The Mike Method

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with returning guest Lynn Sumida for a deeply personal conversation about perfectionism, nervous system safety, and the hidden fear many high performers carry beneath constant striving.Lynn is the founder of Mirrors Point and Expanding You, co-author of The Extraordinary Within, and is currently writing her upcoming book Almost Good Enough, which explores the pressure so many people feel to perform, perfect, and prove themselves.Together, Mike and Lynn explore why peace can feel uncomfortable for the nervous system, how early experiences shape our relationship with safety, and why many leaders stay stuck in cycles of achievement while struggling to actually enjoy the journey.The conversation also moves into masculinity, emotional sensitivity, vulnerability, and the difference between the polished facade people present to the world and the very human reality underneath it.Topics include:nervous system protection and hypervigilanceperfectionism and productivitywhy white space can feel threateningemotional safety and childhood patterningvulnerability and leadershipthe inner critic and self-protectionpeace, achievement, and identityhow early experiences shape adult behaviorLynn also shares details about her upcoming Almost Good Enough workshop experience happening in Nanaimo.Episode Resources: Connect with Lynn: Linkedin / Website

Agreement is not the goal. Alignment is.In this episode, Mike sits down with Céline Williams, a business strategist, executive coach, and leadership development expert who has spent more than 15 years helping fast-growth companies and Fortune 500 organizations build stronger cultures, improve communication, and lead with greater clarity.This conversation starts where most leadership advice does not, with self-awareness. Céline shares why understanding your own reactions, patterns, and internal drivers is the foundation for everything else, including empathy, communication, and decision making.From there, they explore the difference between listening for agreement and listening for understanding, and why that shift can change how we navigate conflict, relationships, and team dynamics.They also get into:Why empathy starts with curiosity about yourselfA simple two-question framework to approach difficult conversationsThe relationship between people and systems, and why one cannot be prioritized at the expense of the otherThe false choice between kindness and accountabilityWhy leaders need to acknowledge power dynamics to build real psychological safetyThis is a grounded, practical conversation with ideas that feel clear once they are named, but are easy to miss when you are immersed in the day to day.Episode Resources:Connect with Celine on LinkedInreVisionary

Setting and defending healthy boundaries saved Dana Skaggs’ life, and in this conversation, she breaks down exactly why.Mike Desjardins sits down with Dana Skaggs, therapist and trauma specialist known for her work on boundaries, to explore how anxiety, people pleasing, resentment, and emotional exhaustion are often rooted in one core issue: weak or unclear boundaries.Drawing from both her professional work and her own upbringing in a home shaped by unpredictability and emotional volatility, Dana shares how discovering boundaries changed not just her career, but her entire life.Together, they unpack what boundaries actually are, why they feel so difficult to set, and what really happens when you start to change the dynamic in your relationships.Dana introduces practical frameworks like the “yard” analogy, where your thoughts, feelings, and actions are yours to own, and explains why the pushback you receive after setting a boundary is not a sign you are doing it wrong, but often a sign you are doing it right.They also explore people pleasing, the fear of losing relationships, and the reality that if someone cannot accept your “no,” the relationship may not be what you think it is.This conversation offers a grounded, honest look at what it takes to move toward relationships built on strength, safety, and personal responsibility.Episode ResourcesBoundaries by Henry Cloud & John TownsendLearn more about Dana Skaggs: WebsiteConnect with Dana: LinkedIn

JIn a world where AI can automate outreach and communication, authentic human connection has never been more valuable. In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Janice Porter, entrepreneur, trainer, and relationship marketing expert, to explore why trust and meaningful relationships remain the ultimate competitive advantage.Janice, a former teacher and corporate trainer, now helps business owners grow their companies through relationship-driven networking. Specializing in LinkedIn consulting and training, she is the creator of the REAL framework—Refresh, Engage, Appreciate, and Leverage—a practical approach to nurturing connections, staying top of mind, and generating referrals through genuine engagement rather than transactional networking.Together, Mike and Janice discuss the erosion of trust in a digital-first world and share simple, actionable ways to build deeper relationships. From reconnecting with existing contacts to thoughtful gestures like handwritten cards, video messages, and intentional introductions, this conversation offers practical strategies to strengthen trust and create lasting opportunities.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why trust is the true competitive advantage in today’s business landscapeHow the REAL framework supports meaningful relationship buildingThe importance of reconnecting with existing contactsSimple gestures that create lasting impressionsWhy referrals are earned through consistent connection, not requestedEpisode Resources:Janice Porter: Website / Podcast / LinkedInGenerating Business Referrals by Stacey Brown RandallViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

If you have ever felt caught between who you are and who the world expects you to be, this conversation will land.In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Leslie Brown to explore what it takes to move from autopilot into alignment. Leslie is an embodiment coach, facilitator, and Director of Organizational Development who helps individuals and leaders reconnect with their inner wisdom and understand how their patterns shape the way they live, lead, and relate.Her work sits at the intersection of nervous system awareness, embodiment, and leadership, supporting people to stay present, grounded, and clear in moments that matter.Together, Mike and Leslie unpack how people pleasing patterns form, why we lose connection to ourselves, and where real change actually begins.This conversation offers a practical starting point for anyone ready to slow down, build self awareness, and choose growth over protection.Episode Resources:Leslie Brown: Website / Services#884 - Nick Pollard - How To Stop Being Such A People PleaserModern WisdomViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

