Ep. 61: Michael X. Burns on Grateful Dead and Rasta Inspired Leadership
In this episode, Darren Reinke sits down with Michael Burns, a serial entrepreneur with a diverse background ranging from tech recruiting to cannabis farming. Michael shares his journey to becoming a multifaceted business leader, emphasizing the pivotal role sales has had on his career, the power of showmanship, and how the Grateful Dead's philosophy influences his approach to business.
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SHOW NOTES
How Michael started and continued his diverse entrepreneurial journey [00:37]
An overview of Michael's early ventures, from lemonade stands to T-shirt sales [01:05]
Lessons learned in tech recruiting and the importance of management [02:17]
How Michael broke into cybersecurity and sales enablement for SaaS companies [09:36]
The significance of sales skills in entrepreneurship and leadership [13:52]
Building operations and the 'tribe' mentality in startups [23:41]
How Michael created a strong personal brand [23:57]
Why Michael believes operations is the spinal cord of a company [27:28]
The concept of 'Candelabra Way' and the essence of showmanship [32:16]
Developing greater showmanship and becoming more engaging [35:34]
The 'Shield, Diamond, Love' framework explained [43:58]
Michael’s Next Steps [49:17]
Links
Michael X. Burns on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxbcandelabra/
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For additional leadership tips, be sure to check out Darren's book - The Savage Leader: 13 Principles to Become a Better Leader from the Inside Out.