Book Summary: Find Your Why: A practical guide for discovering purpose for you and your team
Author: Simon Sinek, Peter Docker, David Mead
Book Size: 153 pages
Book available: Amazon, , For free pdf you can contact me through my profile
Moral:
Individuals, corporations, and teams can be frustrated and perplexed when they don’t know their mission in life, or their WHY. However, there are steps you can take to dig within, uncover your WHY, and start living a more motivated, passionate, and productive life. You may start thriving in both your personal and professional life once you completely understand your WHY.
Do you understand why you wake up, go to work, eat, sleep, and repeat? To put it another way, do you have a feeling of purpose and direction in your personal and professional life?
Don’t worry if you can’t respond “yes” to these questions; many people don’t understand why they do what they do and, as a result, don’t feel fulfilled when they go home from work.
The purpose of this book is to help you discover you’re WHY so that you can feel encouraged to go to work in the morning. You’ll learn how to recognize your WHY and begin living it, whether it’s by gathering stories from your history to discover it or by sharing it with a bunch of strangers.
And per the book
How getting your seat neighbor to talk about his WHY can turn tedious small talk into intriguing conversation; Why specificity is the key to the WHY process; and, How “hows” are the actions that bring a WHY to life.
#1: Knowing your WHY implies you and your company have a defined purpose, which makes you and your company more appealing.
If you’ve ever felt lost or dissatisfied in life, it could be due to a lack of purpose — or, as author Simon Sinek likes to put it, a lack of knowing your WHY.
Finding your WHY can be difficult, but once you do, you’ll be able to get up each morning with a sense of purpose and resolve.
After losing all interest in his career, Sinek discovered his WHY. He was depressed at the time and receiving a lot of advice, but none of it seemed to apply to his situation. He realized his WHY was to inspire others after some soul-searching, and once he realized this, he began to see his life more clearly and with more hope.
Knowing his WHY gave Sinek purpose in life, and he soon discovered that his self-assurance was attractive to others.
This is true not only for individuals but also for businesses. Apple is a good example of a company that has strong competitors who offer cheaper products with greater features. Apple’s customers, on the other hand, are devoted and inspired by the company’s tagline, “Think Different,” which perfectly encapsulates their WHY. Customers would prefer to give money to a progressive firm than save a few bucks by shopping at a more generic store.
Let’s look at two advertising pitches for a paper firm to show how persuasive a strong purpose can be in the marketplace:
The first emphasizes the paper’s high quality and inexpensive cost, while the second emphasizes the company’s aim of making a fine product that allows people to document and share their thoughts with the rest of the world. Simply because it describes the company’s WHY, the second pitch is significantly more interesting and appealing.
When we’re in a job interview, we sometimes need to advertise ourselves as well. Emily, a customer of one of the writers, was asked what made her stand out when she was shortlisted for a job and had to present herself in front of a panel of executives. This was Emily’s opportunity to share her WHY, and she expressed her desire to collaborate with others and assist others in becoming the best version of themselves.
It’s no surprise that Emily obtained the position because of her clear knowledge of her WHY.
#2: Illustrate your past to discover your WHY.
If you dread going to work and find it exhausting, you’re doing something that doesn’t align with your WHY. Even the most mundane and repetitive chores become simple to complete once you find a career you enjoy.
Working your way through the golden circle is a terrific approach to identifying your passion.
The golden circle, which was first introduced in Simon Sinek’s previous book, Start With WHY, depicts how we operate on three levels. The outer circle, or first level, is all about “WHAT” we do, whereas the middle circle is all about “HOW” we do it. Finally, the golden circle in the center determines “WHY” we do it.
You’ll find enthusiasm for your career when all of these rings are aligned.
The author encountered a man named Steve on a flight who had been at his job for 23 years and was still enthusiastic about his profession. What makes this possible? So, WHAT Steve did was produce steel; HOW he did it was by producing a pure product that is easier to recycle and produces less pollution, and WHY he did it was to preserve the environment clean for future generations.
