Lesson 2: Driving Your Personal Success with "Why" | Simon Sinek

People define personal success differently. For some, it’s the age-old trinity of money, fame, and power. For others, it will be a quiet life of creativity and reflection. Still for others, the critical component is dedication to a cause or community. But while people desire some form of success, they may not know why they are driven toward it. That can be dangerous, according to leadership consultant Simon Sinek. Without their why pointing the way, a professional risks becoming lost in their search for happiness and professional contentment.

In this video lesson, Sinek shares how to let your “why” lead.

Loving Our Work

Without a sense of “why,” we tend to follow whatever job is in front of us. We chase money, benefits, and advancement without direction.

With a sense of “why,” we engage in purposeful decision-making. Look for employment in places where you belong, want to contribute, and are more likely to feel inspired, fulfilled, and happy.

Staying in Control

When we’re in a job that’s out of balance with our “why,” we always have a choice. Even if you can’t yet leave the company, you can change how you operate within the company.

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About Simon Sinek:

Simon O. Sinek is an author best known for popularizing the concept of "the golden circle" and to "Start With Why," described by TED as "a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question "Why?"'. He joined the RAND Corporation in 2010 as an adjunct staff member, where he advises on matters of military innovation and planning. His first TEDx Talk on "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" is the 3rd most viewed video on TED.com. His 2009 book on the same subject, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (2009) delves into what he says is a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in the biology of human decision-making, that explains why we are inspired by some people, leaders, messages and organizations over others.

He has commented for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, FastCompany, CMO Magazine, NPR, and BusinessWeek, and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, BrandWeek, and IncBizNet.