“Who Not How”: The Key to Business Growth

“Who Not How”: The Key to Business Growth

Small business owners often ask “how” when tackling challenges. But what if the right question is “who”? Embracing the “Who Not How” mindset lets you leverage others’ strengths, boosting your growth potential and freeing up time to focus on what you do best.

This concept, from Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s Who Not How, redefines how we tackle challenges by focusing on finding the right people rather than the right steps.

The idea is simple: when you collaborate with others who bring unique skills, you’re not only filling in gaps but also expanding your potential for growth. Think of mentors, partners, or specialists who excel where you don’t. Collaboration opens doors to fresh perspectives and insights that fuel business growth. And for small business owners in Australia, where 97.3% of businesses have fewer than 19 staff, leveraging your network becomes essential. The “Who Not How” approach helps you achieve big results by tapping into a wealth of external talent, rather than struggling alone.

Here's how the “Who Not How” mindset can reshape your business:

  1. Efficient Problem-Solving 🔧: By seeking out those who specialise in tasks you struggle with, you save time and avoid getting bogged down in areas outside your expertise. Focusing on “who” can help frees you up to do what you do best.
  2. Enhanced Perspective 🌐: Surrounding yourself with others’ expertise means you benefit from diverse viewpoints. This helps you make more balanced and informed decisions, especially when tackling complex issues.
  3. Amplified Impact 🚀: By working with the right people, you achieve more than you could solo. It’s not just about sharing workload; it’s about multiplying your efforts to reach new heights.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Save Time & Energy ⏱: Delegate tasks that aren’t your strong suit to people who excel in them, so you can focus on high-impact activities.
  2. Make Better Decisions 🧠: With the right people around, you gain insights that enrich your problem-solving and reduce blind spots.
  3. Scale Beyond Solo Limits 🔝: Collaborative growth enables you to accomplish much more than you would on your own, opening new possibilities for your business.

Pro Tip 💡: Next time you’re facing a challenge, pause before diving into the “how.” Ask yourself, “Who in my network has the experience, knowledge, or connections to make this easier?” Sometimes, the best solutions come from tapping into the skills and perspectives of others.




👨💼 I’m Ronan Leonard

🌟 Certified Innovation Professional

📢 100 days to create a profitable business. Follow the journey! Subscribe, hit the 🔔, or follow #100DaysStartuptoSuccess, or comment 🗣 to join the discussion.

#100DaysStartuptoSuccess #PostFiftyEight #Business #Growth

Such a valuable perspective! Shifting to a ‘who’ mindset has been a game-changer for so many business owners. Thanks for sharing!

Ivan Zografski

Father x2 | Left-handed optimist | Co-founder at Solveo

4mo

great point Ronan Leonard bringing in others with the right skills allows small businesses to stay flexible and effective.

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Yassine ZAKARIA

Cybersecurity Consultant | CISSP - CISA - ISO 27001 - ISO 22301 - ISO 27005 | Consulting & Audit | Projet Director

4mo

Absolutely love this mindset shift! The 'Who Not How' approach really changes how you look at business challenges—so empowering for growth! Thanks, Ronan!

Valerie Payotte

🚀 Consultante, Coach & Mentore en WebMarketing & Outils I.A. 🔹 🎨 Créativité | 🎯 Stratégie | 🚀 IA & Innovation

4mo

Totally resonate with this! 'Who Not How' has helped me accomplish things I couldn’t have done alone. It’s about working smarter with a strong network.

Lara Hall-Bryce

𝗜 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵. 🧠 | Speaker🎤 | Change Behaviour 😎 | Corporate Wellbeing Strategist 🍏

4mo

This is brilliant advice, especially for small businesses. Leveraging others’ expertise allows us to scale smarter, not harder. Thanks for sharing, Ronan! 🔥

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