Guest: Dr. Dave Jones
WHY.os: Make Sense – Better Way – Mastery

Dr. Dave Jones didn’t follow a straight path to success. He went from chasing a professional hockey career overseas to standing in a locker room at 26, realizing it was over. No plan. No direction. No idea what came next.

That moment could have broken him. Instead, it forced him to do what he naturally does best: make sense of the chaos. His WHY is Make Sense, which means he’s driven to take complex, overwhelming situations and turn them into something clear and usable. This episode shows what happens when that ability is used on your own life.

You’ll learn:

How to move forward when your original plan falls apart
Why clarity, not motivation, is what actually gets you unstuck
How a WHY of Make Sense helps you turn confusion into direction

Want to learn your WHY? It is now 50% off for all Beyond Your WHY listeners! [Click here!]

Get in touch with Dave:

Watch the Full Episode Here!

00:00 – Introduction to WHY: Make Sense
03:50 – Growing up and chasing hockey
08:20 – Getting humbled in juniors
11:25 – The moment everything changed
13:30 – Feeling lost and starting over
15:20 – Building a business from nothing
17:10 – Why purpose isn’t handed to you
20:30 – Why most people feel stuck at work
23:00 – Looking forward vs looking back
31:30 – The R7 process explained

Listen to the Episode Here!

When Everything Falls Apart: How to Make Sense of Your Life and Start Again

Most people think success comes from having a plan. Dr. Dave Jones learned the opposite. His biggest turning point came when his plan completely fell apart.

In this episode of Beyond Your WHY, Dr. Dave shares what it feels like to lose direction and how he rebuilt from nothing. His story is a clear example of the WHY of Make Sense. That means he is driven to take complex situations and turn them into something clear and actionable. WHY.os adds another layer by showing how someone does that and what they naturally bring to others, making it practical in real life.

When the Plan Stops Working

Dave’s early life was focused on hockey. He built his identity around it and pushed everything else aside. School didn’t matter. The goal was simple: go pro.

But reality hit fast. After getting humbled in juniors and bouncing around teams, he realized something wasn’t adding up. By the time he was playing in Germany, the gap between where he was and where he thought he should be became impossible to ignore.

He described the moment clearly:
“I can see myself in the locker room… I had the epiphany. Like, what are you doing, dude? It’s time to move on.”

That moment forced a decision most people avoid. Let go of the identity you built.

The Space Between Who You Were and Who You’ll Become

What came next wasn’t clarity. It was confusion.

Dave found himself in a new country, without hockey, without direction, and without a strong sense of who he was. He didn’t just feel lost. He questioned whether he even liked himself.

“I had the view of the world that if I can put enough people down, I will get ahead… I didn’t like myself.”

This is where his WHY of Make Sense shows up in a different way. Instead of solving external problems, he had to solve himself.

People with this WHY often step into chaos and create clarity for others. But when life turns inward, they have to apply that same skill to their own identity.

Turning Chaos Into a Direction

Dave didn’t suddenly find a perfect answer. He started with a question.

“What do I do now?”

That question led him to start a marketing agency. Not because it was a perfect plan, but because it was the next step that made sense at the time.

The early years were rough. He expected quick success, but reality looked different.

“I think we invoiced that year $15,000… it was a rough year. It was bad.”

But this is where his WHY.os comes into play.

His WHY (Make Sense): turn confusion into clarity
His HOW (Better Way): look for improved approaches
His WHAT (Mastery): go deep and build expertise

That combination meant he didn’t quit. He kept refining, learning, and improving until things started working.

Why Most People Stay Stuck

One of the most honest parts of the episode is Dave’s perspective on work and fulfillment.

He shared a stat that hit hard:
“88% of the US economy is disengaged at work.”

His takeaway is simple. Most people build their life around skills instead of purpose.

“You have to be fulfilled to your passion and your purpose and your why.”

This ties directly back to the WHY of Make Sense. Without clarity, people default to what they’re told to do. With clarity, they can choose a direction that actually fits them.

Moving Forward Instead of Looking Back

Dave also challenges a common idea in personal growth. Yes, your past matters. But staying stuck in it doesn’t help.

“At some point… you have to look forward.”

That perspective reflects how someone with Make Sense operates. They don’t ignore problems. They solve them and move forward.

Clarity isn’t about understanding everything perfectly. It’s about understanding enough to take the next step.

Final Thoughts

Dr. Dave’s story isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about learning how to think when nothing is clear.

He didn’t avoid confusion. He worked through it.

And that’s the real takeaway. You don’t need a perfect plan. You need the ability to make sense of what’s in front of you.

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what’s next, this episode will give you a new way to look at it.

Listen to the full episode to hear how Dave turned confusion into clarity and built a life that actually fits him.

Meet the Guest

Dave Jones brings a rare combination of professional athlete experience, military service, and psychological expertise to his work as founder of one of the world’s largest Christian marketing agencies. After competing professionally in hockey across Europe, Dave founded M is Good in 2001, developing the innovative R7 process that helps leaders effectively communicate vision.

With a doctorate in Sport and Performance Psychology, he coaches elite athletes from the NHL, NFL, and other sports through his Mental Toughness Training system. As a four-year U.S. Air Force veteran, Dave now lives in Raleigh, NC with his family while running three successful companies that blend his Christian brand development expertise with performance coaching.

