Simon says it best

Have you watched Simon Sinek’s TED talk “Start with Why”?

You can find it here. It’s 18 minutes long. Or you could try the book if that’s more your thing.

It’s written to help leaders make better decisions and rally their teams around a common goal. But it works just as well for personal goals and to help steer us through big moments of change.

TL:DR Start with why. Then move on to how and what. Not the other way around. That way you always have an anchor to come back to.

How simple is that? The first time I came across it, I couldn’t believe how simple the premise is. You could make millions and a name for yourself off the back of something that obvious?

Then I sat with it. I started thinking about all the decisions I’ve made. That I’ve seen other people make. That I’ve seen my company make.

That’s when I realised it’s easier said than done.

We’re not very rational creatures, are we? We like to think we are. But in reality we make decisions on a whim. We change our minds for no good reason. We get pulled into all sorts of directions even when we’re really clear on our destination. We procrastinate. We scroll. We make excuses.

Sometimes, it’s because we’re scared of making mistakes. Of failing. Of looking stupid trying something new. Of embarrassing ourselves. Of facing things we really don’t enjoy doing.

Sometimes, it’s because our Why isn’t that clear.

This is how the model looks.

Traditional changes (the ones that fail at a rate of 70%+) start with what and move inwards towards why.

For change to genuinely stick, Sinek recommends starting with why and working outwards towards the tactics.

Here’s some questions to help you define your why:

• If I had all the money in the world, what would I spend my time doing?

• If I could spend the next 15 years doing only one thing, what would it be?

• What motivates me the most - money? fame? recognition? purpose? legacy? passion? freedom?

These questions should give you an indication of what your priorities are. They should act as an anchor for your decisions. Here’s how I answer mine, and how I use them to shape my business:

• If I had all the money in the world, what would I spend my time doing? I would travel the world, experience different cultures, live by the sea. This led me to design my private coaching practice to be fully remote, and for 50% of the work I do at The Brick Coach to be remote too. That way I’m free to travel and keep doing what I like doing ☀️

• If I could spend the next 15 years doing only one thing, what would it be? Troubleshooting people’s lives and businesses. Honestly, I LOVE creative problem solving. This led me to choose coaching and consulting as my main focus. And the constant learning that comes with scaling a business is a nice bonus 🤓

• What motivates me the most - money? fame? recognition? purpose? legacy? passion? freedom? For me, adventure is a big draw. It’s one of my top 3 values (the other two are honesty and authenticity). These values help me make decisions on the type of work I do and the types of people I surround myself with.

So what’s your why? I’d love to know. Drop me a message here, and when you’re ready for your next move, book time with me here.

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