Oh my gosh “Start with WHY!!!”! I told you I was on a book reading spree. The latest was by Simon Sinek called “Start with WHY. It is so good. I know I say that about ALL of the books I report, but it’s true because I don’t tell you about the books that aren’t so great.
Here is the gist of this book, the goal is for you to find your Golden Circle”¦
· Why
· How
· What
Most people start with what, but that is backwards. If you know “Why” you do what you do, then the inspiration and vision of it will carry you thru many things. Hard times and good. Naturally if you know “why” you do what you do, then it is easier to articulate “How” you do what you do. Then comes the “What” you do. Imagine an employee of yours telling someone outside of your organization “Why” they do what they do. Now imagine the employee that tells someone “What” they do for you. Passion would be present with the first. Because they have bought in.
This book gives wonderful examples of great Leaders in history that told us “Why” and consequently had a following. It also goes on to tell why many familiar companies, including Sam Walton’s Walmart was great, and his predecessors”¦not so much.
Buy the book! IF not for the simple reason to know how to answer someone if they ask the question “Why should we hire you?” I love this!
“Because the work we are doing now is better than the work we were doing 6 months ago. And the work we will be doing 6 months from now will be better than the work we are doing today. Because we wake up every day with the sense of WHY we come to work. We come to work to inspire people to do the things that inspire them. Are we better than our competition? If you believe what we believe and you believe that the things we do can help you, then we’re better. IF you don’t believe what we believe, and you don’t believe we can help you, then we’re not better. Our goal is to find customers who believe what we believe and work together so that we can all succeed. We’re looking for people to stand shoulder to shoulder with us in pursuit of the same goal. We’re not interested in sitting across the table in pursuit of a sweeter deal. And here are the things we are doing to advance our cause”¦”
And the details of HOW and WHAT you do follow. But this time, it started with WHY! People tell me all the time how my confidence and conviction shines thru when I work with them. Why? Because I know WHY I am in the business I am in”¦I love waking people up to their own brilliance.
Find yours!