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Have you noticed how many ‘How to... books’ are in your local book store. How to lose weight, create massive wealth, become more spiritual, improve your memory.

Have you also noticed that reading these books doesn’t make a lot of difference. It seems we are not short on ‘How to’ information. If you don’t get it from books, it’s available on TV or from complete strangers in a queue at the supermarket.

If you don’t have a clear 'why?', there is no reason or energy to practise the how. Sure, you can get started but you will run out of motivation quickly. Have you noticed how many ‘How to’ books are on sale at the airport. The publishers know that we will read a book on a flight and not expect any behavioural change in ourselves.

If you have a clear answer to why, you are likely to practise the techniques explained in the ‘How to’ books. The why will give you the motivation to continue with the hows until they become a habit.

So if you want to get whys in 2006, get some answers to these questions:

• What is the purpose behind everything that I am doing?
• What is my purpose at work?
• What values are important to me?
• What legacy to do I want to leave behind when I leave my present place of work?
• What legacy do I want to leave behind when I shuffle off to my final resting place?

If you can sort out your whys, the how to’s will be a lot easier. The effort to make the improvements will be easier if you have a sense of where you are headed and why. Have you noticed how motivated some people are when a crisis hits? The motivation comes with the crisis. So does high blood pressure.

It can be tedious to reflect on your purpose or vision for the future because you have got into the habit of acting first and then reflecting. Fire the arrow and draw a target where it lands.

Dedicate the month of March to reflecting on what you want to achieve this year and why.

Call me if you need help in defining the WHY of your organisation. A clear purpose releases a lot of personal energy.

Paddy Spruce CSP