MBA2478 How To Switch From How to Who & Grow Faster

Summary

The $100 MBA Show: MBA2478 – How To Switch From How to Who & Grow Faster

Release Date: June 7, 2024

Hosts: Omar Zenhom & Co-host

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Introduction

In episode MBA2478 of The $100 MBA Show, host Omar Zenhom delves into a transformative mindset shift essential for entrepreneurs aiming to scale their businesses efficiently. Titled "How To Switch From How to Who & Grow Faster," this episode emphasizes moving from a solitary problem-solving approach ("how") to leveraging the expertise of others ("who") to accelerate business growth.

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Understanding the 'How' vs. 'Who' Mindset

Omar begins by highlighting the common scenario many entrepreneurs face in the early stages of their ventures: managing every aspect of the business themselves. This "how" mentality, while useful for learning, can hinder exponential growth.

Omar Zenhom (01:11): "In your first few years in entrepreneurship, you are pretty much doing everything yourself. You're trying to figure out how do."

He explains that persisting in this approach limits scalability and can lead to burnout, as entrepreneurs attempt to master every function without leveraging available resources.

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The Power of Shifting to 'Who'

Transitioning to a "who" mindset involves identifying and collaborating with experts who can handle specific tasks more efficiently. This shift allows entrepreneurs to focus on their core strengths and strategic vision.

Omar Zenhom (02:19): "Trying to figure out who can do this for me. Who's the best at solving this particular problem?"

By asking "who can help me with this project?" entrepreneurs tap into specialized skills, leading to higher quality outcomes and faster execution.

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Benefits of Embracing the 'Who' Approach

1. Time Efficiency: Delegating tasks to experts significantly reduces the time required to complete projects.

   Omar Zenhom (05:00): "This is going to save you time and get you results faster so that you can get that return on investment faster."

2. Enhanced Quality: Professionals bring a higher level of expertise, ensuring better results compared to DIY efforts.

3. Focus on Core Competencies: Entrepreneurs can concentrate on areas where they excel, driving innovation and business growth.

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Strategies to Identify and Engage the Right 'Who'

Omar provides actionable strategies to help entrepreneurs find and connect with the right experts:

1. Networking: Building a robust network of fellow entrepreneurs and professionals is crucial.

   Omar Zenhom (06:03): "This is why it's so important to have a network of friends in entrepreneurship. People that you can ask."

2. Leveraging Existing Connections: Utilize current relationships to gain introductions to potential collaborators.

   Omar Zenhom (06:10): "Who’s doing that for you? Can you give me an introduction?"

3. Utilizing Social Media: Platforms like Twitter and Instagram can be effective for reaching out to experts.

   Omar Zenhom (06:41): "Or even just posting it on Twitter or Instagram. Hey, I need some help in this area."

4. Engaging with Your Team: Often, team members possess hidden talents and interests that can be harnessed for various projects.

   Omar Zenhom (10:08): "You might find some hidden talented people that love to do this on the side and would love to have a little fun and do something different at work."

5. Attending Industry Events: Participating in conferences, meetups, and workshops can open doors to new connections and opportunities.

   Omar Zenhom (10:46): "Meet people that would know how to do this? Is there an industry conference? Is there a party I need to be a part of?"

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Practical Application: Building a Home Studio

To illustrate the "who" approach, Omar shares his personal experience of setting up a professional home studio. Instead of immersing himself in tutorials and research, he reached out to a friend who connected him with a studio expert. This collaboration not only expedited the setup but also ensured a high-quality outcome.

Omar Zenhom (02:59): "I asked a friend in the business who has a great home studio. I've noticed it in his Zoom calls. I had coffee with him and he said, hey, you should speak to this person."

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Overcoming Challenges in Adopting the 'Who' Mindset

While the benefits are clear, Omar acknowledges potential obstacles:

• Financial Costs: Hiring experts may require a higher upfront investment.

  Omar Zenhom (03:57): "It's going to cost you a bit more with the who... to hire an expert to do it for you, to consult, to even coach you through it."

• Building a Network: Entrepreneurs with limited connections may find it challenging to identify the right "who."

Omar encourages proactive efforts in expanding networks and being open to reaching out beyond immediate contacts.

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Cultivating the 'Who' Mindset Daily

To reinforce this shift, Omar suggests simple habits:

• Visual Reminders: Placing sticky notes with "Who, not How" near workstations to prompt delegation.

  Omar Zenhom (09:03): "They feel like it's an easy thing to say, hey, yeah, I can help you and do an introduction."

