Jewish Funders Network Conference – The Lesson of Why?

I have just returned from the Jewish Funders Network annual conference.
This year’s theme was Storytelling. The various presentations and conversations around telling our stories reminded me of a TED Talk by Simon Sinek on Start With Why, his book that the AVI CHAI staff recently read during a staff learning session. While Sinek’s whole argument did not resonate completely for me, I did find his underlying premise of purpose as motivation compelling and instructive.
When we can share our stories and tell others why we do what we do, we can inspire. And when others share similar why’s, then we can collaborate. That is what we at AVICHAI are hoping to do – tell our story well and, more importantly, listen to others tell theirs.
Why inspires; what, not so much. Great leaders, be they Martin Luther King or Steve Jobs, lead with why.
So tell us: What is your why? Why do you do what you do?
Deena Fuchs
Director of Strategic Partnerships