Why You Should Start With Why
3 Lessons from Start With Why by Simon Sinek
All right, I finally did it. I finally got around to reading Start With Why by Simon Sinek, How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. And honestly, it was incredible.
I have recently discovered audiobooks, and I am hooked. Shoutout to my wife for encouraging me to try them. I have always been a “book in hand” kind of guy, as you can see from the shelves behind me, but listening to books has been a game changer. I listened to Start With Why on Libby while traveling, and it gave me a new perspective on leadership, communication, and purpose.
Here are my three biggest takeaways.
1. Start with the Why: Lead from the Inside Out
Simon’s famous Golden Circle explains how great leaders inspire action. It starts with why, then moves to how, and finally what.
Most people and companies start from the outside by explaining what they do or how they do it. True inspiration begins with why, the purpose, cause, or belief behind the work.
Simon uses Apple as a great example. Early MP3 companies talked about features like storage and file transfer speed. Apple simply said, “1,000 songs in your pocket.” They spoke to the emotion behind the technology, the reason people wanted it.
I still remember when I got my first iPod Nano for Christmas. I did not even ask for it. Before that, I was juggling CDs and cassette tapes just to listen to music. That iPod changed everything. Apple’s why, to change the way people experience music, connected deeply with me and millions of others.
2. Leadership Comes After Trust
Simon reminds us that leadership is not about authority; it is about trust. People do not follow titles; they follow people they believe in.
He tells a story about Continental Airlines and how a new CEO changed everything by building trust. The previous executives were isolated behind closed doors. The new leader became visible, accessible, and connected. They created a system where every employee received a $65 bonus whenever flights departed on time. That one simple action aligned everyone toward a shared goal and built trust across the company.
Having worked in college and high school football, I have seen this truth firsthand. Players do not follow coaches simply because of their position. They follow coaches they trust, people who show up, listen, and care. Leadership always comes after trust.
3. Hire Motivated People, Then Inspire Them
This one hit me hard. Simon says to hire motivated people first, then inspire them.
Too often, leaders try to motivate people who are not motivated. Instead, look for those who already have drive, even if their passion is not exactly in your field. When you bring motivated people together and give them purpose, you do not have to push them, you just have to guide them.
That shifted how I think about leadership and teams. As someone who has built programs and worked with athletes, I have learned that motivation is the spark, but inspiration is the fuel.
Final Thoughts
Start With Why reminded me that success, leadership, and culture all start with clarity of purpose. Whether you are leading a team, running a business, or simply trying to live more intentionally, your why matters more than anything.
For me, my why is simple: to help people grow beyond the field through books, conversations, and community.
So I will leave you with this question:
What is your why?
📚
Ed