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There are so many reasons to pay attention to Dolly Parton. Her Q Score, a measure of celebrity-brand appeal, is one of the highest in the world. She is adored. She wrote over 3000 songs and holds ten Guinness WorldRecords. Her Imagine Library Literacy Foundation gave 147 million books tochildren worldwide. She’s the subject of the excellent 9-episode podcast by Jad Abumrad and Shima Oliaee, Dolly Parton’s America and a delightful guest of Brene Brown on the Unlocking Us podcast.

Many What By When’s coaching and consulting ideas can be used in circumstances as different as corporate strategy to recreational planning.

One of our favorite brainstorming strategies is called the Wishing Well – we use it often, all the way from executive coaching to new business planning, and even with my 8-year-old niece to plan her visits. The Wishing Well emerged on a vacation to Iceland with a small group of friends. Relationship dynamics can be challenging while traveling and expectations are high. Time off is precious, and everyone wants to make the most of it.

The concept of the "Brain Baton"—the process of transferring knowledge from individual brains into a structured, accessible system—addresses these challenges and mobilizes a full team. This article explores how to transition from an individual-driven process to a scalable, documented system that empowers entire teams.

Even though Flyvbjerg and Gardner’s Iron Law of Projects (99% of large projectsare over time, over budget, under deliver) is proven, it's a nearly universal truth that the first part of a project is bathed in hope. The optimism bias propels teams to march forward with vigor, often neglecting the foundational work crucial for actual success. Ironically, this skip-the-basics approach is a stellar way to torpedo a project before it launches and I’m going to give you four more.

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Embarking on the Wayfinder Coaching Certification is an adventure of both personal and professional growth. As you step into this transformative journey, we understand the mix of excitement and uncertainty that arises. WxW’s Wayfinders Survival Guide is your personal map through the challenging yet rewarding terrain of coaching certification. By detailing what to expect, how to prepare, and how to engage with the course materials and community, this guide ensures a solid start.

Ever feel like projects turn into a game of "Who’s doing what?"—with everyone guessing and no clear answers? That’s where RACI comes in! It’s a simple, easy-to-use framework that helps teams assign roles so that work gets done without confusion or frustration. Whether you're organizing a big corporate project or just trying to get your household running smoothly, RACI ensures everyone knows where they fit in.

You’ve shown up to class, bought your Martha Beck books, printed out your notes, and even started coaching real people. Yet despite your best efforts at being as organized as possible, you might be overwhelmed by the amount and structure of information in the coaching hub and group forums.  You can’t help but ask yourself “what do I do?”

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If your aim is to get certified, real progress begins when you get tactical. Between managing coursework, coaching hours, recorded sessions, answering review questions, and mentoring, the certification process can feel overwhelming. Even the most motivated coach trainee can hit a wall—whether it’s due to a busy work season, illness (yours or a family member’s), or simply the unpredictable nature of life. That’s why having a clear, realistic timeline isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

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Learning to coach can feel like being a cooking newbie in a kitchen full of interesting ingredients and tools. Everything looks intriguing, but you have no idea how to use them to create a delicious dish. For Wayfinder trainees, this experience can feel confusing and sometimes even overwhelming especially when you’ve got a client looking to you for guidance and direction. You may be asking yourself:

“There are so many tools to use! How am I going to know which one?”

The Wayfinder toolkit is like a recipe. It provides simple, but powerful direction, to help clients navigate change with more clarity, ease and self-belief.

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If you're a certified Wayfinder Life Coach through the MBI program, you may be wondering whether it's worth pursuing the ICF's Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential. This blog breaks down what the ACC is, why it matters, and how to get it. From coaching hours to the final exam, we outline each step of the process and share practical tips to help you succeed. Plus, discover how What by When can support your credentialing journey with clarity and confidence.

Recently, I've had alot of people ask "What kind of people are you looking to hire?" As i've mulled over the question, I’ve found it helpful to think of our WxW Culture as an inanimate entity. A common refrain from my formative years was “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” so let’s talk about the seven types of “friends” we want to bring in to help shape our culture’s future.

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