Start with Why

 

Fresh from a trip to Chiang Mai Thailand, I have reread this classic by the Forever Optimist Simon Sinek. "Start with Why."  In it he dissects the brain into 2 areas, the Neocortex (frontal lobe) responsible for :

a) logic

b) reasoning and deduction

These 2 aspects form the What and the How of problems or circumstances. For example, 

a) How did we get to this point - for any situation

b) What is so great about the IPhone (for example)

and Limbic brain which is for the feelings and emotions aspect of our cognitive awareness. The Limbic brain addresses or answers the Why question.

Many times, people never think about the Why in their decisions, because 

a) it has been decided by the higher authority like the Government or Company Rules

b) it is too difficult to stand out from the rest of the people, hence the "follow the crowd" principle.

In short, the neocortex is the "minds" part of the "hearts and minds" phrase in convincing while the limbic brain is the "hearts" part or the gut feel which accounts for the "Why" question of 

"Why we do what we do".  - The question we must ask ourselves, ever so often.

Some Inconvenient albeit near meaningless Questions I should ask myself :

1. Why do I follow a half baked English Premier League team called Wolverhampton Wanderers ?

2.  Why do I watch half baked movies or series on Netflix when there are better choices of my time after work ?  

3. Why am I meeting (certain) friends more than I should when they only add to my baggage and time wasting ?

There are many Why questions which are relating to my business and personal life which I should and will not make public, but if anything, this book questions ignites the Why I do this and Why I do that.

Of course, I do not need to justify every action but every now and then its good to take stock.

Pause and reflect on life.  

Only I will know where I am - if that makes any sense -