Simon Sineck’s Golden Circles and Your Career Development

Simon Sinek’s G
and Your Caree

Part One
Golden Circle
and Why Resum

Golden Circles
er Development

e of Two:
Methodology
mes and Emails

This is Simon Sinek…

He is our inspiration f
talking about…

for what we will be

2

A word about Simon…

• Simon Sinek is an optimist. He believes in a bright f

• Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellec
inspire people. With a bold goal to help build a wor
everyday feeling fulfilled by their work, Sinek is lead
inspire them.

• A trained ethnographer and author of Start With W
Action, Sinek has held a life-long curiosity for why p
discovered remarkable patterns of how we think, ac
his thinking to help other leaders and organizations

• He is best known for discovering the Golden Circle
cause or belief that drives every one of us. The Gol
the biology of human decision making, that explain
messages and organizations over others.

• He speaks around the globe and has written in the T
Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, FastCompany,
his own blog, simonsinek.com and makes regular g
others.

•
Sinek is an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corpo
world, working with Education for Employment Fou
and women in the Middle East region. He lives in Ne
communications at Columbia University.

future and our ability to build it together.
ct,” Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to
rld in which the vast majority of people go home
ding a movement to inspire people to do the things that
Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take
people and organizations do the things they do. He has
ct and communicate. He has devoted his life to sharing
s inspire action.
e and popularizing the concept of Why, the purpose,
lden Circle is a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in
ns why we are inspired by some people, leaders,
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The
y, CMO Magazine, NPR and BusinessWeek. Sinek writes
guest appearances on MSNBC’s Your Business, among
oration. He is active in the arts and not-for-profit
undation to help create opportunities for young men
ew York, where he teaches graduate level strategic

3

Key to your Golden Circl
out” with Why…

les is starting “inside
Why we do
How we do
What we do

4

Balancing the Golden Cir

Clarity of Why – Your purpose, caus
Very few people can clearly articu
The Why is not about making mo
result of your Why. Your Why is b
Why is what inspires you to take
fulfillment and lasting happiness.

Discipline of Hows – The actions yo
Once you know your Why, you m
your natural strengths, the action
principles you live by that allow y

Consistency of Whats – the results
Whats are tangible representatio
career, the positions you’ve held
always measurable. They are the

rcles…

se or belief
ulate Why they do what they do.
oney. Making money is simply a
bigger. No matter what you do, your
the actions that bring you
.

ou take to realize your Why
must identify your Hows. These are
ns you take or the guiding
you to be at your best.

of putting your Why into action
ons of what you believe; your

and the work you do. What’s are
e proof you are starting with Why.

5

Finding Your Whys Yours

• Look to the early years,
patterns

• What gave you joy
• What you enjoyed doin
• Who were Life Teachers
• What did you not like do
• Look for your “Validated

that you still see in you

self…

, through college, for

ng
s (friends and family)
oing
d Why” (Characteristics
today)

6

Finding Your Whys with

• First option is Simon h
hours) for $129. Go to
www.startwithwhy.co

• Second option is using
Sinek’s Stand Out in th

• Third option is go to w
and download for free
Step toward discoverin

help from Simon…

has an online class (7-10
o
om/LearnYourWhy.aspx
g the sheets in Simon
he Job Market
www.startwithwhy.com
e: Friends Exercise: A
ng your why

7

Examples of Why…

First, a good Why Statement h

that ________. (The first blank
and the second blank is the im

John’s Why Examples:
Albert Schweitzer – using med
Teilhard de Chardin – God wan

Led to John’s What Actions (W
1. To bring American desert fa
improve Egypt’s economy.
2. To start CEO Netweavers to
and relationships without expe
3. To create Georgetown to Ge
and reduce conflict between G

has two parts. To ________ so
k is the contribution you make
mpact of your contribution)

dical skills in Brazzaville
nts us to bring people together

Why Statements):
arming technology to Egypt to

foster the idea of sharing ideas
ecting anything in return.
eorgetown to build relationships
Georgetown and the community.

8

A Note: Clarity of Why c

When our Why is clear
disciplined in How we
What we do is consiste
understands our Why

And when that happen
people are inspired to
when you know you a

creates Leaders…

r, when we are
e pursue it and when
ent, the outside world

as clearly as we do.

ns, more and more
o follow. And that is
are a leader.

9

The Why Driven Resume

• Being able to clearly communi
able to demonstrate our natur
Why-driven resume. These are
out.

• Every resume on the planet co
what we’ve done in an attemp
qualification for a job.

