Leaders Eat Last
Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't
Simon Sinek
The
Imagine a world where almost everyone wakes up inspired to go to work, feels trusted and valued during the day, then returns home feeling fulfilled. This is not a crazy, idealized notion. Today, in many successful organizations, great leaders create environments in which people naturally work t...
Simon & Schuster published a crossword puzzle book in 1924, which was designed by Margaret Petherbridge, selling over 123,000 copies in its first year.
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a young company called Simon & Schuster said, Richard Simon's aunt, I think said, hey, these crosswords are a lot of fun. You guys should package these together in a book because you're a book company...
— Episode: Crosswords episode, perhaps?
Episode: Crosswords episode, perhaps?
Simon & Schuster published a crossword puzzle book in 1924, which was designed by Margaret Petherbridge, selling over 123,000 copies in its first year.
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a young company called Simon & Schuster said, Richard Simon's aunt, I think said, hey, these crosswords are a lot of fun. You guys should package these together in a book because you're a book company.
And she got a couple of other editors from the world and said, all right, let's get to work on this thing. It'll come out in 1924. It'll come with a free pencil and eraser, which is super cute.
The host cited the book as one of his favorites, noting it discusses generational differences and the need for leaders to adapt.
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Simon Sinek wrote a book he's written a few but Leaders Eat Last is one of my favorites and he talks about these generational differences and how important it is as leaders to evolve to be relevant to...
— Episode: #177 Captain Brad Geary - The Sinister G...
Episode: #177 Captain Brad Geary - The Sinister Games the M...
The host cited the book as one of his favorites, noting it discusses generational differences and the need for leaders to adapt.
"
Simon Sinek wrote a book he's written a few but Leaders Eat Last is one of my favorites and he talks about these generational differences and how important it is as leaders to evolve to be relevant to these next generations.
Simon described how writing his book "Leaders Eat Last" was the most difficult project he had attempted, eventually leading him to consider quitting after overwhelming challenges.
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I was writing a book called Leaders Eat Last. It was the single most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. It was impossible to organize. Each chapter could have been its own book. It was ridicul...
— Episode: #964 - Simon Sinek - How To Find Meaning...
Episode: #964 - Simon Sinek - How To Find Meaning When Life...
Simon described how writing his book "Leaders Eat Last" was the most difficult project he had attempted, eventually leading him to consider quitting after overwhelming challenges.
"
I was writing a book called Leaders Eat Last. It was the single most difficult thing I've ever done in my life. It was impossible to organize. Each chapter could have been its own book. It was ridiculous. The amount of content... I couldn't do it.
The book was highlighted as a guide to leadership that emphasizes putting team members' welfare first. Simon Sinek introduced it during his interview, and the host later noted that it had shaped his own approach to leadership. Both mentions conveyed a strong endorsement of its ideas.
Highly Recommended
Episode: Simon Sinek: "Strong Thigh muscles = More friends"...
Simon Sinek also mentioned his book "Leaders Eat Last", which suggests that great leaders prioritize the well-being of their team members.
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Simon Sinek is a renowned leadership expert and the founder of 'The Optimism Company', which provides programmes for leadership development. He is also the best-selling author of the books, 'Start With Why', 'Leaders Eat Last', 'The Infinite Game', and 'Find Your Why'.
Episode: Simon Sinek: The Advice Young People NEED To Hear
The host recalled reading Sinek's book Leaders Eat Last, noting it had influenced his own work and perspective on leadership.
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And then it occurred to me, like, I remember my own work in Leaders Eat Last. I talk about Alcoholics Anonymous, where they have 12 steps to help an alcoholic beat this disease.
It was mentioned as a book that Simon Sinek wrote, where he had lots of ideas while showering and forgot them, so he started writing them on the tiles in his bathroom.
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When I was writing leaders eat last I would have so many ideas in the shower and I would forget them as quickly as I had them that I kept a dry race marker in my bathroom and I wrote them the tiles an...
