"If the business and I don't do something dramatically different, then we're pretty much screwed."

"If the business and I don't do something dramatically different, then we're pretty much screwed."

From Max's Island by Meet Max Power

April 28, 2026

About this episode

Mike House discusses his transition from survival instructor to leadership consultant during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Mike House, a former survival instructor turned leadership consultant, shares his dramatic experience during the onset of the COVID-19 lockdowns, where an 18-month pipeline of “live” consulting work vanished in just three days. Instead of giving in to panic, Mike leaned heavily on his background in survival training to adapt and stack the deck in his favor. Recognizing that he couldn't control the immediate business environment, Mike pivoted to offering pro-bono support conversations for leaders struggling under the immense duress of the pandemic. This selfless act not only provided immediate value to his community but eventually blossomed into deep, long-term commercial relationships years later.

People in this episode

Host: Max Power

Guest: Mike House

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • survival training
  • business adaptation
  • community support
  • COVID-19 impact

Keywords

  • leadership consultant
  • survival instructor
  • COVID-19
  • business pivot
  • pro-bono support

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