Enjoy monthly reads, reflections, and thoughts from our wisdom filled team.
As you reflect on the wisdom and counsel you have received over the years, what are the most memorable? Take a moment. Not just the ‘good’ ones, but the truly stop-you-in-your-tracks, I’ve-got-to-think-about-this-more-deeply’ kind. Hopefully, you’ve had at least a few of these. Let me tell you about one that still stands out for me, from a while back, but is now maybe more important than ever before.
Self-awareness is one of the most important things in being a leader worth following, particularly if seeking to be known as a true servant leader. Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, and even your emotional vulnerabilities is vital to successfully “walk your talk” as a leader. At this point in my life, career, and journey as a leader, I can reflect…
Mike completed a 20-year career as a Navy SEAL leading high performing teams in dynamic environments. He began his leadership journey just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, garnering experience from the battlefields of the Middle East to the jungles of the Pacific. Throughout his military career he was mentored by some of America’s finest leaders which helped develop his own unique style of servant leadership.
Mike spent the last six years of his Naval career in a COO-equivalent role, helping senior leaders navigate complex decisions, developing actionable processes and procedures to ensure performance in crisis conditions, developing strategic partnerships within DOD, and managing the day-to-day operations of diverse 400-person organizations. The techniques he developed can be utilized to help any individual or organization achieve their full potential.
Mike excels in coaching for peak performance. As the top graduate in his SEAL training class, he understands the mindset required to achieve physical and mental mastery. Additionally, he spent over four years at the SEAL training center applying his hard-won knowledge to the assessment, selection and training of the next generation of elite warriors. He is passionate about sharing these best practices with individuals and teams from every fabric of society.
Today, he is determined to improve the lives of others by utilizing the tools he developed through his naval career. After retiring in June of 2020, Mike embarked upon a one-year RV trip around the USA, learning from the stories of others, reconnecting with over 70 families, and gaining a deeper appreciation for the country he defended for two decades. Upon return from that trip, he and his wife started a small business that was inspired by their personal journey, providing care packages for cancer patients. Mike also spends time as a personal trainer, a board member for a non-profit, and a volunteer for a disaster relief organization.
Michael is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received his MBA at the University of San Diego.
What if I told you that with only a little practice, using tools you already possess, and at literally no out-of-pocket cost, you could:
· Deepen relationships, both professionally and personally
· Build trust
· Increase engagement and commitment in family and co-workers
· Learn and improve your personal knowledge base
As I look back over time, it seems like there are two types of organizations/teams:
1) Those that have developed a proactive approach to life in all areas. They understand the value of planning, assessing multiple outcomes, risk, place a high value on their health, surround themselves with a circle of influence (people smarter than they are), they are curious and life long learners (they want to be better than yesterday) and they see “opportunities” as opposed to “chaos/problems”.
The beautiful thing about “choice” is that you always have the power to decide how you are going to respond, react, and think. A few years ago, I had a colleague and friend named, Mike, tell me a story of when he went to visit his good friend, Roger and his family for the first time in New Jersey. Mike was a mentor…
If wisdom is “the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight,” does that mean you have to be older to be wiser?
Victory Strategies is a Veteran Owned Business.
