Start With Why” Might Be a Flawed Advice for New Leaders

Hello ,

Ever tried to “find your why” and ended up binge-watching TED Talks, rewriting your bio 17 times, and still feeling like a confused potato in a suit? 🥔💼

Yeah. You’re not alone.

Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” is legendary. His voice? Calm. His glasses? On point. His theory? Beautifully idealistic.

But… maybe not super helpful when you’re drowning in emails, team friction, and trying to get literally anything out the door without losing your mind.

Let’s unpack this. Gently. Like peeling an onion. 🧅 (With fewer tears.)

🍎 Apple Didn’t Sell Purpose. They Sold Cool Stuff

Sinek loves Apple as his “why-first” poster child. But go back in time—were people lining up for the iPod because they wanted to challenge the status quo?

Heck no.
They wanted 1,000 songs in their pocket and a device that didn’t look like a microwave with buttons.

Purpose came later. After Apple nailed user experience, design, and function. THEN they built the brand story around it.

Same goes for Amazon. People don’t shop there because they love Bezos’s “customer obsession.”
They shop there because… free shipping and great discounts. 🙌

🚧 For New Leaders, Purpose Can Be a Distraction

If you’re just stepping into leadership, chasing a grand “why” can feel inspiring—but it can also become a giant detour from what actually matters:

👉 Understanding your people
👉 Fixing real process issues
👉 Figuring out your finances
👉 Delivering real value—fast

Trying to craft your life’s purpose before you’ve even had your first leadership win is like naming your future dog before getting the apartment.

Let the experience shape the vision—not the other way around.

🌱 Let Your Why Find You

Here’s a secret no one tells you: Most great leaders didn’t start with a perfectly packaged “why.”

• Facebook started as a glorified yearbook.

• Patagonia focused on gear before going all-in on saving the planet.

• Even Starbucks nailed the coffee shop vibe before writing love letters to community impact.

Like Cal Newport says in “So Good They Can’t Ignore You”:

So yeah—your why is allowed to evolve.

So What Should You Focus On First?

✅ Solve real problems
✅ Build strong systems
✅ Show up consistently
✅ Learn what works
✅ Then, define your purpose with confidence

You can’t skip the messy middle and expect a tidy mission statement to carry your career.

Ready to level up?
Here are two must-reads that punch holes in the "start with passion" bubble:
📘 So Good They Can’t Ignore You – Cal Newport
📘 How Brands Grow – Byron Sharp

Your action plan?
Start small. Solve something today. Help one person.
Your “Why” will show up at the party once you’ve done the prep.

And when it does? Oh, it’ll be worth it. 🎉