Two different people sent me links to videos this week. The first is a well-known presentation by Simon Sinek called How Great Leaders Inspire Action. This is his lecture in 2009 on the Golden Circle of Why, How and What. The second video is of a presentation in 1997 by Steve Jobs entitled Think Differently.

Below are links to both videos. I would suggest viewing the one by Simon Sinek first and then looking at the one by Steve Jobs. 

Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action

Sinek talks quite a bit about Apple in his presentation, emphasizing how Apple focuses on Why first, then How and finally What. A key part of the Why is “Thinking Differently.

Here are a few of the statements that Sinek makes:

• The Golden Circle is composed of Why, How and What.

• All great leaders communicate the same way and it is the complete opposite of everyone else.

• They start with the why: Why they exist? Why do they get up in the morning and why should anyone care?

• Talk about what you believe.

• Apple’s why: We believe in thinking differently.

Steve Jobs: Think Differently

When you listen to the presentation by Jobs It is amazing how well his ideas dovetail together with what Sinek is addressing. The title of the presentation is “Think Different”. Be sure to watch to the end so that you see the TV ad that Jobs and the ad agency (Chiat/Day) created. It is an awesome ad. The images are powerful and the message is powerful.

Here are a few of the statements that Jobs makes:

• The way to bring back the brand is not to talk about speeds and fees, bits and mega-hertz.

• We believe that people with passion can change the world for the better.

• Values and core values shouldn’t change.

• People who think differently, push the human race forward.

• The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world... are the ones who do.