— Episode: 610: Bill Sullivan | Pleased to Meet Me
Episode: 610: Bill Sullivan | Pleased to Meet Me
It was mentioned as a book that Simon Sinek wrote, where he had lots of ideas while showering and forgot them, so he started writing them on the tiles in his bathroom.
"
When I was writing leaders eat last I would have so many ideas in the shower and I would forget them as quickly as I had them that I kept a dry race marker in my bathroom and I wrote them the tiles and so as soon as I got out of the shower while I was brushing my teeth I'd write an idea in the tile and someone I was standing there the next day brushing my teeth I'd be staring at my writing on the tile and I'd sometimes have another idea so you it looked like a beautiful mind it was ridiculous all the tiles had these little chicken scratches all over and I didn't want to raise any of them because I didn't know what ideas were going to be sparked but my point is is like if you figure out what works for you do that keep a notebook by your bed if you go for a run take a notebook with you I usually carry a notebook in the back of my pocket at all times because I don't know when I'm going to have an idea and like I said I lose them as quickly as I have them.
Episode: 532: A Veteran Fights to Be Free from Smack and PT...
It was mentioned in passing that Simon Sinek had many ideas while showering while writing this book, and he kept a dry erase marker in his bathroom to write them down on the tiles.
"
when I was writing Leaders Eat Last I would have so many ideas in the shower and I would forget them as quickly as I had them that I kept a dry erase marker in my bathroom and I wrote them the tiles
Episode: 300: Simon Sinek | How to Play the Infinite Game
It was mentioned in the context of Simon Sinek's shower-related idea generation, where he used to write ideas on his bathroom tiles while showering or brushing his teeth.
"
When I was writing Leaders Eat Last, I would have so many ideas in the shower, or when I was brushing my teeth for example, and I would forget them as quickly as I had them.
Episode: 6: Simon Sinek | What's Your "Why" and Where Do Yo...
A story from a former undersecretary of defense was shared about how perks are often tied to a position rather than to the individual, illustrating the importance of not conflating position with identity.
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it reminds me of one of my favorite stories which I wrote about in Leaders eat last of a former undersecretary of defense who is giving a presentation middle-large conference about a thousand people he's giving his prepared remarks and in the middle of his remarks he interrupts himself and smiles and says you know last year I was still the undersecretary and I spoke at this exact same conference and last year I flew here business class and there was somebody waiting for me at the airport to take me to the hotel and they took me to the hotel and somebody had already checked me in and they simply took me up to my room and the next morning I came down and somebody was waiting for me in the lobby and they brought me to the same venue they took me in the back entrance they took me into the green room and handed me a cup of coffee in a beautiful ceramic cup he says I'm no longer the undersecretary and I flew her coach I took a taxi to the hotel I checked myself in this morning I came down and took another taxi to the venue I walked through the front doors found my way backstage and when I asked somebody do you have any coffee he pointed to the coffee machine and I poured myself a cup of coffee into this here Styrofoam cup he says the lesson is the ceramic cup was never meant for me it was meant for the position I held I deserve a Styrofoam cup and that's the point we all only deserve a Styrofoam cup and many of the perks that we are given come as a result of the position we hold but not based on who we are
Episode: 300: Simon Sinek | How to Play the Infinite Game
It was briefly mentioned in relation to Simon Sinek having many ideas while showering or brushing his teeth, which led him to write them down in his bathroom.
"
When I was writing 'Leaders Eat Last', I would have so many ideas in the shower or when I was brushing my teeth, for example, and I would forget them as quickly as I had them.
Episode: 6: Simon Sinek | What's Your "Why" and Where Do Yo...
A story about a former undersecretary of defense was shared to illustrate how the treatment people receive can change based on the position they hold, rather than who they are as individuals. The ceramic cup was a symbol of this concept.
"
it reminds me of one of my favorite stories which I wrote about in 'Leaders Eat Last' of a former undersecretary of defense who is giving a presentation middle-large conference about a thousand people
Episode: 610: Bill Sullivan | Pleased to Meet Me
It was briefly mentioned as a book that Simon Sinek wrote, which he alluded to while sharing how he came up with ideas in the shower and would jot them down on bathroom tiles.
