Simon Sinek

How do Simon Sinek's ideas resonate with you ?

Simon Sinek talks about the golden circle as a communication tool. His "golden circle" has the outer circle or the what, the next layer is the how and in the center is the why. He says " people don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it." He illustrates his message by using several companies such as the globally successful  Apple. He maintains that if Apple sold their products "from the outside in" of the golden circle it would sound like "We make great computers. They are beautifully designed, simple to use, and user friendly. Want to buy one?"

 In actuality Apple markets and thinks from the inside out "Everything we do we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently. The way we challenge the status quo is by making products that are beautifully designed, simple to use, and user friendly. We happen to make computers. Wants to buy one?" By starting with the "why" Apple creates an environment where people buy from them because they believe in the why. They want to be part of challenging the status quo. 

Upon first reflection, I was not sure how Sinek's ideas resonated with me. He talked a lot about marketing and selling products. As I reflected further though, I thought about my choice to teach. If I simply went on the what (I need to make money to support my family) I certainly could have chosen a more lucrative career. I knew even at 19 in college though that my "why" was children. I believe I have an ability and a desire to connect with young children. Children learn best when they feel connected. My how became studying early childhood education and psychology which led to the what, I will earn a living through teaching.

My daughters both went into teaching programs out of high school. Alyssa studied math and secondary education. She has always connected with math and saw teaching as a way to make her living. By the time she student taught, she broke down her first week. She did not feel connected to teaching. Luckily, she went to a phenomenal liberal arts school where she discovered a love of raising service puppies through a club that she joined. She finished her degree in math and graduated magna cum laude from Dickinson. Today, she is living in FL and working at Southeastern Guide Dogs. She found her true calling and passion, her why.

Emily just finished her masters in early childhood special education at RIC. She will be teaching universal pre-k in Pawtucket in the fall. From early on , Emily has connected with young children. In elementary school when she was experiencing anxiety in 4th and 5th grade she was invited to be a "helper" for the younger grades (thank Becca!). She loved that experience and working with children helped her to focus less on her anxiety. People have sometimes asked me why I would encourage her to go into education now , when educators are undervalued and common core  and testing drive decisions. My answer has always been that as hard as teaching is, I know it is where I belong and I know Emily has felt the same since she was very little. She knows her why.