It’s very strange when you see a connection with the media around you, a cohesive theme or pattern that seems to be underlying in the world around you. This is the case with two videos I’ve watched recently with one theme in particular, “Why?”. Realizing this pattern has made me change the way I see the world and how to put it to practice be it at work or in relationships. In essence the word Why is not just a question but an answer to the many things that drive us as people. Innovation would not have happened without the reason to why. Why do we do things we do? Why did we do it a certain way? Why is it important to us? Great leaders have inspired us not by telling us What they want or How they want it but Why they want it. The first piece of the puzzle that made me aware to the power of why was the talk on TED by Simon Sinek. He brings to the table the many ideologies of great leaders and successful companies and how they have used Why as their reason for selling us ideas and products.
People don’t buy What you do but Why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs What you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe. – Simon Sinek
Watch Simon Sinek on How Great Leaders Inspire Action via TED:
Just two days later I watched the documentary Art & Copy about the giants of advertising and how they are shaping our world. Advertising as a whole is looked down upon for being trashy but there’s much more that you can do. The people behind these campaigns are incredibly creative and innovative. They could sell you a simple pen in just minutes. I admire their creativity and their ability to think outside the box.
Advertising should be statements of the hell you think life should be about. – George Lois
But the hardest part for them is not coming up with ideas but selling them to the clients. The clients cannot understand these abstract concepts and ideas. So it’s a constant battle between what the client thinks they want and what the advertising creatives know the client needs.
These creatives know to the core that they are shaping our world and lives and it’s these emotions and enthusiasm that enables them to sell their ideas to the client. Just like inspirational speeches have made us feel it is us that’s making a change and not the speaker behind the podium. Which brings us back to the power of Why; this is why they do it, this is why they believe in it and this is why they make it happen. Why is the cause, the drive, the urge, that ignites creativity and shapes our lives and world.
I urge you to watch the documentary to better understand how Why has enabled them to do the things they do and realize how it can help you.