Reading time: About 2 minutes
This is my weekly installment of “writing about writing,” in which I scan the world to find websites, books and articles to help writers.
I first heard about the book The Power of Why, by Simon Sinek, on a radio documentary about Steve Jobs. I then heard about it from reader Jim Hayward, in a comment on my blog on recommended books to read.
I don’t need a house to fall on me! I went out and bought the book right away. Its core idea is fascinating. Sinek argues that successful business owners don’t just focus on the “what” of their operations (eg: what they’re producing or even how they’re doing it.) Instead, they focus with laser efficiency on the “why.” He uses Apple — and their motto, “think different” — as a key example. How did a company go from selling computers to devices for carrying music and for cellphones? They were clear about their “why.”
I’m glad I read the book — and it’s causing me to look at my own writing and coaching business differently — but I also found parts of it annoying. It’s overly long and terribly repetitive. I also found it irritating the way he always capitalized the words WHY, WHAT and HOW. I felt as though he was constantly shouting a me!
