A Book Review: Start with Why

start with why

In his book, “Start with Why” author Simon Sinek challenges us to redefine why we do anything and everything. Our simple rote answers of “to make money” or “to lose weight” are obvious in their intention, yet far from inspiring.

As we are in the season for resolutions and goal-setting, I want to share this book recommendation with you. If in the past you have struggled to set meaningful goals, forgotten about your goals or simply never achieved them, you will find in this book the answer to why.

If you are a leader in an organization, small or large, the book provides the keys to establishing a vision to support you and your team in making progress toward that vision every single day. Ever feel like your team is rowing in multiple different directions? Get clear on your “why,” communicate that “why” and build an organization and team focused on that “why.”

So you are thinking this book is just about understanding, communicating and acting on your underlying motivations? No. It takes it to the next level of identifying your “why” and communicating it to build trust among the people you want to serve as your clients. We all appreciate belonging to a tribe, a place where we feel our values and beliefs are understood by others. This is what is translated to your clients when you understand your “why” and is why they will desire to do business with you…because you get them. You can see how this plays out in the Ideal Client work, first addressed in the blog post, “Look Inward First to Identify Your Ideal Client.”

Case studies and examples throughout the book make Sinek’s point clear. You will find your head nodding in agreement, and exclamations of, “Ahhh…yes. I get it.” All of which does not make it necessarily easy to identify or articulate your own “why” and the biology behind that is made clear in the book. You will need to step outside of your usual ways of thinking and doing to discover or rediscover your why. I found my “why” working with a coach. This book will prepare your mind to begin the process. At a minimum, watch Sinek’s Ted Talk on the topic.

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