Entrepreneurship is about so much more than the pursuit of finance, rather it is a vehicle to contribute to the world in a small or large way.

As entrepreneurs, we spend our lives tinkering with a universe that doesn’t yet exist. Those who are able to move people are those who are able to dream of things that never were. It is in describing the beauty that comes with a better tomorrow that imaginations are sparked and hearts are touched.

The vision that Elon Musk, co-founder of PayPal and founder of SolarCity and SpaceX, holds for his life is to enable the future of humanity. He recently outlined his highly ambitious vision for manned missions to Mars, which he said could begin as soon as 2022 – three years sooner than his previous estimates.

Musk’s accomplishments have been impressive, his journey has been an extraordinarily challenging one. Today, more than ever, Musk is forcing the world to rethink space, energy production, energy consumption, transport and the future of humanity – he is still only 44. He is a brilliant example of someone who is unconstrained by yesterday’s thinking.

His vision of enabling the future of humanity gives him and his people such a sense of purpose that they set out to do the impossible and achieve it time and time again. Musk is truly pushing civilisation forward and in doing so is prompting humanity to reimagine what we are capable of. Through Musk’s accomplishments, the potential of human endeavour is travelling further than it ever has before.  

Similarly, people who have achieved great feats throughout history each had a vision for the contribution they wanted to make to the people around them, to humanity, or to the world. This vision was focused not on them but on a greater purpose, which would improve the lives of others or the world at large.

The vision Einstein held for his life was to be able to articulate the universe in one short, elegant formula. The vision Oprah holds for her life is to elevate the consciousness of humanity.

It’s important to note that, while the examples I’ve just given are from people who may seem larger than life, this certainly does not need to influence the scale of your life's vision. You do not need to be Elon Musk to leave your mark in the world.

We all leave a legacy, whether it be through the upbringing of a great family, the growth of a veggie patch, the way in which we touch the lives of others, the establishment of a business or large-scale societal change.

Every life shifts the world in some small or large way. Legacy cares not for scale. It's not about breadth, but rather about depth.

It’s less about how far-reaching your influence is and more about ensuring that whatever you do is a representation of who you truly are. Mahatma Gandhi said of legacy, ‘Whatever you do in life may seem insignificant to you. But it’s important you do it, because no one else will.’

Creating a vision for your life and your business ensures that everything you do aligns to your purpose, giving your life’s work a direction and a meaning that fuels you along the journey.

I’ll use myself as an example – not because I’m saying I have achieved greatness, but because I am an ordinary person following the principles of those who have.

The vision I hold for my life’s work is to push civilisation forward by enabling more people to live on purpose. This purpose influences everything I decide to work on and, more importantly, everything I decide not to work on.

It is my guiding star, which reminds me what my life’s work is for, and therefore I only engage in businesses and projects that will enable me to move towards the actualisation of my vision. Your vision is the contribution you want to make and can only be formed from your own unique sense of purpose.

If you're struggling to identify your personal vision some questions to ask yourself, explore and wrestle with over time (this is not a 15-minute exercise) are:

• What do I want my life to be about?
• What am I great at?
• What change would I love to see in the world?
• What would I love the ultimate contribution of my life to be?

Mould your responses to these questions into a single sentence that inspires you, and this will be your vision.

Having a clear vision for your life and your life’s work not only guides and directs your own decisions but also provides leadership to those whom you enrol on the journey. Everybody wants to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Everybody, including you and me, longs to be a part of something that matters.

For this reason this year I'm working with Chivas The Venture who currently has a $1 million fund to invest in extraordinary startups that are using business to create positive change.

Over the last two years Chivas has awarded $2 million to purpose-driven startups that succeed by doing good, because they believe generosity and success go hand in hand.

Right now Chivas are looking for social businesses from around the world who are using business to help create a better future. If you are interested in applying for their support click here. This is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs who are passionate about using profit for the pursuit of purpose. Good luck with your applications!