• Team Engagement: Regularly communicating with team members to uncover hidden skills and interests.

  Omar Zenhom (10:26): "You might find some hidden talented people that love to do this on the side and would love to have a little fun and do something different at work."

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Conclusion

Omar Zenhom wraps up the episode by reiterating the transformative impact of adopting a "who" mindset. By strategically collaborating with experts, entrepreneurs can streamline operations, enhance quality, and accelerate growth.

Omar Zenhom (11:04): "Building your network so that you can have people to talk to to help you find that who... it's magical."

He encourages listeners to embrace this shift as a pivotal strategy for sustainable and rapid business expansion.

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Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning from a "how" to a "who" mindset is crucial for scaling businesses efficiently.
• Leveraging the expertise of others saves time, enhances quality, and allows focus on core strengths.
• Building and nurturing a robust network is essential to identify and collaborate with the right experts.
• Practical strategies include proactive networking, utilizing social media, engaging team members, and attending industry events.
• Adopting daily habits can reinforce the "who" approach, leading to sustained business growth.

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For more actionable business lessons and strategies, subscribe to The $100 MBA Show and stay tuned for future episodes.

Transcript

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try.

[Mint Mobile Representative]

@Mintmobile.Com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] and we're back, folks.

[Narrator]

It looks like Jim from sales just got in from his client lunch and he's got receipts.

His next meeting is in two minutes. The team is asking, can he get through his expenses in that time?

He's going for it.

Is that his phone?

He's snapping a pic. He's texting.

Ramp Jim is fast, but this is unheard of.

That's it. He's done it. It's unbelievable.

[Ramp Representative]

On ramp expenses are faster than ever. Just submit them with a text. Switch your business to ramp.com.

[Omar Zenhom]

Heyo. Welcome to the $100 MBA show. No fluff, just the good stuff with our practical business lessons. I'm your host, your coach, your teacher, Omar Zenholm. And in today's lesson, you will learn how, how to switch from how to who and grow your business faster. What do I mean by switching from how to who? Well, in your first few years in entrepreneurship, you are pretty much doing everything yourself. You're trying to figure out how do.

[Co-host]

I do this, how do I do.

[Omar Zenhom]

That, how do I make this happen?

[Co-host]

These are good questions and especially in.

[Omar Zenhom]

The beginning because you're learning. But you really can grow your business exponentially and really scale if you're always.

[Co-host]

Doing everything yourself, thinking that you're the one who has to solve all the.

[Omar Zenhom]

Problems and trying to figure out how to do everything. Now we often have the mentality of how, even when we have a team, even when we have a, you know.

[Co-host]

A bunch of employees working for us.

[Omar Zenhom]

It's a mindset and it needs to be shifted in order for our business to excel. Shifted to what? Well, it needs to shift from how do I do this?

[Co-host]

To who can do this.

[Omar Zenhom]

This is incredibly powerful because now instead of trying to figuring it out, you're.

[Co-host]

Trying to figure out who can do this for me. Who's the best at solving this particular problem?

[Omar Zenhom]

Who's the best at helping me with this project? Who's the best to get me a result? This is where you really become a fully fledged entrepreneur. You start understanding the expertise and other people are the ultimate resource to grow. I'm going to give you a very simple example. Okay. I'm trying to build out my home studio so that I can have a better level of production for all my videos and courses and live calls. But I want my studio to look pro. I don't know what that even looks like.

[Co-host]

Now.

[Omar Zenhom]

I can think and go down the rabbit hole of how do I do this? And watch a million YouTube videos, read a bunch of articles, go online and try to find the right products and.

[Co-host]

Shop for the best price.

[Omar Zenhom]

And this can probably take me months to actually have a clear plan on.

[Co-host]

How to actually build my studio. Or I can ask the question, who can do this for me? Who can build my studio?

[Omar Zenhom]

Who has done this before and can.

[Co-host]

Just give me a blueprint?

[Omar Zenhom]

This often means getting the job done.

[Co-host]

In far less time because you're just.

[Omar Zenhom]

Skipping a bunch of steps and getting the expert to do it for you.

[Co-host]

Or show you how to do it quickly. Here's the reality.

[Omar Zenhom]

You can't be the expert at everything. You probably have your superpowers, your secret sauce in a few areas, and that's great.

[Co-host]

You should focus on those things, but.

[Omar Zenhom]

Outside those areas, you're not so great.

[Co-host]

And you trying to get great at.

[Omar Zenhom]

Everything is a big waste of time.

[Co-host]

It's better for you to invest in.

