• Home
  • Episodes
  • Books for Leaders
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
  • Our Sponsors
  • Blog
  • Our Newsletter
The Leadership Podcast

The Leadership Podcast

We Study Leaders

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

August 27, 2017

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

The inspiring, life-changing bestseller by the author of LEADERS EAT LAST and TOGETHER IS BETTER.

START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who've had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way -- and it's the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

Order Now!
About the Book

In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers. Since then, millions have been touched by the power of his ideas, including more than 28 million who’ve watched his TED Talk based on START WITH WHY — the third most popular TED video of all time.

Sinek starts with a fundamental question: Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over?

People like Martin Luther King Jr., Steve Jobs, and the Wright Brothers had little in common, but they all started with WHY. They realized that people won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it.

START WITH WHY shows that the leaders who’ve had the greatest influence in the world all think, act, and communicate the same way — and it’s the opposite of what everyone else does. Sinek calls this powerful idea The Golden Circle, and it provides a framework upon which organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

Details
Author: DDD Host Favorites
Series: Bo Burlingham
Tags: Jan's Favorites, Jim's Favorites, Leadership, Non-Fiction, Performance, Personal Development, Philosophy, Recommended Books, Success, Teamwork
ASIN: 1591846447
Order Now
Buy from Amazon
Share
Facebook Twitter Google+
Other Books on the Show in the "Bo Burlingham"
Small Giants: Companies That Choose to Be Great, Instead of Big
Finish Big: How Great Entrepreneurs Exit Their Companies on Top
Street Smarts: An All-Purpose Tool Kit for Entrepreneurs
The Great Game of Business: The Only Sensible Way to Run a Company
A Stake in the Outcome: Building a Culture of Ownership for the Long-Term Success of Your Business
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck—Why Some Thrive Despite Them All
Preview
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America...
Great by Choice: Uncertainty, Chaos, and Luck...

Related Posts

  • TLP119: The Power of Story – from the Rooftop Leader
  • TLP422: Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict with Karin Hurt
  • TLP434: Lessons Learned from the Trauma Room on the Front Lines with Dr. Melissa Givens
  • TLP085: Character, Coffee & Destiny
  • TLP276: The First 90 Days
iTunes
Spotify
Audible
SoundCloud
iHeartRADIO

