Ep. 122 - From Burnout to Breakthrough: A CEO’s Turning Point

The Doing Business in Bentonville Podcast

Change doesn’t wait for us to feel ready, and that’s exactly where real leadership begins. Andy sits down with Elise Mitchell, CEO-turned-coach and bestselling author of Leading Through the Turn, to unpack seven hard-earned principles for guiding teams through uncertainty without losing your grip on what matters. From a personal “intervention” during hypergrowth to an unforgettable motorcycle lesson about focus and risk, Elise shows how to balance realism with optimism and keep your eyes on the line you want to exit.
We dig into accepting reality as the gateway to progress, making decisive calls when data is incomplete, and communicating in a way that creates context, connects the dots, and builds confidence. Elise goes deep on fear, fear of failure, of losing control, of not having every answer, and explains why courage must come before confidence. You’ll learn how to remove roadblocks that slow change, including the uncomfortable moment when the leader is the roadblock, and how to “ride loose” during people challenges so you can read the room, address conflict early, and stay present under pressure.
Then we shift to staying close to your people with genchi genbutsu: go and see for yourself. Get out of the tower, visit the frontline, praise effort as well as results, and create a culture of try where experiments are safe and learning beats perfection. Instead of rescuing, ask catalytic questions that return ownership to your team. Elise closes with practical cognitive tools, reprioritizing, distancing, identity-based motivation, and reframing, to help you manage yourself, show up as your ideal self, and keep momentum when the turn gets tight.
If you’re navigating change, leading a messy people problem, or just need a fresh dose of practical courage, this conversation will meet you where you are and move you forward. Subscribe, share with a leader who needs it, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can keep bringing you conversations that sharpen your edge.

Kapitel

1. Welcome Back And Session One Recap (00:00:00)

2. The Core Playbook For Leading Change (00:02:23)

3. The Motorcycle Moment That Changed Everything (00:05:10)

4. Looking Through The Turn As A Leader (00:10:20)

5. Principle 4: Remove The Roadblocks (00:13:50)

6. Principle 5: Toughen Up For People Issues (00:18:15)

7. Read People, Confront Conflict, Stay Present (00:25:30)

8. Principle 6: Stay Close To Your People (00:32:05)

9. Growth Mindset And A Culture Of Try (00:38:40)

10. Don’t Rescue: Teach People To Think (00:45:10)

11. Principle 7: Always Give Your Best (00:49:35)

12. Cognitive Tools For Resilience (00:55:20)

13. Reframing Setbacks Into Strength (01:00:10)