Who is your WHO?

As I mentioned before, people tend to focus on the HOW to get things done. I’ve found that if the “W’s” are the focus, the HOW is no longer the issue. Success happens when the W’s come together!

Last article, I focused on the WHY you want or need to accomplish something.

Today, I will continue with the WHO’s?

There are a few WHO’s you need to think about.  The first is WHO can help you.  When I wanted to lose weight, I didn’t feel like I could.  Let’s face it – I was 460 pounds and could barely walk from my bedroom to the kitchen!  I had tried to lose weight a million times! I joined a gym, went on several different diets, and began walking. I saw limited success, but for some reason, I couldn’t follow through; I kept quitting.  Perhaps that had to do with my WHY, but it had to do with my WHO also!

One evening, I walked into the living room and saw something on the TV.  Severely obese people were competing in a challenge.  I asked my wife Darci, “What is this?”  She answered, “The Biggest Loser.”  Then I saw them flash back to the last season as they showed the before & after of last season’s winner.  He looked GREAT!  He lost hundreds of pounds!  This gave me hope, because I had hundreds of pounds to lose.

I thought, “If I could get on that show, I could lose the weight!  I’d have trainers, teammates, and I couldn’t run away any more!”  My first WHO’s were The Biggest Loser show (program), Trainers Bob Harper and Jillian Michaels (teachers), and the contestants (competition) who would challenge me to play hard.  So I tried out, and after 3 seasons I actually made the show!

It was a singles season, which suited me just fine.  But in the first week, we got paired up.  Liz Young from Tennessee picked me as her partner. At first, I didn’t like this!  The first 8 weeks it seemed she always wanted to quit. I encouraged her to continue, and helped her believe she could do it.We both made it to the final 4. 

Then, we had to run a marathon together. It hurt; BAD! My hip was thrown out and my knees felt like they’d been hit with a sledge hammer! I wanted to quit. But Liz returned the favor and said, “No Danny! We’re not gonna quit! We can do this!” I needed a partner, even if I didn’t want one.  My second WHO was my partner Liz.

Then I returned home to finish my journey. My wife had cleaned out the kitchen and began eating healthy.  She had already lost 49 pounds! WOW! As a family, we ate the same healthy things (the basis for Simply Lose It, my meal plan) and with their support and the financial and emotional support of my church, friends, and co-workers, I, or should say we, ended up winning The Biggest Loser. My third WHO’s were my wife, kids, church and friends.

No one can go it alone. We all need support. Even Jesus had 12 disciples to help him accomplish what he set out to do. Why would we think we could accomplish our dreams without others! Others to support and mentor and push you when you need it! We were put on this earth to love and encourage each other.

So I have a question: WHO can you help, and WHO can help you? WHO has the tools you need to make your dreams come true? Who is your Liz? Gather a team; Play with a team! A win-win is always better than a win-lose.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV) ⁹ Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: ¹⁰ If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. ¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? ¹² Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Step two:  WHO ARE YOUR WHO’s?