After six novels featuring Greg Newsome, readers often ask me where the character ends and Glen Hellman begins. The truth is, while I’ve never been kidnapped by Russian oligarchs or faced down Mexican cartels, my decades as an executive coach and startup veteran permeate every page of “Let It Die” in ways that reveal my real-world coaching philosophy and leadership style.
The “First Things First” Philosophy
Throughout the novel, Greg repeatedly emphasizes his mantra: “first things first, second things never.” When Sling wants to plan multiple contingencies for their Belgrade operation, Greg cuts him off: “Let’s take care of first things first? Step one: get Vuković and take him for a ride… Let’s tackle one ‘if’ at a time.”
This isn’t just dramatic tension—it’s my core coaching methodology. In my work with CEOs and executive teams, I’ve seen countless leaders paralyzed by trying to solve problems three steps ahead while ignoring the immediate challenge in front of them. Whether it’s a startup founder obsessing over Series B funding when they haven’t validated product-market fit, or an executive team planning organizational restructures while hemorrhaging key talent, the pattern is the same.
Greg’s approach mirrors how I coach: identify the most critical next step, execute it with precision, then reassess. It’s about maintaining focus in chaos, a skill essential both in fictional firefights and real-world boardrooms.
Coaching Through Crisis
Some of my most revealing writing appears in Greg’s interactions with other characters during high-stress moments. When Frank Santini spirals into revenge-seeking rage after his family’s murder, Greg doesn’t lecture him about moral choices. Instead, he guides Frank toward self-discovery through strategic questioning and creating space for reflection.
This reflects my coaching style with executives facing their own crises—whether it’s a failed product launch, losing a major client, or navigating a leadership transition. I don’t provide answers; I help leaders find their own clarity. Just as Greg helps Frank ultimately choose his own path back to the tech world, I help executives discover solutions that align with their values and long-term vision.
The Power of Uncomfortable Questions
In one pivotal scene, Izzy challenges Greg’s approach to violence and revenge, asking tough questions about where it all leads. Greg’s discomfort with her probing mirrors what happens in effective coaching relationships. The best coaches—like the best fictional characters—ask the questions that make leaders squirm because those are the questions that create breakthrough thinking.
My coaching sessions often involve what I call “productive discomfort.” When a CEO tells me they need better employees, I might ask, “What if the problem isn’t your people but your leadership?” When an executive complains about lack of resources, I probe: “What would you do differently if you had unlimited resources, and why aren’t you doing some version of that now?”
Building Trust Through Authenticity
Greg’s relationships in “Let It Die”—with Benny, Izzy, Joe, and even adversaries—are built on radical honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable. He doesn’t sugar-coat harsh realities or avoid difficult conversations. When Benny needs to hear that his grief is affecting his leadership, Greg delivers that message with compassion but without compromise.
This authenticity is fundamental to my coaching approach. Trust—the foundation of any coaching relationship—requires leaders to believe their coach will tell them the truth, especially when it’s hard to hear. My clients don’t pay me to be their cheerleader; they invest in my willingness to challenge their assumptions and hold them accountable to their own stated goals.
Navigating Moral Complexity
Perhaps the most revealing aspect of my writing is how I handle moral ambiguity. Greg isn’t a traditional hero—he makes compromises, allies with questionable characters, and operates in ethical gray zones. Yet he maintains a core moral compass that guides his decisions.
This complexity reflects the reality of executive leadership. CEOs regularly face decisions where there are no perfect choices—laying off employees to save the company, choosing between competing stakeholder interests, or deciding whether to enter morally ambiguous markets. My coaching helps leaders navigate these complexities by clarifying their values and understanding the long-term consequences of their choices.
The Coach as Character
Interestingly, while Greg is the protagonist, he often functions as a coach to other characters. He helps Frank choose his path, supports Benny through grief, and challenges Izzy to examine her own boundaries. This meta-level of coaching within the narrative reflects my belief that leadership itself is a form of coaching—helping others discover their potential and make better decisions.
Writing Style Mirrors Coaching Style
My writing style—direct, fast-paced, focused on dialogue and character interaction rather than lengthy exposition—mirrors my coaching approach. I believe in efficiency, clarity, and cutting through noise to reach essential truths. Just as I don’t waste time in coaching sessions on peripheral issues, I don’t waste readers’ time with unnecessary detail.
The humor that peppers the narrative, often through characters like Louie “The Bat” with his creative malapropisms, reflects my belief that even serious work benefits from moments of levity. Some of my most effective coaching moments happen when clients can laugh at their own patterns or see the absurdity in their situation.
Beyond Fiction
While “Let It Die” is firmly in the thriller genre, readers who know my work as an executive coach will recognize the DNA of my real-world philosophy throughout. The emphasis on decisive action, honest communication, moral clarity in complex situations, and the belief that the best solutions come from within—these aren’t just elements of good storytelling; they’re the foundations of effective leadership coaching.
Perhaps most importantly, both my fiction and my coaching share a fundamental optimism: that people can change, grow, and overcome seemingly impossible challenges when they have clarity about their values and the courage to act on them.
As Greg might say, “first things first”—whether you’re navigating corporate boardrooms or fictional battlefields, the principles of effective leadership remain remarkably consistent.
Want to find out what your first thing should be? Try a complimentary coaching call. Press that little green thing below.
Glen Hellman teaches Ph.D. researchers at the University of Maryland as part of an NSF program and coaches CEOs and executive teams. “Let It Die” is his sixth novel featuring executive coach turned reluctant action hero Greg Newsome. Learn more about his coaching philosophy at cxoelevate.com and his fiction at authorglenhellman.com.
