Why "Why" Matters

I am in the middle of reading Simon Sinek's book, Find Your Why, for the second time.

There is no question that it will be one of those books sitting on my shelf, years from now, with a cover so tattered that it's almost unrecognizable because I have read it half a dozen more times.

Although quite engaging, in my opinion, the simple idea that comes out of this read is that people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

Most of us know what we do. If you ask anyone the favorite question of networking events all over the country, "What do you do?" you will find that just about everyone has an "elevator speech" ready to go! It's full of things like the name of their company and their position and their products and their services and their track record and that they have great customer service, blah, blah, blah.

How unbelievably unoriginal.

When you approach this question in such a way that you literally sound like everyone else, you will not stand out.

No judgement, just awareness. It's the truth.

Nobody ever taught you to think about why you do what you do and encourage you to talk about that instead, and you had no reason to ask someone; after all, you were ignorant.

I was ignorant to that for a long time, as well. Until I read Sinek's book.

I have always described myself as a coach, consultant, speaker and author. But...why do I do those things? We often do things simply because it's a job we came into, or it's something we do well or enjoy doing, and sometimes just to 'make a living.'

But when I stopped to think about why I write and speak and coach, something amazing happened. I got something. I got something I always talk about and always walk my clients through as a huge part of helping them understand themselves and what their possibilities really look like.

I got clarity.

I got clarity on my why.

I do what I do because people who are going to be great need someone to instill the confidence in them for them to go be great. I love helping people find their value, their voice, and their confidence so they can go change their world, and maybe even the world.

I may not write the most impactful book, but I may have taught the person who did how to tell a great story.

I may not be the biggest social advocate for change, but I may be the person who helped that person stand up with confidence and be heard.

I may not be the head of the company, but I may be the person who helped that person discover their own ability to lead others effectively.

I may not be the mover, but I may have been the shaker.

That is why I do what I do.

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay.

WRITTEN by Robin Sacks

Professionally, I am a Confidence Coach, speaker, author and motivator.

Personally, I am a mom, wife, and friend.

I live for bad puns and cozy mysteries.

Learn a lot more at https://www.robinjsacks.com.