This episode explores Simon Sinek's concept of "Start With Why" on its 15th anniversary, discussing its enduring relevance and application in today's business and social landscape. Sinek reflects on the origins of the Golden Circle, emphasizing its basis in the biology of human decision-making and its evolution from a scientific experiment to a widely recognized framework. Against the backdrop of a shift towards purpose-driven work, Sinek notes the initial resistance to discussing purpose in business and how the concept of "why" has now entered the vernacular. The conversation pivots to the topic of leadership, with Sinek lamenting the current leaderless times and the over-indexing on rugged individualism and short-termism. He advocates for companies to change their incentive structures to foster loyalty and growth, citing examples like Trek and Barry-Wehmiller, where caring for employees leads to remarkable tenure and success. Ultimately, Sinek argues that while money is necessary as fuel, the purpose of a company should be to achieve something greater, take care of people and community, and that knowing one's "why" provides a grounding foundation in times of uncertainty.