• But the fact is, simply writing a
we’ve done doesn’t convey wh
by our jobs. We are defined by
it or not.

e…

icate what we believe and being
ral strengths is what makes a
e the things that make us stand
ommunicates the same thing:
pt to prove some level of
about our experiences and what
ho we are. We are not defined
y our Why, whether we realize

10

A Note: Clarity of Why c

• When we start with Why, we are
on a values and beliefs level, not
basis for trust to exist.

• Trust does not come from a list o
resume. Trust is a feeling that em
ourselves with others who share

• Great leaders and great compani
each other make better teams.

• Trust is a remarkable thing. Trust
rely on those we trust for advice
the bedrock for our success and

creates Trust…

e more likely to appeal to someone
t just on qualifications. This is the
of qualifications on an eloquent
merges when we surround
e our values and beliefs.
ies know that people who trust
t allows us to rely on others. We
to help us make decisions. Trust is
the success of those around us.

11

A more personal Resume

What Resume Introduction Sampl

Motivated, organized individual with a trac
following through on projects and providing
Strong communication skills and multi-task
willingness to perform many tasks, going ab
expectations.

Why Resume Introduction Sample:

I am the Lieutenant every General wi

I believe people are capable of incred
the support they need. I am at my be
support, build the structure and advo
goals. This is who I am.

Introduction…

le:

ck record of meeting deadlines,
g first-class customer service.
king abilities, along with a
bove and beyond required

ishes they had.
dible things...if they have
est when I get to provide
ocate for others to achieve their

12

Accomplishments plus W

International Translation, Irvine, CA: Projec
What Resume Job Accomplishments:
Manage different projects from start to fin
project scope definition, price negotiations

Why Resume Job Accomplishments:
I take pride in providing structure and I lov
go better.
• Introduced and implemented an autom

on-time payments from clients and acc
• Successfully negotiated a wage increase
• Complete official translation of legal do
• Match translation projects with qualifie

strengths

Why differentiate…

ct Manager 2010 – Present

nish, including customer interactions,
s and submission of the translation.

ve figuring out systems that make things

mated billing system, which has increased
curacy of translator payroll
e for a translator working on a rush job
ocuments in Russian
ed translators based on the individual’s

13

Education: what you lea

What Resume Education:
University of California, Berkele
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology a

Why Education:
I have a great desire to connect
Communications courses taught
connections more effectively. Le
for presenting information in a m
an understanding and appreciat

University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and

arned and use today…

ey
and Legal Studies, December 2000

with people. My Psychology and
t me how to make those
egal Studies gave me a framework
more organized manner. I gained
tion for structure and order.

d Legal Studies, December 2000

14

Education: what you learn

What Education Sample:

University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Legal

Why Education Sample:

I have a great desire to connect with p
Communications courses taught me h
connections more effectively. Legal St
presenting information in a more orga
understanding and appreciation for st

University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology an

ned and use today…

Studies, 2000

people. My Psychology and
how to make those
tudies gave me a framework for
ganized manner. I gained an
tructure and order.
nd Legal Studies, December 2000

15

Elements of Why Cover E

Start with Why
It’s likely that the recruiter or hiring man
cover letter, so make it a good one. Rath
the position you’re applying for or the sk
tell them something about who you are

What makes you a great fit?
What is it about you that makes you a fit
large? What is it that YOU bring to the t

Keep it human
All too often we get stuck using the sam
that big numbers and percentages will d
accomplishments is important, but reme
of it as writing a letter to someone you’d

Don’t be afraid to stand out
Write about the difference you (and hop
world and how you see your partnership

Emails or Letters…

nager will read at least the first line of your
her than jumping right into the details of
kills you have that qualify you for the job,
e and what you believe.
it for the position and the company at
table that no one else can.
me dry, yawn-inducing language, hoping
do the talking. Proof of our
ember we’re human, not machines. Think
d really like to meet.
pefully the company) want to make in the
p making that vision of the world a reality.

16

Why Emails/Covers are pers

What Email/Cover Sample Introdu

I am writing in response to the advertisement
regarding the open project manager position.
with you so that I might demonstrate how m
precisely. As you’ll see from the enclosed res
computer software programs.

Why Email/Cover Sample Introduc

I believe that people are capable of incredib
they need. Every great vision is achieved on
every step of the way. I provide the support
others to help them achieve their goals. I a
wishes they had.

This is who I am. This is when I’m at my be

sonal and build trust…

uction:

t you posted on craigslist
. It would be a pleasure to meet
my abilities fit your needs
sume, I am proficient in a variety of

ction:

ble things when they have the support
ne step at a time. I love being there for
t, build the structure and advocate for
am the Lieutenant every General

est.

