Start With Why
Why are some people and organizations moreinnovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do somecommand greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among thesuccessful, why are so few able to repeat their successes over and over?
People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs,and the Wright Brothers might have little in common, but they all started with why. Their natural ability to start with why enabled them to inspirethose around them and to achieve remarkable things.
In studying the leaders who’ve had the greatestinfluence in the world, Simon Sinek discovered that they all think, act, andcommunicate in the exact same way—and it’s the complete opposite of whateveryone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and itprovides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can beled, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.Any organization can explain what it does; some can explain how they do it; but very fewcan clearly articulate why. WHY is not money orprofit—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 loyalto some leaders, but not others?
Starting with WHY works in big business andsmall business, in the nonprofit world and in politics. Those who start with WHY never manipulate, they inspire. And people follow them not becausethey have to; they follow because they want to.
Drawing on a wide range of real-life stories,Sinek weaves together a clear vision of what it truly takes to lead andinspire. This book is for anyone who wants to inspire others or who wants tofind someone to inspire them.
The Story Behind This Book
Why I wrote Start With Why: I am an optimist. I believe that if everyone woke up and only did the things that inspire them, what an amazing world we’d live in. If we look at the companies, civil leaders and organizations who truly lead, we can find vast numbers of people who stand with them, inspired by something bigger than themselves. Those who love their Apple computers, for example, are proud to be a part of Apple’s revolution. Those who tattoo a Harley-Davidson logo on their bodies are proud to be a part of Harley’s cause. Great leaders, be they individuals or organizations, inspire us to be a part of something larger than ourselves. But what does it take to be a great leader? What does it take to inspire? As it turns out, even though some may have a natural gift for it, the ability to inspire can be learned. The discovery: Looking at the leaders and organizations that have an unbalanced amount of influence in the world – the most loyal customers, the most loyal employees, the most profitable, the most innovative and, most importantly, able to sustain all those things for the long term – I discovered that they all think, act and communicate the exact same way…and it’s the complete opposite of everyone else. All I did was codify it. And I call it the Golden Circle. The book, Start With Why, shares this naturally occurring pattern in a way that is actionable. Others can learn how to be as innovative as Apple. Others can learn to generate loyalty like Harley-Davidson. And others can learn to rally thousands of people like Martin Luther King.