Originally published on Jun 12 Medium
Albert Einstein once said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
My professional journey across diverse sectors and roles has reinforced the truth of this statement, underlining the value of two powerful phrases: “But why?” and “Please explain.”
While working at iDigital, my passion for Apple transitioned from customer to employee. To truly understand Apple’s business model, I continually asked, “But why do we do this?” and “Could you please explain this strategy?” Steve Jobs, Apple’s co-founder, once said, “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” This ‘why’ drove Apple’s culture and innovation, and uncovering it was instrumental in my success at iDigital.
At Microsoft, where I led the Xbox launch in Israel, I found myself turning to Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” philosophy. Sinek said, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Understanding the ‘why’ behind our procedures and metrics helped me build a successful launch strategy.
During my tenure at TorGaming, I managed brands amidst the fast-paced retail environment. As Jeff Bezos of Amazon says, “The most important single thing is to focus obsessively on the customer.” Asking “But why?” and “Please explain,” gave me a solid grasp of the customer’s perspective, enabling informed decisions.
While leading a team during the uncertainties of the pandemic at TorGaming, these questions became tools for empathy and team building. Encouraging my team to ask “But why?” and “Please explain,” made us more adaptable and resilient.
Now, at SerenDPT, I apply these questions to uncover hidden opportunities and build genuine experiences that create customer loyalty and emotional connections. Just as Richard Branson said, “Complexity is your enemy. Any fool can make something complicated. It is hard to keep things simple.”
Asking “But why?” and “Please explain,” allows you to delve deeper, understand the rationale behind decisions, and gain a comprehensive understanding of your business. As entrepreneur Peter Thiel said, “Every moment in business happens only once. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine.”
“So, as you journey through your career, don’t shy away from asking ‘But why?’ or ‘Please explain.’ These simple phrases can unlock a wealth of knowledge and understanding, revealing the intricate web of interdependencies that make a business function.
Remember, logistics, legal, finance, and the core business departments are your friends. The moment you understand why they ask the questions they do, you gain a clearer view of the business landscape that will only enhance your performance.
And as we navigate this journey, let’s remember the wisdom from the cartoon character Stitch from Lilo and Stitch, who said, ‘Ohana means family. Family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.’ In the business context, we’re all part of a larger family, where each member plays a pivotal role.
So here’s to being brave, being curious, and never forgetting your first question, ‘But why?’ Continue to ask, continue to learn, continue to move. Your journey is just beginning, and the knowledge you will gather along the way will be priceless. The journey of learning never truly ends, it just changes direction.”