At the end of each year, I take at least a week off to reassess how the year went and contemplate the upcoming year.
This year, I watched a 2009 TED Talk video featuring Simon Sinek discussing his “Start with Why” theory. The basic idea is that most businesses (and people) understand the “what” and “how” of what they do, but not necessarily the “why” of what they do.
If we do know or understand the “why,” we’re not always great at telling other people (or more specifically, customers) why we do it.
Sinek talks about how people buy why you do something, not what you do. He uses the example of Martin Luther King, Jr., describing how people followed King because of his beliefs, not his plans.
How to Find Your Why
Finding a “why” is harder than you may think. Many of us say things like, “I have a job so I can pay my bills,” but that’s an outcome, not a why.
Take some time to consider the following questions posed by Margie Warrell.
What makes you feel alive?
What are your natural strengths (things you’ve always been good at)?
Where do you add the greatest value (what problems do you enjoy solving)?
What do you stand for (your personal values)?
Why Examples
As I mentioned above, it’s often difficult for companies to illustrate their “why.” However, several corporations have made it a point to tell customers what they “believe" instead of what they do. Here are a few examples.
See if you can guess the company. Answers follow.
A: “To unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators.”
B: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
C: “Keep commerce human.”
(Answers: A: Spotify B: Google C: Etsy)
So, as we approach 2023, do you have a clear vision of why you do what you do?
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
—Liz