Pivot around your ‘Why'

Testing times indeed, but opportunity awaits! 

If you are reading this because you have been to one of my talks you will have heard me often reference Simon Sinek and his obsession that great businesses build around their Why’s.

I first came across Simon Sinek with his TED talk "How great Leaders Inspire Action" and then went on to read his book Start with Why. I have now broadly read and listened to him, always learning something. For those who do not know the work of the genius Sinek and for the purpose of this message he often talks about the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle.

Why - This is the core belief of the business. It's why the business exists.

How - This is how the business fulfils that core belief.

What - This is what the company does to fulfil that core belief

The issues are that over the last couple of weeks we have seen the How and the What be decimated across so many of our businesses and industries, but we have also seen some of these businesses spectacularly pivot…so even though they carry out the same tasks under the how or even what they can still express their Why by using different tactics and platforms. The great opportunity with this is businesses are still able to maintain brand authenticity and in some cases revenue. A business that is not built around a Why is desperately looking for ways to keep in the public’s consciousness and keep business going.

It is very easy to sit and look at your current situation as a negative (I have my moments) but as another one of my great mentors Daniel Priestley says now is the time to Reset and Reinvent. So, I am looking at Resetting and Reinventing around my Why allowing me to not just survive in this environment but thrive.

A shining example is Joe Wicks. He has done this superbly and grown his brand exponentially, I have seen online how great hospitality companies such as the Inception Group breaking down their core ingredients to what makes them so special and delivering those elements of their brand to us through entertaining and informative content. This is content that is no longer following their usual strategies of How or What but can uphold their Why, increasing the brands awareness and also public’s perception of authenticity. 

I am not trying to say this is easy, but I am saying there is an opportunity especially for those willing to pivot around their Why.