Start With Why

If you ask most of your company’s employees, they can quickly tell you what your business does.  They can probably even tell you how it happens.  But do they (and you) know why you’re doing it?  What about your customers?  Your “why” sets you apart from the competition and takes you from competing money: price for more market share or pay scale for employees.

Start With Why is a love song to entrepreneurs and business leaders worldwide.  Simon Sinek utilizes true case studies from famous companies like Walmart, Apple, and Microsoft to highlight why inspiration doesn’t come from what or how you do things, but why.  When you think of Apple, are Steve Jobs’ town halls and product launches the first thing to come to mind?  That’s because Jobs exudes inspiration and vision in those records – his why. 

I give Start With Why 4 out of 5 stars.  I found the case studies very helpful in understanding Sinek’s point.  I felt inspired to investigate my own “why” in both my professional career and this blog.  However, I did start to lose interest in finishing this book in the last few chapters and found myself skimming over the writing instead of ingesting each sentence.

I have already suggested this book to several of my coworkers and used quotes to build graphics for a presentation I am giving later this month to my team.  I know you’ll be looking to share this book with all your colleagues as well after you read it!  This is on my list as a must read for anyone in business, but especially those in leadership and sales.

I chose Start With Why as my “self-development” book for March – I look to read one personal development or business book each month.  I think it’s important to spend time learning new skills or honing the ones we already have – any soft skill is a use it or lose it situation.  I enjoyed this book because it can apply to so many facets of my life.  If you’re looking to improve your own leadership and sales skills, I think you’ll like this book, too.

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What I’m Reading

• Current print book: Choosing to See, Mary Beth Chapman
• Current audio book: Killing England, Martin Dugard & Bill O’Reilly
• Book I’m most looking forward to: The Help, Kathryn Stockett