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

Rating: 4

I recently finished reading Simon Sinek's "Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action," and it has fundamentally shifted my perspective on leadership and purpose.

Sinek's central argument is that the most influential leaders and organizations think, act, and communicate in the exact opposite way from everyone else. They start with why. He introduces a simple but powerful concept called "The Golden Circle," which has three layers:

• Why: The core belief or purpose that drives you.
• How: The specific actions you take to realize that belief.
• What: The results of those actions—the products you sell or the services you offer.

The book argues that while most companies can explain what they do, and some can explain how they do it, very few can clearly articulate why. Inspiring leaders, from Martin Luther King Jr. to Steve Jobs, start with their purpose, and it's this clarity that attracts loyal followers and customers.

One of the most practical takeaways for me was the "Celery Test." The idea is that when you're clear on your "why," making decisions becomes simpler. If you're advised to buy celery, M&M's, and rice milk at the store, you'll only know what to do if you know why you're going. If your "why" is to be healthy, you'll buy the celery and the rice milk. The M&M's don't fit. This simple analogy is a powerful filter for ensuring that your actions—and a company's decisions—are consistent with your core values.

Reading "Start with Why" has helped me become more opinionated and proactive, constantly asking what the underlying purpose is behind a task or a project. It challenges you to look beyond the surface level and find a deeper sense of motivation.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to become a more effective leader or simply to find more clarity and passion in their own work. It’s a thought-provoking read that will stick with you long after you've finished it.