If you are building a business, starting one, redefining it … or maybe you just need to remind yourself why you’re doing what you’re doing, you need a direction.

A purpose. A big Idea. A why. A core principle.

It’s called many different things – I like to think of it as the foundation.

Shutting down my silversmithing business, left me in a sort of vacuum. What know? If I wasn’t a successful silversmith, what was I? What would my purpose be, if not designing luxurious silver pieces?

Changing direction was – is – both scary and exciting. Scary, because maybe I can’t be equally successful at this new direction. Scary because every possibility in the world is open and that’s overwhelming. It’s also exciting for the same reason, that every possibility is open to me.

What would you do if you could do anything?

Even if I have a clear idea with MadeFromCrap, I still get distracted or take a detour, get of the course. MadefromCrap is still new, the journey has just started, it’s part of defining the foundation to try of different things. You learn through action, not thought. But I also think the beginning, the start up is a very fragile stage, where it’s almost too easy to loose perspective.

So, in order to steer back, refine and help myself move forward I made this little reminder today. And the good thing is, I think it could be applied to both your business, your design principles – and even your life.

It [replace 'it' with whatever you are trying to refine] must:

• have purpose – a meaning, function, reason
• make a difference – matter, innovate, do/help/be something for others
• come naturally to you – feel easy, inspiring, exciting, doing it your own way
• be fun – fill you up, energize you, make you forget time & place

I think, that if you know the answer to these 4 points, you’re well on your way. It’s no easy way, or easy answers, but they will provide you with a direction and clarity. They are the ones I use as the guide for my core design foundation and I will make them, define them for the MadeFromCrap business.

Do you have a way to guide the direction of your business, design principle, life… ? I’d love to know in the comments below.