For almost two decades, Steve’s WHY has kept him energized and impassioned — but if you’re still looking for your WHY, go into your past.
The writers used a discovery exercise to help one young woman figure out her WHY, which involves her revealing personal tales from her history. As many of her stories focused on her need to protect her younger sister from their abusive father, this revealed sad yet essential information. So a job safeguarding vulnerable people who can’t protect themselves would be a strong WHY for this young woman.
# 3: An objective viewpoint might assist you in discovering your WHY.
Don’t get too worked up if you’ve gone through a dozen stories from your past and still can’t locate your WHY. It’s often tough to find a common thread in the things that matter most to us, and if this is the case, it’s time to get a new perspective.
Another person who knows you well can help you figure out what your WHY is.
This individual doesn’t have to be a close friend, just someone curious and attentive. It can be beneficial if the person you’re speaking with is unfamiliar with your background and will ask serious questions — and perhaps take thorough notes.
To discover your WHY, you must ask precise questions, and these questions frequently lead to critical details and deep sensations.
“As a child, I loved visiting my relatives during summer vacation,” might become “I loved visiting my cousins because we could explore the woods beside their property and find amazing things in nature,” with the right probing questions. Common themes can develop from these details, pointing you in the direction of your WHY.
A skilled listener who is engaged and asks questions will see connections between stories, even if they appear to you to be utterly unconnected.
Todd was one of those people, as he told three quite distinct stories. The first involved him losing his basketball scholarship due to his addictive behaviors; the second involved him feeling frustrated and useless while working as a bartender; and the third involved him coming home from work and giving all of his tips to a local girl who had set up a lemonade stand, which made him feel useful.
The authors discovered a recurring thread in Todd’s experiences that pointed to his WHY, which is his desire to accomplish meaningful work and to assist others in doing more with their lives.
# 4: WHY Discovery Workshops can assist companies and teams in determining their WHY.
Even if you’ve discovered a career you enjoy, working for a firm that has a clear vision, or WHY, can leave you feeling irritated and depressed. Worse, that company may be your own!
To avoid this, you can hold a simple WHY Discovery Workshop to share diverse tales and create a great WHY for your business.
La Marzocco, an espresso machine manufacturer, offered one particularly memorable workshop. Employees were encouraged to offer stories about their experiences working with the organization. A photography session at the store, according to one employee, drew the workers together and made them feel connected.
This anecdote sparked a flurry of similar ones, and La Marzocco’s WHY statement became clear: to bring people together over coffee for lively conversation.
A corporation may also find itself in the scenario of having a WHY, or goal statement, that was once apparent but has since altered or fallen by the wayside. A WHY Discovery Workshop can also help in this situation.
Cuestamoras is a self-service supermarket introduced to Costa Rica by Enrique Uribe in the 1950s. However, he recently believed that his company had lost touch with its original vision.
As a result, Uribe and his brothers agreed to attend a class that would help them re-identify and explains what their company meant now. The WHY became a spark for creativity and helped generate chances for everyone in the community by sharing their tale on what the store meant to them today.
Uribe may not be as young as he once was, but he can now rest well knowing that his brothers and children will always be able to see his initial ideas for WHY Cuestamoras began. Future generations will be inspired by his vision, which will guide them on the right road.
A WHY Discovery Workshop may assist a company in defining its corporate culture, mission statement, and future vision, all of which will make it easier for workers to make the best decisions on the job.
# 5: The HOWs bring the WHY to life, and understanding them can help teams work better together.
We’ve focused a lot on the WHY so far, but it’s also crucial not to overlook the other aspects of the golden circle. So, once you’ve figured out what you want to do with your life, it’s time to figure out how to get there.
After all, HOWs are the activities that bring the WHY to life, making them an essential component of the overall process.
Consider your daily activities and how your actions are assisting you in achieving your WHY to find your HOWs.
Peter Docker’s WHY is to assist others to achieve remarkable things, and he has a few HOWs to accomplish it. These include breaking new ground, forging strong bonds, simplifying processes, and never losing sight of the bigger picture.
Knowing how your coworker’s work might also be beneficial.