17

In Summary, Simon show

Simon’s Inside out approach to th

to analyze ourselves and to prese

powerful way as we find jobs and
• Why Differentiates
• Builds trust in ourselves
• Gets us to where we are happ
• Best fit: Highest and best use o
• Most authentic way to presen
• Matches us with the culture o

Finally, Simon asks us “Do you w
your job?”

ws us a new way…

he Golden Circles gives us a way
ent ourselves in a new and more
d build our careers

piest
of our skills and personality
nt ourselves
of the organization

want to like your job or love

18

Simon Sinek’s G
and Your Caree

• Part Two of Two:
• Golden Circles Method
• and Why Elevator Pitc

Golden Circles
er Development

dology
ches and Interviews

19

A word about Simon…

• Simon Sinek is an optimist. He believes in a bright f

• Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellec
inspire people. With a bold goal to help build a wor
everyday feeling fulfilled by their work, Sinek is lead
inspire them.

• A trained ethnographer and author of Start With W
Action, Sinek has held a life-long curiosity for why p
discovered remarkable patterns of how we think, ac
his thinking to help other leaders and organizations

• He is best known for discovering the Golden Circle
cause or belief that drives every one of us. The Gol
the biology of human decision making, that explain
messages and organizations over others.

• He speaks around the globe and has written in the T
Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, FastCompany,
his own blog, simonsinek.com and makes regular g
others.

•
Sinek is an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corpo
world, working with Education for Employment Fou
and women in the Middle East region. He lives in Ne
communications at Columbia University.

future and our ability to build it together.
ct,” Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to
rld in which the vast majority of people go home
ding a movement to inspire people to do the things that
Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take
people and organizations do the things they do. He has
ct and communicate. He has devoted his life to sharing
s inspire action.
e and popularizing the concept of Why, the purpose,
lden Circle is a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in
ns why we are inspired by some people, leaders,
The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The
y, CMO Magazine, NPR and BusinessWeek. Sinek writes
guest appearances on MSNBC’s Your Business, among
oration. He is active in the arts and not-for-profit
undation to help create opportunities for young men
ew York, where he teaches graduate level strategic

20

Key to your Golden Circl
out” with Why…

les is starting “inside
Why we do
How we do
What we do

21

Balancing the Golden Cir

Clarity of Why – Your purpose, caus
Very few people can clearly articu
The Why is not about making mo
result of your Why. Your Why is b
Why is what inspires you to take
fulfillment and lasting happiness.

Discipline of Hows – The actions yo
Once you know your Why, you m
your natural strengths, the action
principles you live by that allow y

Consistency of Whats – the results
Whats are tangible representatio
career, the positions you’ve held
always measurable. They are the

rcles…

se or belief
ulate Why they do what they do.
oney. Making money is simply a
bigger. No matter what you do, your
the actions that bring you
.

ou take to realize your Why
must identify your Hows. These are
ns you take or the guiding
you to be at your best.

of putting your Why into action
ons of what you believe; your

and the work you do. What’s are
e proof you are starting with Why.

22

Finding Your Why Yourse

• Look to the early years,
patterns

• What gave you joy
• What you enjoyed doin
• Who were Life Teachers
• What did you not like do
• Look for your “Validated

that you still see in you

elf…

, through college, for

ng
s (friends and family)
oing
d Why” (Characteristics
today)

23

Examples of Why…

First, a good Why statement h
that ________. (The first blank
and the second blank is the im

John’s Why Examples:
1. To bring American desert fa
improve Egypt’s economy.

2. To start CEO Netweavers to
and relationships without expe

3. To create Georgetown to Ge
and reduce conflict between G

has two parts. To ________ so
k is the contribution you make
mpact of your contribution)

arming technology to Egypt to

foster the idea of sharing ideas
ecting anything in return.

eorgetown to build relationships
Georgetown and the community.

24

Overview of Elevator Pit

The goal of any elevator pitch is s

It’s not to get the job or land the

someone to ask for more.

• Use childhood stories: “When
astronaut. I love the idea of ex
things most people never get t

• Describe your Strengths: “One
teams work more efficiently. O
capture and organize seeming
stored only in people’s heads.”

• Explain how you can be helped
together.

tches…

simply to inspire a conversation.
deal – it’s just to inspire

I was a kid, I wanted to be an
xploring the unknown and doing
to do.”
e of my strengths is helping
One of the ways I do that is to
gly intangible knowledge that’s
”
d and how you can work

25