I like to watch talks during my lunch breaks, so I share some of the best ones I bump into, along with my notes.

There are at least 3 reasons why a talk from Simon Sinek is pretty much always worth your time:

1. He picks simple yet clever and entertaining topics
2. He is a great motivator
3. He’s one of the best public speakers around.

See for yourself.

“See the bagel”

Cafeteria tables, aligned next to each other and a long line of runners hoping to get a free bagel. So I said to my friend “Let’s get a bagel”. He looked at me and said “No man, the line is too long”. And I looked at him and said: “It’s a free bagel!”

• 2 ways you can see the world. You can see the thing you want, or you can see the thing standing in the way
• Focus on your goals, not on what’s standing in the way
• If you focus on the end result, the obstacle is an opportunity for innovation

Perspective matters

• Interpret nerves as excitement. Same symptoms (heart beat, sweat etc), totally different mindset
• Being nervous (negative) vs being excited (positive)

Give yourself to your team members selflessly

• The highest performing teams on the planet are not the strongest, not the strongest, not the fastest. They are the ones that give to each other selflessly
• “You are here because someone took care of you and you have the responsibility to take care of others. This is the core of leadership.

Listen first, speak last

• Be a great listener by allowing others to talk first
• Ensure they feel listened
• Great leaders don’t start the conversation, they end it
• Practice to be the last to speak when you’re part of a team

Don’t panic

• Don’t panic, so people around you stay calm
• We confuse moments of happiness with fulfilment
• Fulfilment is entirely different

“We all deserve a styrofoam cup”

• Hear the story
• Rewards and accolades are given not to you, but to the position you hold

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Cup image is by Marco Chilese