Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek

The inspiring, life-changing bestseller by the author of LEADERS EAT LAST and TOGETHER IS BETTER.

In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, including more than 28 million who’ve watched his TED Talk based on START WITH WHY — the third most popular TED video of all time.

Sinek starts with a fundamental question: Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?

People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers had little in common, but they all started with WHY. They realized that people won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it.

START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way — and it’s the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

“Start with Why” by Simon Sinek is a book that encourages businesses to focus on their purpose and values, rather than just their products or services. The main takeaway of the book is that companies that are successful are those that start with why they exist, and that inspires people to take action.

1. Start with your purpose, not your product: Companies that have a clear purpose are more successful than those that only focus on their products.
2. The Golden Circle: To effectively communicate your purpose, you should use the “”Golden Circle”” framework, which consists of Why, How, and What.
3. Inspire through purpose: People are more likely to take action when they are inspired by a company’s purpose.
4. Differentiate through why: Companies that focus on their purpose will stand out in the market and attract more customers.
5. Lead with why: To be successful, leaders need to focus on why they are doing what they do, not just what they do.
6. Focus on long-term success: Companies that start with why are more likely to achieve long-term success.
7. Empower your employees: Companies that focus on their purpose are more likely to have employees that are motivated and engaged.
8. Build a culture of trust: When employees understand the company’s purpose, they are more likely to trust the company and work harder.
9. The power of storytelling: Companies that have a clear purpose are more effective at telling their story and inspiring others.
10. Believe in your purpose: The most successful companies are those that truly believe in their purpose and live it every day.