​What do super-successful online entrepreneurs and small business owners have in common?

It's not experience.

It's not super-human talent or extraordinary skills.

It's not even a powerful drive.

Although all of these things can definitely help your business grow, they're not a prerequisite for success. After all, no one is born with experience or skills, and plenty of successful people lack drive. ​In the era of Instagram influencers, it's easier than ever to become an ​overnight success with little to no experience and drive.

​But even in the age of instant success, the one thing that does make a difference, though, is your "why."

Why did you decide to start your business?

Why do you spend too many hours with your eyes glued to your computer screen or with head bent over your cell phone every week?

Why do you stay up too late (yes, I'm talking about myself)​ and get up too early just so you can work on growing your business?

The "why" is what ultimately drives us to success. The trick lies in figuring out your why: it's different for everyone. Your why is not my why, and my why is not his why. It's a deeply personal choice that can have great meaning... or not.

For example, one of my colleagues ​openly speaks about her joy in being able to walk her children to and from school every day. ​Or being able to ​be home if one of her kids gets sick. When she worked in Corporate, ​her two-hour commute made it impossible to do the school runs or even be able to stay home with a sick child. Her Instagram stories often feature her kids or her husband because they truly are the reason she took a leap of faith to become an online entrepreneur. Her big why is a drive to spend as much time with her kids as she can, while still supporting her family.

Or picture this: ​a young, fresh out of school entrepreneur might resist taking the same path h​is parents took, working for a corporation for 40 years, only to retire and find themselves with barely enough to live on. Instead, he dreams of having the income (and the time) to see the world while he’s still young enough to enjoy it.

So what’s your big “why”? It might be the freedom to travel, the option to spend time with your family, the ability to take weeks off at a time to care for a sick family member, or even to earn enough money to support a charity that’s close to your heart.

Whatever it is, your “why” is the driving force behind every action you take. When you’re deciding whether or not to take on a new client, ask yourself if it’s aligned with your “why.” When you’re setting goals for the year, ask yourself if those goals are moving you closer or further from your big why. Thinking of branching out into a new business venture? Make sure it’s in alignment with your big why and success is suddenly much more attainable.