Who: Simon Sinek

Claim To Fame: Simon Sinek may be best known for popularizing the concept of WHY in his first TED Talk in 2009. It rose to become the third most watched on TED.com, with over 40 million views and subtitled in 47 languages. Simon is also he author of multiple best selling books including the global best seller Start With Why, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal best sellers Leaders Eat Last and Together is Better, and his latest book, The Infinite Game!

Where To Find Simon: His Website, Amazon, Twitter

Praise For Simon: “The basis of [Start With Why] is so important to anyone looking to increase their influence, profits or impact. People won’t truly buy into a product, service, movement, or idea until they understand the WHY behind it. When you start with the why, everything else falls into place. This book is so impactful, I consider it required reading.” — Tony Robbins

Let’s start with the basics: When and where do you like to write? Are you the same-thing-every-day kind of writer or can you write anytime, anywhere?

Every book has been different. My first book I wrote I was my most productive when I was on planes. My second book, I worked at home and worked best when I had someone to work with. The current book, I treated it like a job. I come in in the morning, wrote all day and went home at the end of the day. I think it’s important for all writers to find when they’re most productive. The problem is it doesn’t necessarily last. Instead of freaking out that there’s something wrong with them when whatever worked before stopped working, they have to be open to the fact that they might have to be open to a new way to work.

Do you have any pre-writing rituals or habits that help you get in the zone? Anything you do to signal to yourself ‘The writing day has begun’?

Put my phone on airplane mode and put it in a drawer or anther room. I listen to a specific playlist that I’ve put together over years to help me focus.

When did your aspirations to become a writer begin? You studied cultural anthropology in college, went to law school before dropping out to start a consulting company, so then how did the transition into writing books happen? Was it always sort of in the back of your mind of something you wanted to do?

My experience is very atypical. I never aspired to write a book. I never was one of those people that thought I had a book in me. It was not a decision I made. When I started talking about the golden circle a friend of mine said you should write a book, I shrugged my shoulders. Some introductions were made and I had a meeting with a publisher and he offered me a book deal. Turns out I’m an author now.

You’ve discovered remarkable patterns about how the greatest leaders and organizations think, act and communicate. Are there any traits you think great leaders and great writers have in common?

I think they have a burning desire to share their ideas and work hard to make those ideas inspiring and compelling. Communicating clearly is extremely important to writers and leaders.

Deciding on an idea to pursue writing about can be the most challenging aspect for a writer. How do you come to the point of ‘this is something I need to write about’?

I don’t feel compelled to write additional books. My work is semi-autobiographical. As I stumble through life, the solutions that I find to some of my bigger challenges—if they work, I share them with my friends and talk about them and when those ideas seem to help other people, then I realize I should probably write about it.

Once you’ve nailed down the idea for a book, how do you split the balance of writing and research? Do you collect the material you need and then set out to turn it into a book? Or are you researching and writing simultaneously?

I start with a theory and I apply a scientific method where I go and find out if my theory stands up or falls down. If it stands up I write about it. And a lot of my research and writing have been simultaneously.

Do you struggle at all with that dreaded enemy of writing: writer’s block? Do you think such a thing exists?

I struggle with it but I don’t call it writers block. I have days that are very inspired and productive and days that uninspired and not productive. I don’t get freaked out when I struggle with ideas. It’s just part of the process.

When you don’t have a book in the works, do you keep a daily writing practice?

I don’t have a daily writing practice but I keep a notebook in my back pocket at all times. We lose ideas as quickly as we have them. I make sure to write them down as soon as I have them.

What books or writers have most influenced your writing and thinking?

Viktor Frankl, James Carse and Dr. Seuss have influenced my thinking.

What is your advice to aspiring writers?

Remember that your writing is meant for others. Writing is not a vanity project. There are so many writers that I read who have brilliant ideas but their language is so difficult to decipher that the ideas lose their value. The idea is king. The writing must carry and celebrate those ideas. You know your work is valuable when other people choose to give it to their friends and colleagues … no marketing required.

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