Will Steel is a leadership coach, former Royal Air Force pilot, international best-selling author, and host of the Free to Lead podcast. In this episode of The Prestigious Initiative, Will challenges one of the most common myths in modern leadership: that people should simply “be authentic.” Drawing from decades of coaching executives, athletes, and entrepreneurs across 26 countries, Will explains why most leaders operate from unconscious patterns rooted in approval-seeking, fear, and outdated identity. He breaks down how these hidden dynamics quietly sabotage performance, decision-making, and fulfillment. Together, Chris and Will explore what authentic leadership actually means, how to dismantle ego-driven behavior, and how leaders can reclaim clarity, agency, and inner authority. This is a deep, practical conversation about leading without masks, excuses, or external validation.

Free To Lead: Unleash Your Hidden Leadership Genius.

Book Page: https://www.willsteel.com/freetolead.php

Coaching

www.willsteel.com

A goal is a direction, not a destination. The feeling of transformation we expect comes not from reaching a point on the map, but from who we become on the journey. By shifting from a "finish line" mindset to a "milestone" mindset, we can integrate our achievements and find meaning in the climb itself.

Billy Lahr returns to The Prestigious Initiative for a deeply honest conversation about living in the in-between. After 21 years as a teacher and dean, Billy stepped away from education—and four years later, he’s still experimenting, freelancing, promoting others, and wrestling with a question many high performers quietly carry: What if I don’t have a niche?

In this episode, Billy and Chris explore what it means to be a generalist in a specialist-driven world, the tension between quitting and gritting, and the emotional toll of constant experimentation and rejection. They talk about identity, generosity, self-promotion discomfort, and why wanting to see others win can be both a gift and a challenge. This is a real conversation about purpose, resilience, and staying in the arena when the path forward isn’t clear yet.

https://mindfulmidlifecrisis.systeme.io/jumpstartconvo