Simon Sinek

There's entire books about how to have successful marriages.

Why aren't there books and books and books and books about how to be a friend?

Why aren't we learning how to be better friends?

You sound like my publisher.

It'll come when it's done.

Thanks, Elise.

Thanks for having me.

Appreciate it.

All right. Well, that one's different because not a single person, when they achieve the thing that they achieve, will ever, ever, ever say that was worth it. None. Zero. I've talked to so many people who decided grades, career, money. I don't need friends. I just need people who can help me achieve my goals. And the result is loneliness. Yes. I mean, you know this as an athlete, right?

All right. Well, that one's different because not a single person, when they achieve the thing that they achieve, will ever, ever, ever say that was worth it. None. Zero. I've talked to so many people who decided grades, career, money. I don't need friends. I just need people who can help me achieve my goals. And the result is loneliness. Yes. I mean, you know this as an athlete, right?

Look at Olympic, look at Olympians, right? Especially individual sports, individual athletes. Team sports, it's not really the same thing. which is they have a dream when they're fairly young and their dream is to, and you know how they put it, win the Olympics. Nobody wins the Olympics, right? That's how I'm gonna win the Olympics, right? And every relationship they have is, can you help me?

Look at Olympic, look at Olympians, right? Especially individual sports, individual athletes. Team sports, it's not really the same thing. which is they have a dream when they're fairly young and their dream is to, and you know how they put it, win the Olympics. Nobody wins the Olympics, right? That's how I'm gonna win the Olympics, right? And every relationship they have is, can you help me?

Are you gonna help me? And individual athletes, tennis players, I mean, they're very similar. Like every relationship they have is, are you gonna benefit my dream? And if not, then I have no space for you. And they don't really have friendships. They have transactional relationships, coaches, trainers, a supportive parent.

Are you gonna help me? And individual athletes, tennis players, I mean, they're very similar. Like every relationship they have is, are you gonna benefit my dream? And if not, then I have no space for you. And they don't really have friendships. They have transactional relationships, coaches, trainers, a supportive parent.

And some of them will get to the Olympics and some of them might even medal. And when it's time to retire, what they achieve is willingness. Michael Phelps becomes the most meddled Olympian of all in history. What's the immediate result?

And some of them will get to the Olympics and some of them might even medal. And when it's time to retire, what they achieve is willingness. Michael Phelps becomes the most meddled Olympian of all in history. What's the immediate result?

Andre Agassi becomes the most celebrated tennis player of all time. What's the immediate result? Loneliness, depression. And none of them will look back and say, oh my God, I think that was worth it. The thing you're celebrated for is fleeting. You'll be forgotten. You'll be replaced. Someone else will be a new up and coming.

Andre Agassi becomes the most celebrated tennis player of all time. What's the immediate result? Loneliness, depression. And none of them will look back and say, oh my God, I think that was worth it. The thing you're celebrated for is fleeting. You'll be forgotten. You'll be replaced. Someone else will be a new up and coming.

You know, I was walking down Avenue of the Stars here in California, here in Los Angeles. And I was reading the names of some of these movie stars. I'd never heard of them. Maybe there's two or three of like- 40 years ago, 30 years ago, whatever they were, right? 40, 50 years ago, whatever they were. These were the Ryan Reynolds of the day. I had never heard of any of them.

You know, I was walking down Avenue of the Stars here in California, here in Los Angeles. And I was reading the names of some of these movie stars. I'd never heard of them. Maybe there's two or three of like- 40 years ago, 30 years ago, whatever they were, right? 40, 50 years ago, whatever they were. These were the Ryan Reynolds of the day. I had never heard of any of them.