6 HN users recommended this talk7 months2015–2024score 7
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Recommended as a quick way to get the core of 'Start with Why' for pitches and communication, though some note small companies are not Apple.
Simon Sinek's TEDx talk arguing that great leaders and companies inspire action by communicating why they do something before how or what. He uses Apple as his main example.
“A much faster way to understand the central message of "Start with Why" would be to watch the TEDx talk” (HN, 2018)
Hey! Thanks for the compliment, it really means a lot when the site resonates. I'm not super experienced with lectures (mostly writing), but I think it works in office settings. Check out this talk from Simon Sinek: [this video] People are usually motivated by the why, the mission, the story. Then you get into the what and how it's accomplished. With math, it can be similar: the "why" sets the stage. Humans in general prefer a narrative to a list of facts (Hacker News readers excepted :-).)
Sinek on motivating people by starting with the why.
It sounds awesome but what is the use case for me? It allows me to grab parts of a webpage as bookmarks? I thought Safari does this already (and no-one uses it). Get a .com too (you have read all of Paul Grahams Essays right?); linkfish.com or something similar is fine - I particularly dislike the .fish it pheels very script kiddy to me. Given that this isn’t a new idea can we all agree that User experience and design is going to be the way that this wins. Try to find someone awesome on Dribble or Behance to bring the code to life. Finally adding “please sign up” at the end of your video came across as a bit desperate; it should be self evident at the end of any video that the person should sign up right! Maybe this will help: [this video] Apart from that congrats on launching. My product is going to be launching soon and it’s way more work than you ever think!
Advice on leading with purpose when pitching a product.
A much faster way to understand the central message of "Start with Why" would be to watch the TEDx talk: [this video] Is the book worth reading, in addition? I see very mixed reviews.
Quick way to get the core message of Start with Why.
Here's a TED talk by Sinek on the concept (it turned into a book, Start With Why, and now a set of courses, etc.) It's a simple but powerful concept - one of those you should revisit on a regular basis to test your beliefs and the difference you want to make at work, in your society, etc. [this video]
Simple but powerful concept worth revisiting regularly.
Brilliant summary here of how Apple often focus on 'Why' you need something - rather than pushing the 'What' it is. They smashed this for the ipod, the iphone and the ipad - and more recently with headphones. Will be interesting to see if they can manage this for VR. 'Start with Why': [this video]
Why Apple sells the reason you need something, not the product.
I totally agree. Coming across Simon Sinek's 'Start with Why' has helped me a great deal in communicating in general. Even in conversations this applies: [this video] I also suggest reading his book. In terms of this theory you should communicate like this: Why, How, What You are starting from your 'What'. I haven't really grasped the core of your product, but to restructure it could be something like: Stop wasting time looking up documents, e-mails and chats in different systems. Stop paying for 20 different single purpose services just to run your business. By having everything in one place it is easier to find and share information throughout you business. Creating custom combinations of docs, chats, sheets, forms, etc will allow you to create the tool to support your own processes and ways of thinking rather than having to learn some app's way of thinking. Nino allows you to quickly build your own custom flows using modular building blocks. Create the tools that you need and have all of your information in one place.
Marketing is hard. Writing compelling advertising copy is hard. Figuring out what people want and need to know about your product is hard. Getting some designer with a great visual portfolio to make your website isn't the same thing as having a marketing plan or a marketing strategy, but it's a whole lot faster and cheaper and unfortunately most people don't know the difference. Oh, and as awesome as Simon Sinek's Ted talk[0] is, you're not Apple and potential customers actually do care whether your product is useful for people like them. [0] [this video]
Sinek's talk cited, with caveat that small companies are not Apple.
"4" is not something you find in life right away. Finding a passion should never be the first goal you think of, some may never find a true passion worth following. That's okay, because not everyone is this way. A good example of a "4" is elon musk. His motivation stems from reading Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy at any early age. He stuck to the same quotes that motivated him today. That is true passion. I have a friend who is very good at "4". Knowing "4" as a deep level, helps you identify similar "4"s. People will remember you as that person with a strong "4" and drive inspiration from you. My "4" is pretty generic. Its to give back to all the technology that has defined me growing up. This is the internet, TV shows, video games, smartphones, etc I have taken for granted in this generation. And by definition, the hardware and software to enable those things to be. That's my reasoning. Anything that benefits the persuit of my "4" is fun to me. I like building tools to empower others, my guiding philsophy is similar to Douglas_Engelbart, inventor of computer mouse. "4" is the small things in life [link] . > guiding philosophies [link] . > how, why what ------------------------------------------------------------------ The "how" of "4" is driven by 2 different things: - Automation - Documentation Growing up, I have always been obsessed with automation. This is because I started working at the age of 13. And had to do a lot of tedious inefficient tasks that gave me a lot of
This reminds me of the Simon Sinek classic "Start With Why." He leans on the example of Apple a bit too much, but otherwise it's a book that gets your attention and makes you wonder why something so simple can be missed by so many. [link] TED Talk as well, tho' I don't think it does the book justice. [this video]
I think what I find amusing is the author essentially outlined an argument for Sinek's Start with Why premise. [this video] Albeit it sounds like you don't get to shape the questions you're asked. But I'm willing to bet you can bend your answers towards the specific pain point that prompted them to start this project (their niece). Then go on to what you're app does, then the TAM. And this is coming from someone who isn't a huge fan of Sinek either.. *Edit - I'm curious from those who've been through YC if my idea about bending your answers actually has any merit in your experience?
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