Book Report 16: Leaders Eat Last

This is the final book (for now) that Simon Sinek has written, and while it is beneficial if you had read the previous books (Start With Why for example), it's not a necessity.

I strongly believe this is a book everyone should read, whether they're an employee, employer, a student about to enter the working world, parents... While the concepts he discuss and go in depth about seem 'common sense' (at least to me), it is very much so that we do not follow them, at least not as a whole. Simon preaches, and rightfully so, to be transparent and empathetic to all around you, especially those whom you spend significant amount of time with (i.e. coworkers/bosses/employees). Too many people these days have the 'me before we' thought process, where they want to advance their own careers without much regard for others, and at times, even stepping on someone else to get to where they may want to go. This pay provide short term gain, but as Simon mentions, we will fail in the long term.

He brings up Costco vs GE as a great example. GE has come through numerous ups and downs in the market, and it would be rather impossible to have timed the market to buy low and sell high (i mean, Warren Buffett is notorious for saying 'time in the market will outperform timing the market' so we should know that we can't time the market with much accuracy). While GE's highest peak was a 1600% increase at one point... overall though in the past 30+ year, it's only gone up 300%, compared to Costco, which has gone up a staggered 800% (!!) in the same time period. Costco preaches taking care of their employees first, that even in economic hardships, they do not do mass layoffs (GE is known for these, as are other large corporations, simply to balance the books for the year), Costco also pays higher, and helps with providing healthcare for 90% of their employees.

Simon really brings to light fantastic real life examples that when we take care of those to the right of us, and those to the left of us, that we will be better off as not only an individual, but as a tribe, as humanity. (A tribe, he defines, is any group of people that is involved together, such as a corporation, or a team within a larger company, etc).

Evolution has shown has that as humans, we thrive in communities where we work together. Biology and anthropology are clear that we do not succeed in the long term if we are at each other's throats. If we had always been this way, we would have died as a species, or at least, never had advanced so far.

I truly believe that it's best to be transparent, kind, empathetic and do what we can to help all those around us, especially those in our tribes (families/companies/circle of friends).

Simon mentions creating a 'Circle of Safety,' where those in the circle are protected, and can work together to fight against the dangers from the outside (which will always exist). Since we will always have danger outside, why should we have it inside as well? In my opinion, all tribes should create a Circle of Safety where those in the tribe can feel safe and protected.

Leaders Eat Last was an inspiring book, and I hope all who have the ability to get their hands on this book, will be able to do so and read it.