“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”
Vidal Sassoon
I read a post on LinkedIn recently about the importance of having a clearly articulated and deep understanding of your ‘why’ when working in and on your business. The premise was that without a connection to why you are doing something, why it truly matters, you wouldn’t have the necessary energy and stamina to get through the hard days, the deep work, andthe challenges that are sure to arise. I couldn’t agree more with this premise; it has been a part of my work philosophy for as long as I can remember.
Thinking about this in the context of this quote, I might suggest the following: If the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary, there is a reason ‘WHY’ also comes before work because if you want your work to be a success, you must first solve for ‘why.’
I’ve shared this before, but it is one of my all-time favorite TED Talks. Simon Sinek’s “How great leaders inspire action.” I’ve lost count of how many times I have seen it over the years, but I find something new every time.
What’s your why?
