Mission Driven Leadership with Mike Hayes

Sep 11, 2025

Mike Hayes, a former Navy SEAL and sales leader at Insight Partners, shares insights from his book, 'Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose.' He emphasizes aligning personal values with professional goals for fulfillment and success. The conversation delves into his journey transitioning from military to civilian life, the importance of resilience, and supporting Gold Star families through the 1162 Foundation. Hayes also highlights the critical role of self-reflection and adaptability in achieving personal growth and effective leadership.

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ANECDOTE

Paying Off Mortgages For Gold Star Families

Mike founded the 1162 Foundation to quietly pay off mortgages for Gold Star families.
He has already paid off 12 mortgages and funnels book profits and speaking fees to the cause.

INSIGHT

Prioritize Who Over What

Ask 'who do I want to be?' before asking 'what do I want to be?'.
Your 'who' (values and principles) transcends roles and guides meaningful choices across careers.

ANECDOTE

From Command To No Direct Reports

When Mike left the SEALs he experienced a loss of external status but found his 'who' remained constant.
He contrasted commanding a large team with having no direct reports at Bridgewater to show identity continuity.

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In this episode of the Revenue Builders Podcast, our hosts John Kaplan and John McMahon welcome back Mike Hayes, former Navy SEAL and current sales leader at Insight Partners. They discuss Mike’s new book, Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose, and how its lessons apply to sales success and leadership. Mike emphasizes the importance of rooting your work in alignment with personal values and goals, which leads to not only greater outcomes and accomplishments but a sense of fulfillment. Mike also shares insights from his 20-year government career and his transition to the private sector as a sales leader. This episode is an essential listen for anyone seeking to align their personal values with their professional journey.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Buy Mike’s book, Mission Driven: The Path to a Life of Purpose:
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mike-hayes/mission-driven/9780306836534/

Support the 1162 Foundation’s mission of helping Gold Star families:
https://givebutter.com/1162foundation

Listen to the first podcast with Mike Hayes on Mission, Meaning and Impact from Navy SEALs to Sales:
https://www.forcemanagement.com/mission-meaning-and-impact-with-mike-hayes

Connect with Mike Hayes:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hayes-733688/
Instagram: Mike Hayes (@thisis.mikehayes)
X: @thisismikehayes (@thisismikehayes) on X

Watch Force Management’s Panel Discussion on Growth, Valuation and Execution: https://bit.ly/4p6kyGS

Read the Guide on Winning Government Contracts: https://bit.ly/3UYAOvO

Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to receive new episodes straight to your inbox: https://hubs.li/Q02R10xN0

HERE ARE SOME KEY SECTIONS TO CHECK OUT

[00:03:05] The 1162 Foundation and Supporting Gold Star Families
[00:07:12] The "Who" vs. "What": A Core Lesson on Identity
[00:11:48] The Challenge of Transitioning from a High-Profile Role
[00:16:01] The Power of Honest Self-Reflection and Feedback
[00:25:50] The Dan Hurley Story: Purpose Over Paycheck
[00:33:14] The Three Circles: Aligning Energy, Skill, and Business Need
[00:36:20] Adaptability and Developing a "Meta Plan"
[00:43:03] Building Resilience and Finding Perspective in Hardship
[00:48:19] The Importance of Being Intentional with Your Emotions
[00:55:10] A Story of Competition and Humility in Iraq

HIGHLIGHT QUOTES

[00:08:45] "We would always say, who do you want to be? Because the who is that deeper you... let's not connect self-esteem or success based on a what, in a title and a position."
[00:41:01] "The acid test, I think for a life well lived is how many people who you've never met have you positively impacted."
[00:44:17] "When you're having a hard day, the best thing to do is go find somebody who's having a harder day and go help him or her."
[00:53:11] "No one is actually selling technology. What you're actually doing is selling trust."
[00:54:15] "When 15 men are wrong, look in the mirror."

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