Start with Why by Simon Sinek – Verified by Learn Stash

Start with Why

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Start with Why

How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Simon Sinek

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Published Date
October 29, 2009

Page Count
256 pages

Reading Time
4 hours

Listening Time
7 hours

📘 Why It's Worth Reading

It’s important to know what you want to accomplish, but if you want it to last, Simon Sinek explains you need to know your why. Published over a decade ago, this book might just be the most important business book written in recent history.

Notable Shoutouts

Tony Robbins

Author & Entrepreneur

“The basis of this book is so important to anyone looking to increase their influence, profits or impact. People won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. When you start with the why, everything else falls into place. This book is so impactful, I consider it required reading.”

Seth Louey

Co-Founder & CEO of BotList

“I love the book, ‘Start With Why’ by Simon Sinek. It’s one of the most influential books that has changed how I perceive business and selling products.”

Social Shoutouts

If you have dreams of starting a company or want to understand how to think successful ,read @simonsinek Start With Why #trustme

— Rob Dyrdek (@robdyrdek) January 14, 2013

#pandemic reads: Start with Why by @simonsinek. A great read. Highly recommended. pic.twitter.com/pk7v2Jqlf1

— David W Grebstad (@DavidGrebstad) November 15, 2020

You can apply the 3 books framework to any non-fiction genre.

Here’s leadership:

🌳 = Leadership: Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse

🌿 = The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell

🍃 = Start With Why by Simon Sinek

— Alex and Books 📚 (@AlexAndBooks_) January 5, 2021

I enjoy New Years resolutions. They give me a fresh opportunity to commit to self-improvement. It felt great yesterday completing my 2020 goal of being active daily. For 2021, I’m adding the goal of reading at least one book per month. First up: Start With Why, by @simonsinek. pic.twitter.com/tb5gNLTomE

— Daniel G. Hile, Ph.D. (@danielghile) January 1, 2021

Just finished “start with why” by @simonsinek

Certainly recommend for anyone interested in management and leadership.

This thread has my favorite learnings from the book

— Lucas Allen (@LUCASALLEN15) December 9, 2020

📖 Quotes from Start with Why

“Leading is not the same as being the leader. Being the leader means you hold the highest rank, either by earning it, good fortune or navigating internal politics. Leading, however, means that others willingly follow you—not because they have to, not because they are paid to, but because they want to.”

Simon Sinek

“The role of a leader is not to come up with all the great ideas. The role of a leader is to create an environment in which great ideas can happen.”

Simon Sinek

“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year.”

Simon Sinek

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. And what you do simply proves what you believe.”

Simon Sinek

“Trust is maintained when values and beliefs are actively managed. If companies do not actively work to keep clarity, discipline and consistency in balance, then trust starts to break down.”

Simon Sinek

⭐ Real Reviews on Start with Why

positive review

Everyone should read this!

While the majority of this book is about companies and the people who lead them, it is completely relatable to your personal life outside of work. Years ago, I worked for a company led by a man who clearly started with WHY. The company was bought out quite a few years ago, but my former colleagues and I still talk about the founder and the company with love and devotion. We describe it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that those who never experienced it couldn’t possibly understand. My current company, which bought that former company, is much bigger so it’s tough to compare, but I definitely believe that the leadership understands WHY as well.

I think everyone should read this book. Understand your company’s WHY, your spouse’s WHY, your children’s WHY…and don’t forget your own WHY.

critical review

Not a perfect book but one every human must read

The book repeats itself a lot. It lacks the clear structure we expect from someone as well known as Simon.

None of these are reasons not to read the book. Yes, it is the same message as the famous TED talk, but it explains the concepts in much more detail.

The book is written with a corporate slant but the reason you should read it is because between the lines you will find the inspiration to remember why the child that had been you, had dreamed about adulthood. It will inspire you to figure out why you are alive and going to work every day, and to begin to start every task with an understanding of why you are doing that task.

Whether you are leading a corporation or only yourself, you must start with your own personal why and this book will help you see why and how that must be done.