First Who, Then What — Building Your Inner Circle
Part 3 of 7 | Inspired by Good to Great by Jim Collins | Published by Open to Work Now
You Don’t Have to Know the Destination — Just Who’s Riding With You
In Good to Great, Jim Collins discovered that great companies didn’t start with a perfect strategy. They started with the right people.
He called it “First Who, Then What.”
Before deciding where to go, they made sure they had the right people on the bus — and the wrong ones off.
It’s a powerful idea — and one that applies just as much to your career as it does to business.
Because when you’re surrounded by the right people, clarity follows.
You don’t have to have the perfect plan — you just need the right circle to help you find it.
Why “Who” Comes Before “What” in Your Career
When you’re in transition, it’s tempting to focus only on what comes next:
What job title do I want?
What company will hire me?
What direction should I take?
But who you choose to bring along on your journey matters even more.
The people in your corner — mentors, colleagues, friends, even past managers — shape how you see yourself, how you grow, and how you recover from setbacks.
They’re the ones who remind you of your value when you forget it.
They’re the ones who help you see opportunities you might have missed.
Before you decide your next “what,” take a moment to look at your “who.”
Job Seekers: The Power of Your Career Bus
When you’re job searching, it’s easy to feel alone. But even solo journeys need a bus full of supporters — people who bring energy, perspective, and encouragement.
Ask yourself:
Who challenges me to think bigger?
Who celebrates my wins — and calls me out when I start to doubt myself?
Who’s already doing the kind of work I want to do — and can I learn from them?
You don’t need dozens of people. You need your right few.
Even one or two trusted voices can make all the difference in staying motivated, grounded, and confident.
If you don’t have that network yet, start small: reconnect with an old colleague, join a professional group, or reach out on LinkedIn with curiosity, not agenda.
Momentum grows through connection.
Job Advancers: Curate the Room You’re In
If you’re already working but feeling stuck or ready to grow, “First Who, Then What” means auditing your environment.
Who’s on your metaphorical bus?
Are you surrounded by people who inspire excellence — or people who settle for average?
Are you working in a culture that fuels your growth — or one that drains it?
Sometimes career advancement isn’t about changing companies. It’s about changing your circle — building new relationships that pull you upward.
Seek mentors who challenge your thinking, not just validate your choices.
The best growth happens in rooms where you’re both supported and stretched.
The Courage to Switch Seats
Sometimes the hardest part of growth is realizing someone on your bus doesn’t belong there anymore — or that you’ve been sitting in the wrong seat yourself.
That doesn’t make them bad people or you a failure. It just means the journey has changed.
It’s okay to outgrow environments that no longer align with your values or vision.
It’s okay to seek people who bring out your best.
That’s not disloyalty — it’s leadership.
If You’re Rebuilding Confidence
When you’re between jobs or navigating change, it’s easy to isolate yourself. But isolation slows your momentum.
Reach out — even when it feels uncomfortable.
Every meaningful connection you build adds fuel to your flywheel.
Every honest conversation brings you one step closer to clarity.
You can’t always see the full map yet, but the right people will help you find your way forward.
Reflection Prompt
👉 Who’s on your bus right now?
Make a list of three people who energize you — and one relationship that may be draining your focus.
What would change if you spent more time with the first group?
Takeaway
Great companies become great by starting with the right people.
Great careers are no different.
Your success isn’t defined by your next title — it’s shaped by the people you learn from, grow with, and surround yourself with along the way.
You don’t have to know exactly where you’re headed yet.
Just make sure your bus is full of people who believe in where you’re going.
Next Up (Part 4): Confront the Brutal Facts — Radical Honesty in Your Career Journey