"
When I was writing Leaders Eat Last I would have so many ideas in the shower and I would forget them as quickly as I had them that I kept a dry race marker in my bathroom and I wrote them the tiles and so as soon as I got out of the shower while I was brushing my teeth I'd write an idea in the tile and someone I was standing there the next day brushing my teeth I'd be staring at my writing on the tile and I'd sometimes have another idea so you it looked like a beautiful mind it was ridiculous all the tiles had these little chicken scratches all over and I didn't want to raise any of them because I didn't know what ideas were going to be sparked but my point is is like if you figure out what works for you do that keep a notebook by your bed if you go for a run take a notebook with you I usually carry a notebook in the back of my pocket at all times because I don't know when I'm going to have an idea and like I said I lose them as quickly as I have them.
Episode: 532: A Veteran Fights to Be Free from Smack and PT...
Simon Sinek's book, 'Leaders Eat Last', was mentioned as a source of ideas for the speaker, with the example of having ideas in the shower and writing them on bathroom tiles being cited.
"
when I was writing Leaders Eat Last I would have so many ideas in the shower and I would forget them as quickly as I had them that I kept a dry erase marker in my bathroom and I wrote them the tiles and so as soon as I got out of the shower while I was brushing my teeth I'd write an idea in the tile and someone I was standing there the next day brushing my teeth I'd be staring at my writing on the tile and I'd sometimes have another idea so you it looked like a beautiful mind it was ridiculous all the tiles had these little chicken scratches all over and I didn't want to raise any of them because I didn't know what ideas were going to be sparked but my point is is like if you figure out what works for you do that keep a notebook by your bed if you go for a run take a notebook with you I usually carry a notebook in the back of my pocket at all times because I don't know when I'm going to have an idea and like I said I lose them as quickly as I have them
Episode: 300: Simon Sinek | How to Play the Infinite Game
It was mentioned during the discussion of where Simon Sinek gets his ideas that he had many while showering and brushing his teeth when writing this book.
"
when I was writing 'Leaders Eat Last', I would have so many ideas in the shower or when I was brushing my teeth for example and I would forget them as quickly as I had them.
The book was brought up by Adam Grant, who noted that while writing it he became intrigued by parenting and the idea that values aren't inherited from parents. Eric Ryan later referenced his second book deal for the title, describing how his creative process had to evolve and how the demands of his speaking circuit made the usual writing routine exhausting. Both hosts treated the mention as an anecdotal reference rather than a recommendation.
Episode: More Thinking About Thinking with Brené Brown and...
The speaker was writing this book and became interested in parenting, and recalls reading that our values don't come from our parents. They also mentioned a study they read about values, but was unsure of the author.
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When I was writing Leaders Eat Last, I became very interested in... I read a whole bunch of parenting stuff. And one of the things I remember reading is that... I think they talked about values, but our values don't come from our parents.
Episode: Invention is Reinvention with entrepreneur Eric Ry...
He wanted to try to repeat the same system as with his first book, but found he had to reinvent the creative process for each book as he had matured and changed since the last book. He tried to repeat the system of booking flights to nowhere, but the experience was too draining and he missed his first flight and had to change his process for writing his second book.
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OK, flash forward. Second book deal. Leaders Eat Last. OK, I started booking flights to nowhere. Gonna repeat the whole system. And what I'd failed to recognize is that I'd been on the speaking circuit for so long that getting on planes is like... It's exhausting.
And I remember I booked my first flight for my first writing trip. I was going to the airport. I had my laptop. I was sitting in the back of a taxi. And I was literally, my heart was pounding and I was having dread. Dread. And I told the taxi driver, turn around. And I turned the cab around and went back home and missed my flight.
But the problem was now how am I going to write a book? And so each book that I've written, I've actually had to reinvent the creative process that would work. Because the system that worked for the prior book never worked for the next book.
Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.
