If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, it all comes down to one thing: knowing your ‘why’. It’s the secret sauce that transforms a job into a calling and fuels you through the tough days. This isn’t just motivational fluff; it’s a fundamental principle of human motivation that separates the burned out from the truly fulfilled.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote means that passion isn’t something you find, it’s something you uncover by connecting your daily actions to a deeper purpose. Your “why” is your North Star.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. People chase passion like it’s a destination. They think, “If I just get that job, that title, that salary, then I’ll be passionate.” But Sinek flips that entirely. He’s saying the fuel—the undying passion—comes first from understanding the reason you’re doing it in the first place.
It’s the difference between a bricklayer who says “I’m laying bricks” and one who says “I’m building a cathedral.” The work is identical. The experience is worlds apart. When you know your why, the long hours, the setbacks, the grind… they don’t feel like a burden. They feel like part of the mission. It’s what gets you out of bed on a Monday morning with genuine energy, not just caffeine.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Career (192) |
| Topics | fulfillment (11), motivation (113), purpose (186) |
| Literary Style | direct (414), poetic (635) |
| Emotion / Mood | hopeful (357), inspiring (392) |
| Overall Quote Score | 83 (302) |
Origin & Factcheck
This idea is the absolute bedrock of Simon Sinek’s 2009 book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. It originated from his exploration of why leaders and organizations like Apple and Martin Luther King Jr. were so exceptionally influential. And just to be clear, this is pure Sinek—sometimes you see it misattributed to folks like Tony Robbins or other motivational speakers, but the “Golden Circle” and the “Start with Why” framework are his brainchildren.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Simon Sinek (207) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action (54) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Simon Sinek champions a leadership philosophy rooted in purpose, trust, and service. He started in advertising, then founded Sinek Partners and gained global attention with his TED Talk on the Golden Circle. He advises companies and the military, writes bestselling books, and hosts the podcast “A Bit of Optimism.” The Simon Sinek book list features Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together Is Better, Find Your Why, and The Infinite Game. He speaks worldwide about building strong cultures, empowering people, and leading for the long term.
| Official Website | Facebook | X| Instagram | YouTube
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | If we want to feel an undying passion for our work, we must know our why |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2009; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 978-1591842804; Last edition: Portfolio/Penguin 2011; Number of pages: 256 |
| Where is it? | Chapter 2: An Alternative Perspective, Approximate page from 2011 edition |