Book

Start with Why by Simon Sinek

“Daddy, why is the sky blue?”  I guess all kids ask that question, but I was one of those annoying students who was always interested in ‘the why.’  It’s the lens through which I view history (along with viewing history from the perspective of marketing, but that’s a post for another day).  It is the why that has always driven me forward in business.  So, of course, I was interested in reading this book as soon as I saw the title.

The message in the book is fantastic.  Simple.  Start with Why.  The focus here is really on business, but affects our personal lives as well.  It highlights a few of the same companies over and over again.  If you guessed Apple, Southwest, and Microsoft, you’re right.  I have to say that the middle of the book was a bit repetitive, but it picked up in the end.

A real key within the book is to use the why as your foundation.  And, if the why for starting your business is just to make money, you’ll become a commodity that inspires no loyalty from customers or employees.

Here’s a segment of the book that I really loved.

“Charisma has nothing to do with energy; it comes from a clarity of WHY.  It comes from an 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.”

Start with Why is definitely worth the read.

My why is that I want to Empower Entrepreneurs to be Successful Online.  What is your why?