[Omar Zenhom]

The who who can do this, who can get me a result, who knows this best and fast track your success. Now, let me be real with you. It's going to cost you a bit more with the who round to hire an expert to do it for you, to consult, to even coach you through it.

[Co-host]

But in business, and what I've learned.

[Omar Zenhom]

In over 20 years is that you.

[Co-host]

Need to decide if you want to.

[Omar Zenhom]

Pay now or you want to pay later.

[Co-host]

You're going to have to pay the.

[Omar Zenhom]

Price to have a pro anything pro studio setup, a great product, a great business, a great financial model, great marketing, whatever it is, okay? You can hack it and you can try to do it as much as you can. And a lot of us do this in the beginning because we don't have a lot of money, and that's okay.

[Co-host]

But eventually you're going to have to.

[Omar Zenhom]

Get better to compete with the competition, right? You're going to have to level up and you get what you pay for. And your biggest asset is time.

[Co-host]

You can't waste time. You have to be fast to action.

[Omar Zenhom]

So by getting somebody to do this for you, an expert that can put.

[Co-host]

You on the fast track.

[Omar Zenhom]

This is going to save you time and get you results faster so that.

[Co-host]

You can get that return on investment faster.

[Omar Zenhom]

What I found is when you go.

[Co-host]

Down the WHO route and find somebody who knows what they're doing, there's usually.

[Omar Zenhom]

Three paths, like I mentioned before, but.

[Co-host]

Let me go into the detail.

[Omar Zenhom]

There is the first path is the fastest but probably the most expensive one, which is they just do it for you. They actually do the work for you. Instead of you trying to build your own website, they do it for you. They get your input, they get your insights, they get your opinions and then they implement.

[Co-host]

The second one is done with you.

[Omar Zenhom]

Where they do some of the hard stuff and you do some of the easier stuff and you work together on it. Third is a bit of a supported DIY do it yourself. But they're giving you the fast track option, the experienced path. They're going to coach and consult you through it. And this is going to be the least expensive option. It's going to take you more time to do this, but it's going to be less time than you trying to figure it out on your own. Now, you might be asking, how do I find these people? When I ask myself, who can do this? How do I find them?

[Co-host]

Well, this is why it's so important.

[Omar Zenhom]

To have a network of friends in entrepreneurship. People that you can ask.

[Co-host]

The more people you know, the more you can reach out to them and.

[Omar Zenhom]

Say, hey, I noticed that you have this sorted out.

[Co-host]

Your marketing looks amazing.

[Omar Zenhom]

Who's doing that for you?

[Co-host]

Can you give me an introduction?

[Omar Zenhom]

This is exactly what I did with my home studio. I asked a friend in the business who has a great home studio. I've noticed it in his Zoom calls. I had coffee with him and he said, hey, you should speak to this person. This is the person that helped me set up my studio. You can't be afraid to ask people whether it's in person or on email.

[Co-host]

Or even just posting it on Twitter or Instagram. Hey, I need some help in this area.

[Omar Zenhom]

Does anybody know any experts to help me with this problem?

[Co-host]

Now, obviously, the more people you're connected.

[Omar Zenhom]

To, the more people you know, the faster you're going to get results. And if you're saying, hey, Omar, I don't have a huge network, well, you can of course go to social media like I mentioned.

[Co-host]

But you can also do what I.

[Omar Zenhom]

Call the Kevin Bacon method. You know, they say six degrees of separation to Kevin Bacon. But the point here is, is that you ask instead of does anybody know an expert you can ask?

[Co-host]

Do you know anybody who hired an.

[Omar Zenhom]

Expert to your smaller network of people?

[Co-host]

Do you know anybody who has done.

[Omar Zenhom]

This before or hired somebody to help them with this? This is why I talk about it's.

[Co-host]

So important to go to meetups and.

[Omar Zenhom]

Conferences and parties and live workshops and.

[Co-host]

To get out of your bubble. Because the more people you know, the more context you have, the more chances.

[Omar Zenhom]

You have to finding the who for your next problem.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone Paying Big Wireless way Too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Mint Mobile Representative]

Of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] got a 7am meeting.

[Narrator]

On a Monday expensing breakfast because it's in policy wasting all afternoon submitting an expense report for that breakfast. If your company used Ramp, you could submit expenses with just a text.

[Audience Reaction]

Yay.

[Mint Mobile Representative]

Free your team from expense reports today. Switch your business to ramp.com.

[Co-host]

So a few more tips when it comes to.

