Post on 06-May-2015
Start with Why: How Leaders Inspire Action
Simon Sinek Notes
The TED Talk.
I would urge you to start off this blog post by
watching this 18-minute TED video from Simon
Sinek.
This is arguably the best TED video I’ve seen this
year.
Why?
Why are some leaders more persuasive and inspiring than others?
What inspiring qualities have cemented Apple, Martin
Luther King Jr, and the Wright Brothers into their iconic
status as leaders in spite of intense competition in this red
ocean market?
Principle, Start with Why!
In fact, these leaders have utilized this principle whether
knowingly or unwittingly.
The more you dissect these great leaders, the
more noticeable the pattern becomes.
Principle, Start with Why!
In essence, leaders think differently. Instead of the
conventional “what-centered thinking”
they have embraced a “why-centered thinking.”
The Golden Circle:
WHAT: Every single person on this planet knows WHAT they
do.
HOW: Some people know HOW they do WHAT they do. HOWs are often given to explain how something is different or better.
WHY: Very few people can clearly articulate (i.e., why do
you get out of bed every morning?)
The Golden Circle shows that the conventional
thought-process of most people are:
What –> How –> Why
Leaders like Apple, Martin Luther King Jr, and the Wright
Brothers have started inside out:
Why –> How –>What
By starting with Why, Sinek means starting with purpose, cause, or belief that drives
your What.
Your What my change over time, but
your Why doesn’t.
Apple is a case in point.
Apple epitomizes the “why-centered thinking.” See how
Apple frames their messages.
“We make great computers.(WHAT) They’re beautifully
designed, simple to use, and user-friendly.(HOW) Want to
buy one?”
Doesn’t really sound compelling, does it?
This is how Apple really communicates:
“Everything we do, we believe is challenging the status quo, we believe in thinking differently.
(WHY)
The way we challenge the status quo is by making our products beautifully designed, simple to use, and user-friendly. (HOW)
We just happen to make great computers. (WHAT) Want to buy
one?”
Finding Your Why
Now, let’s think about how you can apply the concept of “why” in your
life.
The author Sinek shares his precise definition of
Why:
Finding Your Why
“My Why is to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. [My] vision is to have every person and every organization know their WHY and use it to
benefit all they do. So that’s what I’m doing, and I’m relying on the concept of WHY … to help me get
there. “
A Paradigm Shift
This new paradigm shift of thinking follows my
thought-process of living with intentionality.
I define living intentionally as living today as God
intends you to live tomorrow.
A Paradigm Shift
That is, you must discover your purpose in life, how to
utilize your spiritual gifts, talents, and potential to
achieve your vision.
Life must be seen from a larger scheme rather than from a focus solely on your career, family, or personal
life.
Here is how I have defined my Why, How, and What:
What’s Your Why?
When we start with Why, things change.
Our thought processes begin to change. We gain clarity
around our why we do certain things.
Why we choose this certain job over the other, why we spend time with family and
friends…
What’s Your Why?
We often take things for granted without thinking the reason behind the
‘what.’
We gain the opportunity to understand what truly
matters – the core of who we are, our unyielding conviction, belief, and
purpose.
What’s Your Why?
Now, can you think about examples of things you’ve started with Why and with
What?
How were the experiences different? Besides
companies like Apple, what companies come into your mind that has mastered the ‘Why-centered thinking?”
So, here’s the question of the day: why do you get out of bed every morning?
The Greatest Why?
John 3:16 (KJV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.