In this solo episode, host Mike Simmons kicks off 2025 with a focus on leadership, personal growth, and impactful goals. Drawing from experiences in business, family, and life, Mike shares insights into building better leaders, fostering collaboration, and addressing the persistent leadership gap.

Key Quotes from Mike Simmons:

1. "Leadership starts with self. Build self-worth, self-awareness, and self-confidence, and then earn the right to lead others."
2. "Stop wasting your team’s time with ineffective meetings—engage them in solving real problems with clear next steps."
3. "Think different so that you can do different, and ultimately, be different."

Mike Simmons reflects on the successes and lessons of 2024 while setting an ambitious agenda for 2025. With two key goals—expanding the Leader Lab and hosting 200 guided whiteboard sessions—Mike emphasizes the importance of leadership development and effective collaboration. He also shares personal aspirations and strategies for achieving clarity and impact.

Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Leadership Starts with Self

• Build a foundation of self-worth, self-awareness, and self-confidence.
• Assess and align personal values to lead authentically.
• Leadership isn’t a title—it’s a practice you earn and refine.

2️⃣ Effective Collaboration in Meetings

• Differentiate between communication, decision-making, and collaboration meetings.
• Use structured tools to focus meetings on problem-solving or alignment.
• Clear next steps and accountability prevent wasted time and effort.

3️⃣ The Leader Lab’s Mission

• A community for leaders who want to think and act differently.
• Focus on building leaders at every level—not just executives.
• Goal: 100 members by June 2025 to inspire and sustain a global leadership movement.

4️⃣ Guided Whiteboard Sessions for Results

• Facilitate 90-minute virtual sessions for teams to solve problems or design strategies.
• Engage team expertise to drive results with clarity.
• Develop team-building and sales skills using catalyst tools.

5️⃣ Goals Beyond Business

• Personal Goal: Achieve under 200 lbs. and 14% body fat by April.
• Family Focus: Create lasting impact and strengthen bonds through intentional action.
• Apply tools and systems to personal life for holistic growth.

Action Steps for Listeners:

• Join the Leader Lab: Build your leadership capabilities.
• Book a Guided Whiteboard Session: Transform how your team collaborates.
• Reflect on how you can think differently about your leadership and process.

📧 Questions or Suggestions? Email podcast@findmycatalyst.com 🌐 Learn More: FindMyCatalyst.com