Afterpage · week card
Start With Why
Simon Sinek
Key ideas
- The Golden Circle.
- Manipulation versus inspiration.
- People buy why you do it.
- Clarity, discipline, consistency.
- The split.
The week
| Day 1 | Read the summary. Five key ideas and where the book overreaches. |
| Day 2 | Write your why. Write one sentence that explains why you or your organization does what you do, beyond making money. Bad day: Write a rough “To ___ so that ___” sentence. |
| Day 3 | Name your hows. Write three to five principles that describe how you bring your why to life. Bad day: Write one principle for how you work. |
| Day 4 | Rewrite one pitch. Rewrite one description of your work, such as a bio, homepage, or elevator pitch, so it starts with why. Bad day: Write one new opening sentence for your bio that starts with why. |
| Day 5 | Run the celery test. List five things you're considering doing or buying for your work, and keep only those that fit your why. Bad day: Pick one current option and ask whether it fits your why. |
| Day 6 | Share it with someone. Tell one colleague, client, or friend your why and ask whether it matches what they see. Bad day: Send your why sentence to one person and ask if it fits. |
| Day 7 | Check for the split. Review one recent decision and write whether it was driven by your why or only by what was easiest or most profitable. Bad day: Write one recent decision and whether it fit your why. |
Free week by email at getafterpage.com/books/start-with-why