A Life Shaped by Experience, Hard Work, and Caring for Others

Mike Leven describes beginning work as a teenager and learning early that “my work is taking care of customers.” He explains that experience shaped his judgment, noting that “wisdom is not intelligence. Wisdom is experience.” He discusses the importance of followership, the ability to “manage down,” and how learning to “manage up” changed his understanding of leadership. He emphasizes that leaders must care about people and says that “the human condition doesn’t change.” He talks about how success requires reputation, honesty, and doing the right thing, sharing that “the one thing you can never afford to lose is your reputation.” He recalls lessons learned from challenging situations and how he approached problems through communication, accountability, and treating people with respect. He describes navigating failures, recognizing mistakes, and learning from them. He reflects on his belief that leadership depends on judgment, experience, and caring for people. He speaks about family, relationships, and supporting others, and he shares how gratitude plays a central role in his life and career.

Notable Quotes/Highlights

• “My work is taking care of customers.”
• “Wisdom is not intelligence. Wisdom is experience.”
• “The human condition doesn’t change.”
• “You can’t do it alone.”
• “The one thing you can never afford to lose is your reputation.”

Closing Reflection

He explains that gratitude guides his perspective on work, leadership, and relationships. He believes caring for others is essential. He stresses that experience builds judgment and shapes decisions. He shares that success depends on honesty and reputation. He concludes that “if you can’t say thank you… everything else is fungible.”