Cultivating Deep Trust – Wisdom From Simon Sinek

There was something special I felt when I lived in Japan that I’ve been trying to articulate.  There’s a sense of connectedness that you don’t get in the west – at least in civilian society.   Here Simon Sinek explains this deep sense of connectedness and trust through an experience in Afghanistan with the military. 

I have to admit, I’d always had misconceptions about the military.  I thought it was oppressive and that you’d be controlled.  Now, some of that came from the odd controlling character that I met through my dad’s pipe band.  But in recent years, I’ve chatted more with people from the military and seen things differently through hearing their experience.  One thing that struck me was how much more you experience power struggled in regular organisations – compared to the military.  There’s a clarity of role, and sense of purpose and service in the military that you don’t often get in civilian organisations.  

Japan has a much more service-oriented culture.  If you visit, you feel the welcome and hospitality and respect.  It’s part of the language and that’s part of why I love teaching and sharing Japanese.  I was a different version of myself in Japan – a version of myself that I liked more than the version of me in the UK. 

Have a watch of Simon’s story here and do share your thoughts with me.  

Have you ever experienced this kind of deep connection and shared purpose?