The Golden Circle: Linking Work, Life, and Passion

An important topic of discussion that has been arising as of late is the idea of the Golden Circle and knowing your “why” for existing. The Golden Circle refers to the “what,” “how,” and “why” of an organization or role. Nearly everyone knows what they are doing or trying to do within their job or company. At a very fundamental level, this could be as simple as selling products to customers. As we dig deeper, we arrive at the “how,” which refers to how you are completing the “what.” The “how” can refer to the actual process implemented to complete the “what.” Less people understand the “why,” yet this is what most customers are truly looking for according to the philosophy.


The “why” can be the reason for the existence of an organization. This is commonly found in the mission statement, but can also be found in other aspects of the business, such as codes that establish organizational culture. “Why” is critical to understand since the idea is based on consumers preferring goods from companies to which they can relate to their purpose. The first part of this blog is to challenge you to understand the “why” of your organization. Understand what your company’s reasons for existing might be and how this can set your organization apart from the crowd.
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The second part of this blog is to challenge you in another way. What is your personal “why?” Yes, the why of the company is important, but equally as important is your own personal reason for wanting to be in this role or business. For supply chain professional, I personally find it somewhat easy to find a reason to exist—supply chain affects everything! Whether you are in start-up tech or retail clothing, supply chain plays a role in the organization. This is the case for every organization. If you are not necessarily passionate about supply chain (but we hope you are!), you can find a strong “why” by trying to work for an organization, industry, or product that you are passionate about. This is what will drive you through the day and keep you energized, especially when facing adversity. Times might get tough, as is the case with COVID-19, but a sense of passion and drive for whatever it is you may be doing can help one get through those tougher times.