“All organizations start with WHY, but only the great ones keep their WHY clear year after year. Those who forget WHY they were founded show up to the race every day to outdo someone else instead of to outdo themselves. The pursuit, for those who lose sight of WHY they are running the race, is for the medal or to beat someone else.” ? Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Simon Sinek’s quote captures the central thesis of his influential book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.
This insight emerged from Sinek’s personal struggle with purpose. After experiencing a profound loss of passion for his own work, Sinek began a personal quest to rediscover meaning. This journey led him to articulate the importance of the “WHY”—the core purpose or belief that drives individuals and organizations. Sinek realized that while many organizations begin with a strong sense of purpose, over time, the clarity of that purpose can fade. As a result, they shift focus from their original mission to external benchmarks, such as outperforming competitors, winning awards, or chasing short-term gains.
In Start with Why, Sinek introduces the “Golden Circle” framework: “Why” (purpose), “How” (process), and “What” (product or service). He argues that the truly exceptional organizations are those that consistently keep their “Why” at the forefront of every decision and action. They do not chase external validation, but instead, are driven by a desire to fulfill their founding purpose and to continually surpass their own standards. This approach fosters authenticity, trust, and long-term loyalty among employees and customers alike.
The quote is a reminder that losing sight of purpose leads organizations to become reactive, focused more on rivals than on progress. In contrast, staying true to their original “Why” empowers organizations to remain innovative, resilient, and inspiring for years to come.
About Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is a British-American author, motivational speaker, and organizational consultant known for his pioneering work on leadership and purpose-driven organizations. He gained worldwide prominence with his 2009 TED Talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” which distilled his “Golden Circle” concept and remains one of the most viewed TED Talks of all time.
Sinek’s philosophy centers on the belief that people are inspired not by what organizations do, but by why they do it. His writing emphasizes that leaders should cultivate and communicate a compelling sense of purpose at every level of their organization. Beyond Start with Why, Sinek has authored several bestsellers, including Leaders Eat Last and The Infinite Game, each building on his conviction that inspired organizations create environments where trust, loyalty, and sustainable success flourish.
His ideas have had a widespread impact, shaping leadership development in businesses, non-profits, and public sector organizations around the world. Sinek’s message continues to resonate with those seeking to lead with vision, authenticity, and enduring purpose
