I agree. Each is important. The reminder is Why must come first. Without it, How and What do not matter.

Without the what you can have the why, but not vice versa. A lot of people know they want something, but their why is “because I want it”. The how is important to us, developers but not the client. They don’t care, they just want their “what.”

I love the Chipotle example, because I noticed the same things about them. I love their simplicity and continued quality.

Thanks for writing this.

Why really is a powerful word. It is essential for identifying the source of something–why an organization exist, why a problem exists, etc.

Another aspect of Why is on a personal level. Jon Acuff has written a new book on finding your personal Why.
http://www.daveramsey.com/article/this-way-to-your-dream-job/

I read in another blog somewhere something along this line: To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but merely existing.

True of a person and probably also true of a business. Everything needs a powerful WHY, a powerful reason to live and thus impact the world, otherwise we’re merely existing.

Some time ago I learned a “method of 5 why” as the most efficient way to identify source of any problem. Since then I have never found more efficient method.

How does it work? Ask “Why has this happened?” Then, to the answer you find or get, ask “Why?” again. Do it 5 times and you will most likely know the real source of the problem.

The reason why many problems reappear again and again is that most people get angry when having to answer “Why?” more than 3 times in a row and never get to the fifth iteration.

This is also why I am so much looking forward to the time my son (2 and half years now) will start asking why. That will be the time when he will really start learning to solve problems. And my best way to help him will be to be patient and keep answering. Just to make sure he will never feel afraid asking why 5 times in a row.