Create Your Life Series by Kevin Y. Brown

May 26, 2016 CYLS 002: Figure Out Your Why | Ft. Simon Sinek and Michael Jr.

Episode Summary

In this episode of Create Your Life Series, the host, Kevin Y Brown talks about figuring out your WHY and how that can help you excel. Your WHY is the reason people believe in you, it’s the thing that drives you, and why people eventually buy from you. It also features inspirational talks by Simon Sinek and Michael Jr.

Kevin Y Brown

Kevin is a seasoned multi-media executive who is passionate about Africa’s digital future. As an award winning entrepreneur, podcast producer (over 1,000 episodes across different genres with over 30 million downloads across clients) and tech veteran, Kevin is the Chief Content officer and Head of Strategy at Afripods leading their multi-country strategy and product vision.

Kevin is the host of the Create Your Life Series podcast and has been featured or spoken in Forbes, Black Enterprise, Essence, Podcast Movement, Podcast Sessions, Ted X, Sirius XM, Inc. magazine and many more…

Simon Sinek

A trained ethnographer and visionary thinker, Simon is fascinated by the people and organizations that make the greatest and longest-lasting impact. Over the years, he has discovered some remarkable patterns about how they think, act, and communicate, and also the environments in which people operate at their natural best.

Simon may be best known for his TED Talk on the concept of WHY, which has been viewed over 60 million times, and his video on millennials in the workplace—which reached 80 million views in its first week and has gone on to be seen hundreds of millions of times.

Michael Jr.

Exceptionally gifted at combining story with thought-provoking life principles, Michael Jr. exhibits what it means to be a comedic thought leader. Using comedy and dynamic storytelling, he brings laughter and encouragement to audiences all over the world as he inspires audiences to discover and activate their purpose.

This unique skill set has landed him on stages like The Tonight Show on NBC, TEDx Talks, and Jimmy Kimmel Live. You can find him in Sony Pictures’ feature film War Room, as well as starring roles in Selfie Dad, Laughing On Purpose and More Than Funny.

Insights From the Episode

Figure out your WHY first and the rest falls into place

People don’t buy what you sell them; they buy what they believe in

When you find the people who believe in you and your WHY, everything gets easier

Quotes From the Show

“As it turns out, there’s a pattern. As it turns out, all the great and inspiring leaders and organizations in the world, whether it's Apple or Martin Luther King or the Wright Brothers — they all think, act, and communicate the exact same way. And it's the complete opposite to everyone else. All I did was codify it, and it's probably the world's simplest idea. I call it The Golden Circle” - Simon Sinek, Create Your Life Series, #002

“Why? How? What? This little idea explains why some organizations and some leaders are able to inspire where others aren't” - Simon Sinek, Create Your Life Series, #002

“By WHY, I mean: What's your purpose? What's your cause? What's your belief? Why does your organization exist? Why do you get out of bed in the morning? And why should anyone care? Well, as a result, the way we think, the way we act, the way we communicate is from the outside in. It's obvious. We go from the clearest thing to the fuzziest thing” - Simon Sinek, Create Your Life Series, #002

“Here's how Apple actually communicates: 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 just happen to make great computers. Want to buy one? — Totally different right? You're ready to buy a computer from me. All I did was reverse the order of the information. What it proves to us is that people don't buy what you do; people buy why you do it. People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it” - Simon Sinek, Create Your Life Series, #002

“Why do we do this show? Why do I have a team doing things with me? So my why is because I undoubtedly believe anyone can create their own destiny. Because I’ve created mine, and, therefore I know that it’s possible. But, how? How can somebody do that? For me, it’s through action, through focus, and through growth. But, what? How do I help people do that? That’s through my presentations, the free content you get here, as well as YouTube” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #002

“When you’re around those like-minded people who help you improve and make you sharp. It’s important to understand that no one succeeds alone. And we all help each other become our best” - Kevin Y Brown, Create Your Life Series, #002

“Again, the goal is not just to sell to people who need what you have; the goal is to sell to people who believe what you believe. The goal is not just to hire people who need a job; it's to hire people who believe what you believe” - Simon Sinek, Create Your Life Series, #002