From Overwhelm to Impact: The Power of Finding Your Who

I was stuck and I know where!

Wow, that is an epiphany just to say out loud and then to write it down, to see the words appear on the screen and have that visceral reaction in my gut that I am on to something deep. I once had a coach that told me my brain was like a big factory, filled with moving conveyors and gears turning, whistles blowing but...BUT, I needed a shipping department! I had a factory stuffed with ideas and the warehouse just kept expanding and I kept adding more and more to the shelves and they were ready to burst until finally I just kept pushing out the walls for more.

She challenged me to get my products "out the door"!! That was 10 years ago... Of course life took its course (it always does and always will) and I kept building the factory and adding warehouse space. Waiting...waiting...waiting for what I do not know. Sometimes it is a perfection thing. until the idea is perfect, heaven forbid that I should actually put it out into the world. Sometimes it is fear...what will THEY think? Who are "they" anyway. Sometimes it was that other very urgent and legitimate life demands just got priority.

But NOW is the time. My factory has added production, shipping, receiving, customer service, marketing and branding! Amazing the process I have experienced in 2025. Lets do this indeed! So what happened? How did I finally make the shift and start getting things done and shipped out the door? Well that is precisely the point. I stopped asking "how" and finally found the "who"!

I read a great book titled "Who Not How" by Dan Sullivan, Founder of Strategic coach and author of several books on various topics relevant to entrepreneurs and co-authored by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. It is a great read for any leader trying to build or grow something bigger than themselves. Essentially he challenges entrepreneurs to get out of their own way, lay down their fears and perfectionist mindset and bring others alongside to expand the vision and get things done. When we do that we learn to trust others strengths, develop an abundance mindset, instead of asking "How can I accomplish this goal?" we should ask "Who can help me achieve this goal?" This change encourages leveraging the skills and expertise of others to achieve better results more efficiently** (best takeaways for me in the notes).

The conundrum for me was finding the right WHO! Enter Christine Mondry! And enter she did. On my last Sunday (I will write more about this in a future post) I had just finished speaking and was walking through the large narthex area outside the traditional sanctuary space at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville IL where I had served as a teaching pastor for 16 years. Headed to the contemporary Worship Center space to speak in that service out of the corner of my eye I saw this young woman, baby in her arms shuffling as fast as she could toward me saying "pastor Glen, pastor Glen...". I stopped and we talked and in rapid fire told me she felt the leading of the Spirit in that moment to say she could help and wanted to help me get this vision for FinishStrong off the ground!

It was a turning point in my life and the life of this business! She has come alongside me with a passion for growth, a work ethic that is strong, a mind filled with ideas and the ability to learn, grow, pivot and get things done on the regular. She is honest, vulnerable and humble yet intentional, ready to plan and execute and iterate rapidly. I couldn't be more thrilled for the world to get to know and work with Christine. Our clients will be well served, our operations will be effective, efficient and given the right resources and time...elegant!

Christine has made it possible for me to develop a branding, marketing and operational strategy to take FinishStrong to the next level and beyond. In a powerful way the concept of "Who not How" is paying itself forward through the people, resources and ideas that Christine has already brought into my world.

The team continues to grow. In the past month we have onboarded Christine Malaki from the Philippines! We call her "Riss" and man does she move fast. She is an incredibly gifted, hard working, creative and easy to get along with addition to the team. Riss will head up the marketing and operational areas of the business. Originally I found her through "Outsourced Doers" a growing VA team founded by the amazing entrepreneur Grace Lever from Australia. If you are ready to get out of your own way and start building a team you absolutely must check them out. I'll write more about them in a future article.

I am so very excited to add another crucial member of this small but mighty launch team! How cool is it that I get to work with my very own son, Jeremy Wagner!! He is an intellectual tour de force and gifted in so many ways that will benefit this company and our clients and community members. Jeremy is a communications specialist, writer, musician, master poker player and a very cool dad to three of my amazing grandkids. It is going to be very meaningful and filled with joy to work alongside him on this venture.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this team. Stay tuned for more on how that is developing!

So friends, where do you need to take the next step to fulfilling your potential and turning your dreams into reality? Who NOT how might just be the very next step to take.

Notes from Who Not How

Key Points that were most helpful to me!

1. Leveraging Others' Strengths:
1. Collaboration Over Isolation: Engaging with others who have complementary skills allows for a more robust and efficient path to success.
2. Expertise Utilization: Utilizing specialists can lead to superior outcomes compared to trying to master every aspect personally.
2. Time Freedom and Focus:
1. Maximizing Unique Abilities: Delegating tasks frees you to focus on what you do best, increasing productivity and satisfaction.
2. Avoiding Burnout: Sharing responsibilities prevents overload and maintains enthusiasm for your work.
3. Abundance Mindset:
1. Creating Value Through Collaboration: Working with others expands opportunities and resources, rather than limiting them.
2. Positive-Sum Relationships: Success is amplified when it's shared; everyone involved can benefit and grow.
4. Overcoming Self-Limiting Beliefs:
1. Fear of Delegation: People may resist seeking help due to fear of losing control or appearing incompetent.
2. Embracing Assistance: Recognizing that seeking 'Whos' is a strength that leads to greater accomplishments.
5. Accelerated Growth and Achievement:
1. Scaling Goals: With the right 'Whos,' you can pursue more ambitious objectives that would be unattainable alone.
2. Efficiency Gains: Collaborative efforts often lead to faster completion times and innovative solutions.
6. Investing in Relationships:
1. Long-Term Benefits: Strong relationships provide ongoing support, resources, and opportunities.
2. Trust and Reliability: Building trust with your 'Who's' ensures a dependable network.