In real estate there is an old adage that goes, “Location, Location, Location”. The thought hangs on the premise that your best home purchase is directly and implicitly connected to choosing the right “Location”.
So what’s the “Why, Why, Why” and why it’s so important you know it? In the featured video Simon Sinek helps define “why”:
By “why,” I mean: What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? What’s your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care?
It’s apparent that discovering your “why” is challenging and quite often a task we would rather not pursue. Yet the “why” is at the very core of what motivates people. Sinek repeats this mantra over and over, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” When we use the word “buy” here it describes more than just buying with money:
- buy-in from stakeholders
- a special type of commitment from employees that motivates
- people believing, which inspires both us and them
- unwavering acceptance in you or your product
Try this exercise yourself particularly with a business or organization you don’t know much about and you are somewhat excited about discovering. Ask the head of the organization or better yet, ask anyone in the organization to explain the organizations core message.
It’s likely you will get blank stares and some questions. Lead the conversation carefully until you have cleared away the, this is “HOW” we do it, and this is “WHAT” we do responses. If you haven’t had it surface by this point, ask, WHY do you do what you do? Don’t be surprised if the path of the conversation circles back over ground you have already covered.
Why is your business or organization important? Does the answer inspire or does it miss the mark?