Instagram Feed

westudyleaders

#leadership #leadershiptraining #leader #westudyleaders

Chasing success can quietly become the problem, no Chasing success can quietly become the problem, not the solution.Tom Rath argues usefulness matters more than achievement, and the shift changes how you spend every hour of your day.It's a simple reframe with a big payoff: less hamster wheel, more contribution.Listen to Tom Rath's full conversation on the show. https://bit.ly/TLP-523?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#tomrath #leadershippodcast #purposeoverperformance #leadershipmindset #executivecoaching #findingpurpose #workplaceculture #meaningfulwork
Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it Capitalism broke when leaders stopped believing it requires morality.Patrick Ryan is a chartered director, KYC Net founder, and author of The Moral Market. He spent decades watching executives justify corner-cutting as "following the rules."In this episode, he shares why modern capitalism abandoned Adam Smith's moral foundation. And how the impartial spectator fixes it.Go listen to the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersGo watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Great leadership doesn't require charisma. David Great leadership doesn't require charisma.David Robson points to two qualities that matter when influencing other people: warmth and competence.Can people trust you? Do they believe you know what you're talking about?That combination matters more than being naturally charismatic, entertaining, or a great orator.And unlike charisma, these are qualities leaders can deliberately develop.#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #influence #executiveleadership #trust #communication #leadershippsychology #davidrobson #leadershippodcast
A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good A positive mindset isn't simply about feeling good.@shawnachor's research explores what happens when the brain approaches challenges from a more positive state. The result can extend beyond how we feel, influencing how we perform, solve problems, and respond to the situations in front of us.That makes positivity more than an attitude. It becomes a way of changing how we approach life and work.Learn how the brain's state can influence the outcomes we create.#Leadership #PositivePsychology #LeadershipDevelopment #Mindset #ShawnAchor #LeadershipPodcast
Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conver Patrick Ryan reframes the entire capitalism conversation in one sentence. Most leaders see ethics as a constraint. A tax on profit. But that's the opposite of how markets actually work. Without moral foundation, there's no trust. No enforceable contracts. No real market. Just extraction dressed up as business. This changes how you think about your next decision.Listen to Episode 519. https://bit.ly/TLP-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #businessethics #moralcapitalism #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in Tribalism is part of human nature, but its role in modern organizations is more complicated than it once was. People still seek belonging and connection, yet those same needs can create division when groups begin defining themselves against one another.Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford explore how tribalism shapes leadership and organizational culture. They discuss four approaches to leadership: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication, and what each reveals about the way leaders influence the people around them.The conversation also examines fear in the workplace, the importance of psychological safety, and the ongoing tension between developing people and focusing on the work that matters most.At the center of the discussion is a question leaders cannot easily avoid - how do you create belonging without creating an "us vs. them" culture?Listen to the full episode. Link in the first comment.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
Most leaders think tension is toxic. Jim Brown say Most leaders think tension is toxic.Jim Brown says they're wrong.Tension is normal. Predictable. Necessary.The problem isn't that your team disagrees. It's that they don't know what you're aiming for.When people lack clarity around shared goals, disagreements turn into arguments. Someone stomps out. Trust breaks.But when everyone knows what you're actually trying to build together? That same tension becomes energy. Ideas get challenged. Better decisions emerge.Productive tension is anchored in clarity, not comfort.Hear the full conversation on episode 517. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-517?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#productiveconflict #leadershipteams #organizationalhealth #teamdynamics #leadershipdevelopment #conflictresolution #theleadershippodcast #jimbrownorghealth
Chasing the next promotion isn't the same as chasi Chasing the next promotion isn't the same as chasing the next skill.David Craig watched talented people burn years climbing a ladder instead of building capability, and he says it's one of the costliest mistakes in a career.The shift is simple: choose the work that develops you, not just the title that impresses others.Hear David explain the lesson behind it in episode 525. https://bit.ly/TLP-525?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #davidcraig #careeradvice #leadershipdevelopment #leadershippodcast #careergrowth #executivecoaching #professionaldevelopment
Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasin Kim Svoboda was on a plane 85% of the time. Chasing the job title she thought she wanted.Then a simple values exercise stopped her cold. Family was #1 on her list. She wasn't living anywhere near it.That gap is what most leaders never stop to check.Hear what broke her wide open. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #executiveburnout #leadershipvalues #worklifebalance #careertransition #leadershippodcast #intentionalleadership
Most leaders think they need to be the smartest pe Most leaders think they need to be the smartest person in the room.Patrick Emmons disagrees — founder of Dragon Spears, president of Improving Chicago, 25 years building and selling companies.This episode breaks down why leadership at every level beats leadership at the top, and why authenticity means accepting your own growth, not demanding acceptance as-is.Listen to the full conversation now. https://bit.ly/TLP-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-524?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #leadershipdevelopment #entrepreneurship #authenticleadership #businessgrowth #executivecoaching #leadershippodcast #teamdevelopment
Your circle isn't static. It's a decision. Donnie Your circle isn't static. It's a decision.Donnie Boivin says your five prospects, five clients, and five closest people all shape where you plateau.Not walking away from anyone, just paying attention to who's actually pulling you forward.Dive deeper into the full conversation https://bit.ly/TLP-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadership #networking #personalgrowth #businessmindset #relationshipbuilding #entrepreneurship #leadershippodcast #successmindset
She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable. She was running a $1B P&L. She was also miserable.Kim Svoboda is founder of Aspiration Catalyst, author of Bold Leadership, 20+ years leading sales orgs before walking away from it all.This week: what happens when you finally measure your life against your own values, and it doesn't add up.Listen to the full episode now. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleadersWatch it on YouTube - https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#leadershippodcast #boldleadership #executiveburnout #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #employeeengagement #intentionalleadership #careertransition
There is a difference between improving what alrea There is a difference between improving what already exists and imagining what could exist.Ron Johnson reflects on what Steve Jobs saw in him: not only someone who understood retail and customers, but someone willing to imagine something that hadn't been done before.Innovation often begins with the willingness to think beyond the familiar.#Innovation #Leadership #SteveJobs #RonJohnson #ThinkDifferently #InnovationLeadership #LeadershipLessons #TheLeadershipPodcast
Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Give first to gain everything sounds noble. Donnie Boivin says it's a trap. One-sided giving just trains people to take advantage of you. His fix: give, give, get, give — mutual respect over martyrdom. It changes how you should be showing up in every relationship you're building. Catch the full breakdown on this week's episode. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-521?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#networking #leadershipmindset #businessstrategy #relationshipbuilding #salesleadership #entrepreneurmindset #leadershippodcast #businessgrowth
What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are sh What if the beliefs you hold about yourself are shaping what happens next?In our conversation with @shawnachor, we explored how beliefs influence behavior, happiness, success, and the way we experience difficult situations. That your behavior matters and can be the difference between moving forward, giving up, or stagnating.We also talk about FOMO, social connection, burnout, stress, and why success doesn't necessarily create happiness.This is a thoughtful conversation about something we rarely stop to examine - what we believe, and what those beliefs make possible.Listen to the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #Leadershipdevelopment #PositivePsychology #LeadershipMindset #HappinessAndSuccess #LeadershipPodcast #ShawnAchor #TeamCulture #Mindset #WorkplaceLeadership
Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It make Perfectionism doesn't make leaders bolder. It makes them slower.Kim learned this from a CEO who taught her the 80/20 rule — enough data to decide, then move. The last 20% almost never changes the outcome.If you're stuck waiting for certainty, this is your permission to go. https://bit.ly/TLP-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #decisionmaking #executivecoaching #leadershipmindset #intentionalleadership #leadershippodcast #decisiveleadership
Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four w Jim Vaselopulos and Jan Rutherford describe four ways leaders can shape a tribe: subtraction, division, addition, and multiplication.The first is leadership by subtraction. Jim describes it as a form of bullying, where a leader elevates themselves by pushing someone else down.It raises a useful question for leaders: Are you building your own position by developing others, or by diminishing them?This is the first of four leadership approaches discussed in the full conversation. Watch the full episode to hear the other three.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipLessons #LeadershipCulture #OrganizationalCulture #TheLeadershipPodcast
He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He wa He was one of Kim Svoboda's best performers. He was also a bully.She tolerated it. The results were good. Then he quit in a rage.A week later, the truth came out. Team culture lifted almost overnight.Kim breaks down what tolerating bad behavior really costs a team.Ask yourself who's costing you culture. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-522?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#boldleadership #kimsvoboda #teamculture #toxicemployee #leadershipdevelopment #highperformingteams #leadershippodcast #accountability
The way leaders talk about the future matters. Wh The way leaders talk about the future matters.When we repeatedly tell people that the challenges ahead are overwhelming, we shouldn't be surprised when they begin to approach those challenges defensively.Leaders should shape reality. It's the beliefs we create about reality that can influence how people respond to it.What we believe is coming can change what we do when we get there.Hear @shawnachor explain how beliefs shape behavior, expectations, and outcomes on the latest episode of The Leadership Podcast.#Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipMindset #PositivePsychology #ShawnAchor #TheLeadershipPodcast #Mindset #Beliefs #PositiveLeadership #LeadershipPsychology
Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan Most leaders treat ethics as a cost. Patrick Ryan says that's backwards. Morality isn't friction. It's the lubricant that makes markets actually function. Without it, you don't have capitalism. You have extraction. This is what modern business gets fundamentally wrong—and how it shifts everything about how you lead.Watch the full conversation. https://bit.ly/TLP-YT-519?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=westudyleaders#capitalism #ethics #leadership #adamsmith #moralcapitalism #businessethics #leadershippodcast #virtuouscapitalism
Follow on Instagram

