In this candid conversation, I sit down with Mitch Sowards, who sold his 30-year-old IT services firm and transitioned to executive coaching. Mitch shares the unvarnished reality of business succession - from navigating partner dynamics and valuation surprises to the difficult decision of finding the right buyer.

Beyond the transaction itself, this episode explores critical coaching lessons: the importance of involving your leadership team in major decisions, the paradox of transparency versus confidentiality during a sale, and how introversion can limit a leader's ability to gather unfiltered feedback from employees.

Mitch reflects on the cultural due diligence that should precede any merger, the inevitable disappointment that comes with business sales, and a surprising silver lining; how dispersed employees carried his legacy forward in unexpected ways.

Whether you're a business owner contemplating a sale, a leader navigating organizational change, or a coach supporting clients through major transitions, this episode offers practical wisdom on decision-making, communication, and the human cost of business transformation.

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Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod

Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com

Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com

Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC

Get in touch:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/

Email: info@scaleyou.org

In this episode, I sit down with Julienne Ryan, a communication expert who specializes in the messy space where organizational breakdowns happen. Rather than defaulting to legal interventions, Julienne shares a pivotal story about picking up the phone and simply listening; a decision that transformed a stalled conflict into resolution.

Discover how the narrative methodology framework becomes a powerful coaching tool for building trust and rewriting limiting stories within teams. Julienne reveals why active listening, presence, and real-time feedback matter far more than polished email communication. She explores how coaches can use humor, curiosity, and psychological readiness to create safe spaces where people share authentically.

The conversation explores why stopping to think - rather than rushing to solve - is essential coaching practice. Learn how to help clients reframe their narratives, identify their own limiting beliefs, and develop the courage to take interpersonal risks.

As modern communication tools increasingly filter human connection through technology and AI, Julienne and I discuss the irreplaceable value of imperfect, live conversation and why vulnerability in communication builds stronger organizational cultures.

Perfect for coaches, HR professionals, and leaders seeking to foster genuine dialogue.

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Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod

Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com

Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com

Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC

Get in touch:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/

Email: info@scaleyou.org

In this, the first episode of this new series, Steen and I explore how real-world leaders make critical decisions when the path isn't obvious. My guest, Steen Anker Nielsen, shares his remarkable journey building a top-performing real estate business from scratch in a new market, without a network, credibility, or local knowledge.

Drawing from his background as an undercover detective with the Danish police, Steen reveals the behavioral insights and coaching strategies that enabled him to establish trust rapidly in high-stakes situations. Discover how he overcame significant obstacles: competing against an agent with 60% market share, addressing client concerns about his authority and market knowledge, and converting skepticism into confidence.

This conversation unpacks the coaching mindset in action; how to read people, understand their emotional investment, and deliver unexpected experiences that build credibility from zero. Perfect for leaders navigating unfamiliar territory, building trust with skeptical stakeholders, and making bold decisions with imperfect information.

Learn the practical strategies that transformed a foreign agent into a market leader.

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Curious about coaching? Book a 15 minute introductory conversation with Michael: https://calendly.com/scaleyou/mgpod

Explore THE #1 source for professional and peer coaching - and become one yourself at PeerPlaza: https://peerplaza.com

Want to step away from the noise and rethink leadership? Join one of our Coaching and Walking Retreats: https://scaleyouretreats.com

Learn more about coaching, mentoring, and human–AI collaboration in Michael Hoffman’s book: The Power of Coaching and Mentoring: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C28S43G5?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_FJSXJ63FPQA26258WQJC

Get in touch:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoffmanexecutivecoach/

Email: info@scaleyou.org