Guest: Stephanie Glanzer
WHY.os: Make Sense – Mastery – Trust

Stephanie Glanzer is the Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President at MGM Resorts International. She didn’t follow the usual path to the top—her early career began in ballet. Over time, her natural need to make sense of things helped her rise through the ranks in hospitality. Today, she leads global sales for one of the biggest names in entertainment and travel. But what really sets her apart is how she leads—with honesty, humility, and a clear sense of purpose.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

How Stephanie made big career shifts without losing her sense of direction
Why strong leadership isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about asking the right questions
The real reason your work title matters less than how you treat people

This episode is full of real talk on leadership, balance, and building a career that fits who you are. Go listen now—you’ll walk away with ideas you can actually use.

Get in touch with Stephanie!

LinkedIn
Facebook

Watch Full Episode Here!

1:00 – Meet Stephanie Glanzer
3:00 – Making Sense of a Complex Career Path
6:00 – From Ballet to Business
8:00 – Injury, Pivot, and Purpose
13:00 – The Power of Passion and Practicality
18:00 – Navigating Leadership Through Global Disruption
20:00 – Redefining the Vegas Experience
26:00 – Servant Leadership in Action
34:00 – Women in Executive Roles
42:00 – What Legacy Really Means

Listen to the Full Episode Here!

From Ballet Slippers to Boardrooms: How Stephanie Glanzer Leads with Curiosity and Clarity
Let’s be honest—most people don’t leap from pointe shoes to power suits. But Stephanie Glanzer did just that, and somehow made it look graceful. As the Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President of MGM Resorts International, she runs global sales strategy for one of the biggest hospitality brands in the world. Not bad for someone who once spent her afternoons performing The Nutcracker.

In this episode of Beyond Your WHY with Dr. Gary Sanchez, Stephanie shares how her innate drive to “make sense” has shaped every step of her career. And we’re not talking buzzword-y leadership advice here. This conversation peels back the layers of what real leadership looks like—especially when you’re navigating an industry that’s always changing. Stephanie’s story is packed with wisdom, humility, and honestly, more applicable advice than most leadership books out there.

Leading Through Listening

Stephanie’s core motivation—her WHY—is to Make Sense. She’s wired to simplify the complex, find patterns in chaos, and explain things in a way that actually clicks. That superpower has helped her build bridges across departments, teams, and even industries. “You’ll always do better work if you know how it fits into the bigger picture,” she says. That mindset helped her rise quickly in hospitality, even without a traditional background in the field.

She talks about the importance of listening—not just nodding along in meetings, but actually taking in what people say and using it to make decisions. “Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions.” It’s one of those quotes you want to slap on a sticky note and tape to your laptop. And she lives it—regularly sitting down with her team to hear what’s working, what’s not, and where the opportunities are.

Every Step Counts (Even the Weird Ones)

Before she was leading global sales, Stephanie was dancing professionally in high school and studying business in college. Not exactly a straight shot to the C-suite, but that’s part of what makes her story so compelling. “No experience is wasted,” she says. Every job she’s had—no matter how small or random—taught her something she uses today. She doesn’t pretend like she had it all figured out. In fact, she’s quick to admit she didn’t. But what she always did was pay attention.

She also opens up about pivoting after injury—a turning point that could’ve knocked her off course. Instead, it helped her double down on something that came naturally: solving problems. “I knew I wasn’t going to stick with ballet forever. I loved it, but I wanted something more sustainable,” she shares. That sense of practicality, paired with her drive to understand systems, is what led her to MGM—and eventually to the top.

Redefining What a Leader Looks Like

Stephanie doesn’t lead by barking orders from a corner office. She leads by showing up, asking questions, and doing the work alongside her team. “If my team sees me picking up trash, they know I care,” she says. That kind of humility is rare in executive spaces—but it’s also why her teams trust her. She calls it “leading from the middle,” and it’s something more leaders could take notes on.

She also talks openly about being a woman in leadership. The hospitality world—like many others—still has its share of outdated assumptions. Stephanie isn’t interested in checking boxes. She’s interested in breaking patterns and showing that you can lead with both strength and heart. “Your title might get you in the room. But it’s how you treat people that keeps you there.” That’s not just a good line—it’s how she operates.

Stephanie Glanzer’s story is proof that leadership doesn’t have to come with ego, a blueprint, or a buzzword. Sometimes it starts with curiosity. Sometimes it starts with asking better questions. And sometimes, it starts in ballet class. This episode is packed with honest insight into what makes a great leader—especially in industries that don’t sit still.

Want more? You can listen to the full episode of Beyond Your WHY with Dr. Gary Sanchez wherever you get your podcasts. But even if you don’t, this one’s worth remembering: Leadership is less about having the answers and more about making sense of what’s in front of you. Stephanie Glanzer shows us exactly how it’s done.

Meet Stephanie Glanzer!

Stephanie Glanzer, CMP, is Chief Sales Officer and Senior Vice President for MGM Resorts International. In this role, she is responsible for the company’s overall sales strategy and operations comprised of group, industry relations, global sales, transient and luxury sales strategy as well as property operations including event catering, convention services and MGM Resorts Events & Productions.

Throughout her 26-year tenure with MGM Resorts, Stephanie has held a variety of executive sales positions including Vice President of Sales at Mandalay Bay and ARIA Resort & Casino, where she was a member of the pre-opening team. Stephanie began her career with MGM Resorts International in 1998 at The Mirage in Leisure Sales and went on to move into a variety of management and leadership sales positions at The Mirage and Bellagio as she evolved within the organization.

Stephanie earned degrees in Organizational Business as well as Sales and Marketing from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. She sits on the Executive Boards of Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International and the U.S. Travel Association and is on the Board of AMC Institute. In her time away from work, she enjoys travel, live music, cooking and spending time with her family.