Recent Posts

  • TLP532: Sheer Will: The Unlikely Path from Cuba to the Cabinet
  • TLP531: Tribalism, Belonging, and the Leader’s Role
  • TLP530: Leadership Lessons from Building the Apple Store with Ron Johnson
  • TLP529: How Steve Jobs Learned to Lead with Geoffrey Cain
  • TLP528: The Beliefs That Shape Success with Shawn Achor

Recent Comments

  • Anonymous on TLP519: The Leadership Idea We Missed for 250 Years
  • Anonymous on TLP513: The Leadership Cost of Isolation with Nick Black
  • Anonymous on TLP511: What 500 Top Leaders Taught Us — And Why It’s Not What You Think
  • Anonymous on TLP508: Your Scars Are Your Resume
  • Anonymous on TLP505: Why Leadership Coaching So Often Fails

Tags

adaptability assumptions athletics business change coaching communication corporate crucible culture Curiosity decision making education emotional intelligence entrepreneur Executive Coaching financial history humor innovation interview Jan Rutherford Jim & Jan Jim Vaselopulos leader leadership leadership development Leadership Podcast military neuroscience Personal Growth philosophy practitioner productivity relationships resilience speaker sports stories team development teamwork thought leader trust veterans workplace culture

Copyright © 2026 Rafti Advisors, LLC & Self-Reliant Leadership, LLC - All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy