

If your goal is to grow, you have to either:

Make your product/service more universal
or
Create multiple versions that serve different levels of your audience
Building From Your “Why”

This is where your “why” really matters.

If your “why” is narrow, your execution will be narrow.
If your “why” is expansive, your opportunities expand with it.

If your goal is to reach more people, then your approach has to reflect that. Your thinking has to stretch beyond what you would use and into what others might need—even if they don’t realize it yet.

The Real Takeaway

Your “why” is more than motivation.
It’s your foundation.

It determines:

Who you build for
How you build
How far your idea can go

Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about having a good idea.

It’s about having an idea that more people can actually use.

And the moment you start thinking that way—you stop building for yourself… and start building something that can scale.

Freedom of Choice 😁

By Marcus

Wouldn’t it be nice to not live paycheck to paycheck? Or what do you think it would feel like to work more out of purpose than out of necessity or survival?

It’s questions like these that shifted my focus from material goods to pursuing a different type of life. A life free from the normal constraints that keep many of us in a never-ending cycle of debt and stress.

I remember when I was growing up, all I could ever think about was the stuff I wanted—things like electronics, designer clothes, a sports car. You know, all the things that are glamorized in our media, what our peers want, and the perceived status that comes with “material wealth.”

I failed to realize until I was older that it’s a trap.

Is More Better?

I saw a post on social media a few days ago where someone was excited about being approved for a $70k car loan. They thought it was their ticket to the car of their dreams and asked what people recommended. One of the comments was to not see the $70k car loan as a flex, but more as a quick way to get into debt by spending more than you need to.

Today, I try not to use credit unless it’s absolutely necessary—a medical emergency, car repair, or home repair, really. By doing that, I force myself to really evaluate my purchases and save cash for the things I truly want. Yes, it takes much longer to get the things I want, but there’s a level of peace that comes with not going into debt for material stuff like I used to.

It’s become a simple formula for me with most non-essential purchases: “Can’t pay cash? Well, I guess I can’t have it until I can.”

Is Freedom Better?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t like living with debt hanging over my head. Debt is like a special type of prison that’s invisible but ever-present in our lives. To wake up and not have your life dictated by debt is a dream scenario for many of us.

If things make you happy, that’s cool. We’re all different. For some, freedom may be worth the pursuit and the sacrifice it takes—freedom of time, freedom to be there for family and friends, freedom to discover your potential, find new hobbies, meet new people, explore ideas.

No one gets this thing called life perfect. But every small choice we make away from the debt trap brings us one step closer to waking up with real options instead of obligations. Keep doing your best.