NikithaAuthor: Simon Sinek
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In my previous office, during an all hands session, they showed us the TED Talk of start with why. I was so intrigued by it that I went back and watched it again. It was a mind blowing concept which I hadn’t thought of till then. The book ‘Start with Why’ has been on my to read list forever but haven’t found the motivation to read it as I already knew the concept. This book ‘Find your why’ is a follow-up of start with why where the author tells you how to find the why to lead a more fulfilled life.
In the beginning of the book, the author talks about how fulfillment and happiness are different. The concept is so relatable that I started using it in my daily conversations. Happiness is fleeting but fulfillment is what brings a smile on your face at the end of a tiring day. I could very well relate why I was searching for happiness day after day when I had everything. The answer was simple. I spend majority of my day at work and the work doesn’t make me feel fulfilled. Just like how I feel that every book I read, I read it at the right time. This book also gave me insights on what is wrong with my present life and how I can lead a life which is fulfilling.
When a person says, “I want to do what I love,” there is a majority which opposes that it is only for the privileged. But this book shows that even a common man, if he can figure out his why, he doesn’t have to work for the rest of his life. He needs to keep living his why. On his deathbed, he will be proud of the life he lived than die with regrets of just focusing on making money.
The story doesn’t end at fulfilling individuals why. He also talks about how organisations with why are valued more than the ones without it. I could relate to this as I remember how Satya Nadella repeatedly talks in ‘Hit Refresh’ how he decided to work on the why of Microsoft when he became CEO.
The concept is great. But the book lacked in practicality of implementing it. It asks you to get an interpreter. It is difficult to find one who can align with the concept and bring out the right theme. It doesn’t have enough prompts for the stories. It doesn’t have enough examples of themes. A wrong interpreter might cause more damage than self interpretation.
At the end of the book, there is a FAQ. The concepts mentioned in that part of the book should have been in the chapters as they are mainstream ones. It added a lot of value and made the concept much clearer.
Overall, it is a mind opening read. But it would have been great if the book would have been easily implementable.
What are you waiting for? Rush, ‘Find your why’ and lead a more fulfilling life.
Happy finding your why!