Who Not How
Dan Sullivan, Benjamin Hardy
15 min
7 Key Points
4.3 RateWhat's inside?
Discover the secret to achieving your biggest goals not by asking "how" but "who" can help you, emphasizing the power of effective teamwork and collaboration.
You'll learn
1. Why 'who' matters more than 'how' in goal-setting2. Tips for creating kick-ass teams3. Using others' strengths to smash your goals4. What's your 'Unique Ability' and how to use it5. Teamwork makes the dream work: collaboration and delegation6. Tackling hurdles with the power of teamwork.Key points
01Teamwork makes the dream work! Share tasks, don't hog them all
Let's talk about a game-changing way to tackle problems and reach our goals. Instead of asking 'how' to do something, we should be asking 'who' can do it. This isn't just a clever twist of words, it's a whole new way of thinking and acting. Here's a thought: "When you share the load instead of carrying it all, you become a superstar team player." This idea tells us that the secret to being a great team member and reaching bigger goals isn't about doing everything yourself. It's about sharing the work with others. Let's paint a picture to make this clearer. Say you're a project manager at a software company, and you've got a complex software project to deliver. The old 'how' way of thinking would have you trying to do everything yourself. You'd be learning to code, testing, writing documentation, and more. This would eat up all your time and energy, and take you away from what you should really be doing as a project manager. But what if you tried the 'who' way instead? You'd look at your team and figure out who can do what. The coding could go to the software engineers, the testing to the quality analysts, and the documentation to the technical writers. This leaves you free to focus on what you do best: planning, coordinating, and overseeing the project. You're not just making the most of your own skills, you're also letting others use theirs. This way of working doesn't just get better results, it also builds a strong, collaborative team spirit. And this isn't just for the office. You can use the same approach at home. Instead of trying to do all the housework yourself, why not share it with your family? This not only lightens your load, it also gives everyone else a sense of responsibility and involvement. So, what's the big idea here? It's about recognizing and using the strengths of others. It's about realizing that you don't have to do everything yourself to be a success. By sharing the work, you can achieve more and help others to grow and succeed too. That's what teamwork is all about, and it's the secret to reaching bigger goals.
02Find the right 'Who' to help you out, they might have fresh ideas
Let's talk about a fresh way to tackle problems, reach goals, and grow as a person. It's called the "Who Not How" approach. Instead of asking "How can I do this?" when you're faced with a challenge, you ask "Who can help me do this?" This simple change in thinking can open up a whole new world of possibilities and resources you never knew existed. Let's look at a real-life example. Meet Richie, a teenager who wanted to make some money. His first thought was "How can I make money?" This led him to think about typical teenage jobs, like working in a grocery store. But that would have taken up his whole summer, leaving him no time for anything else. But Richie decided to think differently. Instead of asking "How?", he asked "Who?" He turned to his dad for advice. His dad, with his years of experience and resources, suggested a unique business idea: buying and selling oddly shaped watermelons. Richie and his younger brother Erik took out the backseats of their family van, filled it with these cheap watermelons, and within a week, Richie had made more money than he would have made in a year at a grocery store. This story shows the power of the "Who Not How" approach. By asking his dad for help, Richie was able to tap into knowledge, resources, and solutions that he didn't have on his own. His dad was his "Who," the person who could help him reach his goal more effectively and quickly. The "How" approach is a straight line and slow. It means figuring out each step of the process on your own, which can take a lot of time and limit your options. But the "Who" approach is flexible, fast, and can lead to big results. It lets you use the skills, knowledge, and resources of others, which can lead to quicker and bigger success. Plus, the "Who" approach can also increase your "Freedom of Time." This means being able to control how you spend your time, focusing on quality activities that you enjoy or that help you reach your goals. By saving his summer and reaching his goal quickly, Richie was able to greatly increase his freedom of time. Remember, we all have potential "Whos" in our lives. These are the people who can help us reach our goals, solve our problems, and grow as people. They can be family members, friends, mentors, or professionals in different fields. Some "Whos" may need a financial investment, but as Richie's story shows, many do not. The key is to recognize these potential "Whos" and to be willing to ask for their help when needed. This approach can lead to more effective and satisfying results, both personally and professionally.
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Full summary is waiting for you in the app
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05The best relationships are win-win situations
06Don't get stuck on the 'How', be open to others' ideas
07Conclusion
About Dan Sullivan, Benjamin Hardy
Dan Sullivan is a renowned entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of The Strategic Coach Inc. Benjamin Hardy is a bestselling author, psychologist, and motivational speaker, known for his expertise in organizational psychology and personal development. Both are recognized for their contributions to entrepreneurial success and personal growth.