[Omar Zenhom]

Switching from the how to the who. If you see something you like, ask.

[Co-host]

Even if you don't know the person. So for example, let's say you're on somebody's email list and you love the.

[Omar Zenhom]

Way their email newsletter is designed.

[Co-host]

Reply to that email and say, hey, I love the way you designed your newsletter. Can I ask you who you worked.

[Omar Zenhom]

With to get that done? I'd love to get mine done. You'll be surprised.

[Co-host]

A lot of people are happy to share.

[Omar Zenhom]

They feel like it's an easy thing to say, hey, yeah, I can help you and do an introduction. Another great tip is to just simply remind yourself with a post it note and write who, not how on a post it note and just slam it.

[Co-host]

Right in front of your monitor, right.

[Omar Zenhom]

In front of your laptop, right by your keyboard. So that every time you write something on your to do list, you remind yourself, hey, is there somebody who can.

[Co-host]

Do this instead of me?

[Omar Zenhom]

Instead of me trying to figure out how I can find a who?

[Co-host]

Just as a mental exercise, this is.

[Omar Zenhom]

Even a great habit to have.

[Co-host]

Lastly, if you have a team that who could be somebody that you already.

[Omar Zenhom]

Have access to in your team, a lot of us don't realize that as.

[Co-host]

Human beings we are diverse.

[Omar Zenhom]

We have a diverse set of experiences in our life and we might hire.

[Co-host]

Somebody thinking that this is their background.

[Omar Zenhom]

This is their experience, but they have.

[Co-host]

Hobbies, they have interests, they've done things in the past they didn't tell you about.

[Omar Zenhom]

So why don't you put it in.

[Co-host]

Your communication channels, your slack channels, your.

[Omar Zenhom]

Whatever communication you use with your team.

[Co-host]

And say, hey, we are trying to do xyz. Does anybody have an experience doing this?

[Omar Zenhom]

Does anybody have any insights or has any interest in helping us do this task or to complete this project? It's worth asking.

[Co-host]

They are on your team. They are working for you.

[Omar Zenhom]

You probably have a wealth of knowledge you're unaware of and it could be something simple like editing a video or.

[Co-host]

Creating a unique piece of music for that video.

[Omar Zenhom]

You might find some hidden talented people that love to do this on the side and would love to have a little fun and do something different at work.

[Co-host]

Lastly, and this is a little meta, if you don't know anybody and you've tried to ask everybody in your network.

[Omar Zenhom]

And your team and you still don't find somebody who can do this, go back to how.

[Co-host]

But the how now is, how do I find somebody? Where do I got to go to.

[Omar Zenhom]

Meet people that would know how to do this? Is there an industry conference? Is there a party I need to be a part of? Is there somebody I know that can introduce me to an event or an event organizer that can get me in.

[Co-host]

The space in the company of potential.

[Omar Zenhom]

People that can solve this problem? Keep striving for the who. Well, there you have it. Today's episode was short and sweet, but it was really something I wanted to share because it was a pivotal mind.

[Co-host]

Shift and practice that I started to.

[Omar Zenhom]

Do that really changed my business. It really made things a lot more.

[Co-host]

Rapid in terms of growth, in terms.

[Omar Zenhom]

Of ability to move and be able to reinvent a lot of parts of our business, but also inject new life.

[Co-host]

New ideas, new people.

[Omar Zenhom]

And that causes your business to really.

[Co-host]

Catapult to another level.

[Omar Zenhom]

If you loved this episode or loved any of our episodes, the best thing you could do is to hit subscribe, hit follow on your favorite podcast app right now. Thank you in advance for doing that. Before I go, I want to leave you with this. I love this practice of building your network so that you can have people to talk to to help you find that who one because you meet interesting people in this process and you meet interesting people when you find that who to work with you.

[Co-host]

You learn from them, you gain an.

[Omar Zenhom]

Insight, you gain an appreciation for for what this person does. And now you have a new resource, a new talent pool that you can pull from to enhance your business, your products, your services. It's magical. Thanks so much for listening and I'll check you in the next episode. I'll see you then. Take care.

[Narrator]

And we're back, folks. It looks like Jim from sales just got in from his client lunch and he's got receipts.

His next meeting is in two minutes. The team is asking can he get through his expenses in that time?

He's going for it.

Is that his phone?

He's snapping a pic. He's texting around.

Jim is fast but this is unheard of.

That's it. He's done it.

[Ramp Representative]

It's unbeliev on ramp expenses are faster than ever. Just submit them with a text. Switch your business to ramp.com.