From Parks to Boardrooms: Leadership Lessons from Nature with Donald Forgione and Mike Simmons

Donald Forgione — Former Director of 175 Florida State Parks, with 40+ years in ecotourism, leadership, and public service. Now a business owner, speaker, and coach, Donald connects leadership lessons from nature to business. Mike Simmons — Founder of Find My Catalyst, leadership coach, and sales strategist, helping people identify and act on their catalyst for change.

Three Key Quotes

1. Donald Forgione: “Trust is the key to absolutely everything… If they’re not feeling what I’m saying, I might as well throw it out the window.”

2. Mike Simmons: “A revenue challenge is often a culture challenge in disguise. Culture starts with leadership. Leadership starts with self.”

3. Donald Forgione: “Superman ain’t coming. You have to be your own Superman, your own Wonder Woman — and figure it out.”

Mike and Donald explore the deep connections between nature and leadership, revealing how adaptability, trust, and asking the right questions can transform teams and culture. They share real-world lessons from state parks to sales, showing leaders how to align purpose, overcome obstacles, and create environments where people thrive.

5 Key Takeaways – Finding Your Catalyst in Leadership 1. Adaptability is Essential

• Nature changes daily, sometimes hourly — so do business environments.

• Leaders must adjust “sails” when conditions shift, not fight the wind.

• Like a river finding a new path, flexibility keeps momentum moving forward.

2. Trust is the Foundation

• Without trust, communication falls flat — people must feel you’re genuine.

• Consistent standards and fairness build credibility.

• Trust enables teams to follow direction, even in tough changes.

3. Ask Better Questions

• Leaders have an obligation to ask questions others won’t.

• Tone, timing, and context matter — the “tailgate” setting often works best.

• Asking opens doors to insight; telling can shut them.

4. Sales is Everyone’s Job

• Selling is solving problems, not pushing products.

• Every role in an organization impacts customer experience.

• Internal and external “customers” both require thoughtful service.

5. Break Down Silos

• Customers don’t care which department “owns” the problem.

• Internal collaboration is as important as external service.

• Remove political barriers so the mission comes first.

Find your Catalyst at https://findmycatalyst.com

Check out Tailgate Talks at https://tailgate-talks.com/speaker-experience/podcasts/ 

 

You Can Put the Work in to Practice, and we'd love to hear about it.

Listener Challenge: Your Catalyst Connection

This week, take 15 minutes to connect one lesson from nature to your work.

Step 1 – Observe: Go for a walk in a park, your neighborhood, or any outdoor space. Notice one thing that stands out — a tree’s growth pattern, the way water flows, how animals interact, or even the weather.

Step 2 – Reflect: Ask yourself:

• What obstacle is this natural element facing?

• How is it adapting or overcoming?

• How does this mirror challenges in my team or business?

Step 3 – Act: Identify one small change you can make in your leadership or work this week inspired by that observation.

Example: If you see water rerouting around rocks, consider how you can redirect your team’s energy around a roadblock rather than trying to push through it.

Share Your Story: Email Mike and Donald with your insight — you might inspire the next podcast conversation.