Rating:  ☆☆☆☆1/2

Author:   Simon Sinek

Genre:  Non-Fiction, Psychology, Business, Self Improvement

256 pages, published October 29, 2009

Reading Format:  Audio Book on Hoopla

Summary

In his bestselling book Start with Why, Simon Sinek explores the question of why  some people and organizations are more innovative, influential, and profitable than others.   Why do some command greater loyalty from both their customers and employees? Why are so few able to repeat their success continuously?  Sinek answers these questions by developing the thesis that successful people and organizations start with “why” rather than “what” or “how.”  Why is not money or profit; those are always results.  Why does your organization exist?  Why does it do the things it does?  Why do customers really buy from one company or another?  Why are people loyal to some leaders, but not others?  As evidentiary support for his idea, Sinek profiles individuals Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, Gandhi and the Wright Brothers and organizations Apple, Starbucks, and Southwest Airlines.

Quotes 

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”

 

“Leadership requires two things: a vision of the world that does not yet exist and the ability to communicate it.”

 

“There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.

 

“Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY I mean your purpose, cause or belief – WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning? And WHY should anyone care?”

 

“We are drawn to leaders and organizations that are good at communicating what they believe. Their ability to make us feel like we belong, to make us feel special, safe and not alone is part of what gives them the ability to inspire us.”

 

“For values or guiding principles to be truly effective they have to be verbs. It’s not “integrity,” it’s “always do the right thing.” It’s not “innovation,” it’s “look at the problem from a different angle.” Articulating our values as verbs gives us a clear idea – we have a clear idea of how to act in any situation.”

 

“Happy employees ensure happy customers. And happy customers ensure happy shareholders—in that order.”

 

“Leading is not the same as being the leader.  Being the leader means you hold the highest rank, either by earning it, good fortune or navigating internal politics.  Leading, however, means that others willingly follow you—not because they have to, not because they are paid to, but because they want to.”

 

“Some in management positions operate as if they are in a tree of monkeys. They make sure that everyone at the top of the tree looking down sees only smiles.  But all too often, those at the bottom looking up see only asses.”

 

“You don’t hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills.”

 

“Great companies don’t hire skilled people and motivate them, they hire already motivated people and inspire them.  People are either motivated or they are not.  Unless you give motivated people something to believe in, something bigger than their job to work toward, they will motivate themselves to find a new job and you’ll be stuck with whoever’s left.”

 

“Trust is maintained when values and beliefs are actively managed.  If companies do not actively work to keep clarity, discipline and consistency in balance, then trust starts to break down.”

 

“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.”

 

“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.”

 

“When you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help you.  But when you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.”

 

“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year. Those who forget WHY they were founded show up to the race every day to outdo someone else instead of to outdo themselves. The pursuit, for those who lose sight of WHY they are running the race, is for the medal or to beat someone else.”

 

“Great leaders and great organizations are good at seeing what most of us can’t see. They are good at giving us things we would never think of asking for.”

 

“Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress, working hard for something we love is called passion.”

 

“Henry Ford summed it up best. “If I had asked people what they wanted,” he said, “they would have said a faster horse.”

 

“Charisma has nothing to do with energy; it comes from a clarity of WHY. It comes from absolute conviction in an ideal bigger than oneself. Energy, in contrast, comes from a good night’s sleep or lots of caffeine. Energy can excite. But only charisma can inspire. Charisma commands loyalty. Energy does not.”

 

“Put bluntly, the struggle that so many companies have to differentiate or communicate their true value to the outside world is not a business problem, it’s a biology problem. And just like a person struggling to put her emotions into words, we rely on metaphors, imagery and analogies in an attempt to communicate how we feel. Absent the proper language to share our deep emotions, our purpose, cause or belief, we tell stories. We use symbols. We create tangible things for those who believe what we believe to point to and say, “That’s why I’m inspired.” If done properly, that’s what marketing, branding and products and services become; a way for organizations to communicate to the outside world. Communicate clearly and you shall be understood.”

 

“If the leader of the organization can’t clearly articulate WHY the organization exists in terms beyond its products or services, then how does he expect the employees to know WHY to come to work?”

 

“There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it.”

 

“Studies show that over 80 percent of Americans do not have their dream job. If more knew how to build organizations that inspire, we could live in a world in which that statistic was the reverse – a world in which over 80 percent of people loved their jobs. People who love going to work are more productive and more creative. They go home happier and have happier families. They treat their colleagues and clients and customers better. Inspired employees make for stronger companies and stronger economies.”

 

“Innovation is not born from the dream, innovation is born from the struggle.”

My Take

Start With Why is a fascinating and inspiring book that explores how “why” we do something is so much more important than “how” or “what” we do.  While it is geared towards businesses, I found Simon Sinek’s principles translated to individuals.  We should all have a “why” in our lives, otherwise we will get to the end and wonder if our time here on earth was the most it could be.  For me, my why is “to live a full, connected and meaningful life with no regrets.”  Everything I do should flow from that “why.”  I highly recommend this book, especially if you have a business.