At “Start with WHY” events, Peter frequently collaborates with David Mead. Because the purpose is to assist people to realize their potential, everyone’s “WHY” is the same during these events. But it’s Peter and David that make these events a success by understanding how each other works and how to combine their talents for maximum impact.
For example, a client once requested that 150 people attend a session that was prepared for a maximum of 40 persons. Furthermore, while the class usually lasts a full day, the client only had four hours available.
Peter and David joined their heads and depended on each other’s HOWs to bring 150 WHYs to life.
David knows how to be innovative, and he used this HOW to adapt the content to fit 150 people in four hours and still have it be a transformative event. Peter has a knack for keeping things simple, which came in handy in this case, especially when it came to getting everyone on board with the workshop’s directions and expectations.
Knowing someone’s HOWs means understanding how they operate and knowing this allows you to play to their strengths, divide duties, and collaborate effectively so that any issue can be overcome.
# 6: HOWS can assist you in making daily decisions.
Now and again, we’re faced with a difficult choice, whether it’s a project proposal, a collaboration opportunity, or a job offer. Knowing your HOWs is essential for avoiding disasters and making the best decisions that will help you to thrive.
To truly comprehend your HOWs, you must distill them down to their essence.
Simon Sinek, the author, understands how to focus on the long term, but this HOW may be broken down — more specifically, Sinek focuses on developing goods, services, and ideas that will be used long after he is gone. It also means he’s less concerned with meeting deadlines and making immediate money and more concerned with establishing long-term momentum for his company.
It’s not just about self-awareness when you get to the bottom of your HOWs; it can also disclose where possibilities exist.
Sinek can better evaluate which chances are aligned with his WHY, or overarching goals, by being mindful of his HOWs.
Sinek was approached by a major firm CEO a few years ago about starting a new company that would “put people first.” This was an enticing offer because his WHY is to encourage others to attain their goals. However, as Sinek probed deeper into his potential partner’s objectives, he discovered that he was more interested in making a quick buck, which is not Sinek’s style.
Another of Sinek’s HOWs is to take a different or unconventional approach to things, which his potential partner was not keen on. Knowing that this project didn’t line with his HOWs or his WHY, it was clear that he wouldn’t be a suitable fit for this opportunity. Finally, he was able to make the appropriate decision and politely decline.
Sure, the partnership would have looked fantastic on his resume and added to his client list, but he knows it would have been a dreadful experience.
If you’re in an uncomfortable position, you can utilize your HOWs to discover an imbalance and, hopefully, make the required modifications to make things right.
# 7: It’s critical to convey your WHY once you’ve discovered it.
Uncovering your WHY and comprehending your HOWs are both important steps on the path to living a fulfilled life. But the hard work doesn’t stop there; now it’s time to share it with the rest of the world.
Begin by explaining your WHY to anyone who inquires, “What do you do?”
This is a regular question in any social environment, and it’s an excellent opportunity to practice communicating your life objective. Try it on a plane with the person next to you, at a party with a stranger, or in a waiting room with a stranger.
You could feel uneasy at first, but the good thing about strangers is that you’ll almost certainly never see them again. It also allows you to fine-tune your WHY into a message that you are comfortable and confident delivering.
More importantly, telling the world about your WHY will encourage you to commit to it and back up your words with deeds. The more you speak up about your goals, the more likely you are to follow through on them.
Also, if your WHY statement is something along the lines of “assisting individuals in becoming the best version of themselves,” you can expect some folks to roll their eyes. This is why you’ll need to back up your bold claim with some activities.
There are several reasons to refer to your company’s mission statement regularly.
For starters, it will make it obvious when a product or service has become obsolete or irrelevant.
However, it’s also useful in human resources situations, such as knowing what to look for during the hiring process or identifying when an employee’s WHY differs from the company’s.
Finally, when you can match your employees’ WHYs with the positions that best suit them, you’ll be sure to find the most productive arrangements conceivable.
So, the more people who know your WHY, and the more people who know your WHY, the better off we’ll all be, both personally and professionally.
