When someone tells you how to solve their problem, they're almost always wrong. Not because they're foolish. Because the reason they need you at all is that you're better at How, in this particular domain, than they are.
But their "ask" is completely upside-down! Does their How even achieve what they need? That's the What. And does the What serve what they actually care about? That's the Why. You almost never get to Why from outside. When you do, you give them something they couldn't have asked for. How is exactly the wrong place to start.
Three levels every decision lives at (and this is the order that matters):
Why: values, principles. What you act from, not toward. No completion state.
What: the specific outcome you need. Testable. You'll know when you have it.
How: the implementation.
Most thinking happens at How. Most arguments too. Start at Why, get the What clear, then let the What evaluate the How. Once you've stated the What clearly, every How is just yes or no. I align completely with Sinek: start at Why.
Simon Sinek's Golden Cir
... Show more...When someone tells you how to solve their problem, they're almost always wrong. Not because they're foolish. Because the reason they need you at all is that you're better at How, in this particular domain, than they are.
But their "ask" is completely upside-down! Does their How even achieve what they need? That's the What. And does the What serve what they actually care about? That's the Why. You almost never get to Why from outside. When you do, you give them something they couldn't have asked for. How is exactly the wrong place to start.
Three levels every decision lives at (and this is the order that matters):
Why: values, principles. What you act from, not toward. No completion state.
What: the specific outcome you need. Testable. You'll know when you have it.
How: the implementation.
Most thinking happens at How. Most arguments too. Start at Why, get the What clear, then let the What evaluate the How. Once you've stated the What clearly, every How is just yes or no. I align completely with Sinek: start at Why.
Simon Sinek's Golden Circle is in this neighborhood. His order is Why, How, What, and it's about communication: lead with belief, not product. Useful! Mine is about decisions, not messaging. The order is Why, What, How. The What in the middle is load-bearing. Without it you're either arguing about details or just hoping.
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