This special episode brings together key moments from past conversations exploring one of the most important and often overlooked leadership skills: communication.Not just how we speak, but how we listen. How we respond when we are triggered. How we repair conflict. And how we build relationships rooted in clarity, curiosity, and trust.Across these conversations, we move beyond surface level advice and into the mechanics of real connection. From managing emotional reactions and staying present in a distracted world, to learning how charisma, attention, and honest dialogue shape the way we relate to each other.Together, these perspectives offer a practical guide for communicating in a way that strengthens relationships at work, at home, and everywhere in between.Featured conversations includeMike Desjardins on the ABC method for managing triggers and choosing intentional responses in the momentAhna Boley on designing conversations for attention and presence in a world full of distractionMilam Miller on redefining charisma as the ability to make others feel seen, heard, and rememberedAdrienne Giffen on why meaningful conversation matters more than ever and how it reconnects usJayson Gaddis on the conflict repair cycle and the communication skills that build stronger relationships over timeMichael Bungay Stanier on understanding what brings out our best and how to intentionally shape the relationships that matter mostIn this episode, we exploreWhy emotional awareness is the foundation of effective communicationHow attention and presence shape the quality of conversationsThe difference between reacting and responding in moments of tensionPractical tools for navigating conflict and repairing relationshipsHow curiosity and listening create psychological safetyWhy intentional conversations lead to stronger, more resilient relationshipsEpisode Resources:Ahna Boley EpisodeMilam Miller EpisodeJayson Gaddis EpisodeMichael Bungay StanierViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign UpOura Ring

This special episode brings together some of the most meaningful moments from past conversations on AI, leadership, and the future of work, woven into one cohesive guide for building real literacy without losing the human side of how we think, decide, and create.Drawing from episodes with Kian Gohar, Dr. Hilary Currie, Carly Moir, Alex Brueckmann, and Nicholas Ning, we explore what it really means to move beyond the hype and work with AI as a thinking partner. Instead of approaching it as just another tool, this conversation invites leaders to engage with it as something that can expand perspective, challenge assumptions, and support better decisions.Along the way, we unpack how leadership is evolving alongside technology, why human capabilities like creativity and emotional intelligence matter more than ever, and how intentional learning and experimentation help teams move from hesitation to confidence.In this episode, we exploreWhat real AI literacy looks like inside organizationsWhy treating AI as a thinking partner changes decision makingThe growing importance of creativity, presence, and emotional intelligenceHow leaders can design learning experiences that move teams from uncertainty to capabilityThe role of experimentation in responsible and effective adoptionHow multimodal AI is reshaping communication, collaboration, and learningReflection questionsWhere am I approaching AI as a tool instead of a thinking partnerWhat human capabilities will matter most in my leadership as technology evolvesHow can I create space for experimentation without pressure for immediate masteryWhat would building real confidence with AI look like for me or my teamFeatured conversations includeKian Gohar on shifting from using AI as a search engine to engaging it as a collaborator that expands thinkingDr. Hilary Curry on the human skills that become more valuable as technology reshapes workCarly Moir on how people build confidence with new tools and what makes learning stickAlex Brueckmann on integrating AI into strategy with clarity, intention, and experimentationNicholas Ning on workforce transformation and building AI literacy at scale

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign UpOura RingWhat happens when the business you built starts running you?In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with entrepreneur, author, and Pinnacle Global Network CEO Allison Maslan for a candid conversation about the success trap many founders quietly experience. Allison shares the shocking wake up call that forced her to rethink everything after literally running herself over with her own car, and how that moment became the turning point that changed the way she approached leadership, scale, and life.With 40 years of entrepreneurial experience and 10 companies built, Allison has helped more than 150,000 founders and leadership teams scale their businesses without becoming trapped inside them. Together, Mike and Allison explore why growth alone does not create freedom, how founders become the bottleneck without realizing it, and what it actually takes to evolve from being the hero or octopus leader into a visionary CEO.They also unpack Allison’s five phases of scaling, seeker, pioneer, ringleader, co-creator, and visionary, and explain why delegation so often fails when leaders are not clear on outcomes, ownership, and metrics.In this episode, you will learn:• Why so many entrepreneurs feel trapped by the very success they worked to create• The difference between the hero, the octopus, and the visionary CEO• Allison’s five phases of scaling and how to identify where you are now• Why delegation breaks down when leaders are unclear on success metrics• How to build a founder independent company that creates more freedom and enterprise value• Why enjoying the journey matters just as much as reaching the goalEpisode Resources:Download Allison Maslan’s Operational Scalability ebookLearn more about Pinnacle Global NetworkGet Allison’s book Scale or FailListen to the Scale It Method PodcastViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedInSign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up