Why?

Have you ever wondered why some companies succeed and some don’t? Or maybe you’ve wondered why we feel so attached to certain companies over others? This is a fascinating thing and Simon Sinek breaks down this feeling through the lens of leadership.

Simon Sinek is a world-renowned inspirational speaker, and he crafted many books on his leadership philosophies. From Start With Why, to The Infinite Game, and Leaders Eat Last. Sinek classifies himself as an optimist and aims to inspire those he comes in contact with.

Early on in his talk, he addresses the “golden circle.” This concept he made starts from the inside and works its way out. On the innermost piece is “why,” from there comes “how,” and then “what.” He explains that the reason companies fail is often because they prioritize what they do and not why they do it. “We sell high speed internet and computers.” Anyone can read that and say, “Okay cool” but there’s no genuine desire to take up the offer.

He gives an anecdote regarding the Wright brothers. In no way, shape or form, should the Wright brothers have been able to create the first flying machine. They had minimal resources and no legitimate experience; They owned a bicycle shop! There were other, more qualified crews out there, one specifically that was expected to achieve flight. A crew ran by Samuel Pierpont Langley that was full of qualified people. They had all the resources they could have ever needed, but they didn’t succeed. Langley wanted the fame and the money. He started from the outside of the golden circle. The Wright brothers however started with why. They were inspired to make this leap in society for the sake of advancement. Everyday, they took five sets of parts to work on the flying machine because that’s how many times they expected to fail before dinner.

Take this information with you. From Simon Sinek, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” This is perhaps his most famous quote, so I ask you this. When you go through your life, be mindful of the decisions you’re making and why. Find your “why” and allow that to contribute to your decision-making process. Surround yourself with people who share this vision and fuel each other. It is so easy to get caught up in what we are doing and forget the reason behind it all. Don’t forget your why.