When celebrity Vicki Gunvalson from “Real Housewives of Orange County” looks to North Scottsdale life coach Michael Lindstrom for creating balance in her hectic life, and when thousands of viewers watch her positive transformation pan out onscreen, it’s a safe bet that Lindstrom knows the secret of thriving at work and at home
As a consultant to individuals and businesses, Lindstrom compares his job to coaching a player—the coach stays on the sidelines, not the field, and it is up to the player to follow the winning game plan
As someone who tells people to follow their dreams, he started out pursuing his own childhood wish of becoming a lawyer. He graduated from University of California, San Diego, and subsequently earned his juris doctorate from California Western School of Law in 1997. Not content with his long hours and low pay as a public defender at a juvenile court, he decided to seek out international author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins
He soon joined the Robbins Results Coaching company, where he was executive coach offering services to Fortune 500 companies across the country. Within a few years, he started his own consulting business, One Question. Today, Lindstrom often delivers keynote speeches at companies large and small. He is a frequent guest on TV shows and news channels such as Fox News, CNN and Headline News, and has recently published his first book along with co-author and speaker, Dan Lier, Dan & Mike’s Guide to Men
With more than 1,200 corporate speaking events to his credit and 12 years of serving clients, Lindstrom has developed an eye for recognizing behavioral patterns and trends
Sensing Change
“The American psyche has been wounded drastically in the last 24 months,” Lindstrom says of the economy, adding that people have gone from loving their jobs to just being glad they have one
Lindstrom points to a recent CNN poll that reveals 80 percent of professionals would leave their current jobs and do something different if they had a choice. Despite all the hype about foreclosures and bankruptcies, Lindstrom says he believes that people are gaining back their confidence in the economy—and whether or not recovery is indeed in the works, Lindstrom advocates focusing on oneself rather than discouraging news
“I’ve geared my coaching in the last 24 months to get clients back to things that make them feel good,” he says. Activities may involve a date night, joining the local gym or simply spending quality time with family
When speaking with people who have been laid off, Lindstrom urges them to regard the situation as an opportunity to find their passion. He’ll have them perform a “passion exercise,” and list five things they may wish to do in their lives, such as traveling, public speaking or contributing to society. “Then I ask the tough question,” says Lindstrom. “Why don’t you go do that?” He advises clients to build their future on their will. “You want to get back on Monster.com, and get a job and a paycheck?” he says. “That’s not passion! I say you should go out and create something great.”
Lindstrom describes his job as creating certainty and inspiration in people, the first step of which is renewing lost confidence. “I have people develop a life plan and write down their goals for health, family and profession,” says Lindstrom. “When they have a piece of paper in their hand, they get excited and start to build their confidence back.”
Honest Business
Lindstrom’s advice for Airpark businesses is forthright—confront brutal facts, develop “stretch goals” and execute action plans consistently. With many companies finding themselves in the rat race of production, it’s important to take a timeout and ask tough questions, according to Lindstrom, who emphasizes the need for constant reinvention
Lindstrom sets professional standards for himself, taking on no more than 30 individual clients at any given time for one-on-one coaching. “I’ll be on the phone with them, once a week for 45 minutes,” he says
With 12 years of experience, Lindstrom is able to earn the trust of companies, who often reveal all to him. He takes an extra step, making himself accessible outside business meetings too
Lindstrom says he wants to walk through the doors of companies, change mindsets and make a real impact on those organizations, not just get people fired up. “It’s not human capital; it’s human beings—mothers, fathers and parents,” he says. “You don’t close a deal, you open a relationship ... I’m coming in from a real humanistic perspective.”.
A Guide to Men
(for Ladies)
Last month, Mike Lindstrom celebrated the launch of his first book, Dan and Mike’s Guide to Men, which he co-wrote with speaker and author Dan Lier. The book began to evolve after a relationship-coaching seminar for men in Las Vegas called “International Players Only,” hosted by Lier and Lindstrom. Among cocktails, parties and five-star hotels, they coached men to communicate effectively with women. Eventually, women began to approach them, urging them to write tips for them as well. “That’s when the seeds for the book were planted,” says Lindstrom.
Lindstrom and Lier carried a pen and paper wherever they were—whether at the gym or a club—noting what men said about their relationships with women.
“Dan and Mike’s Guide to Men allows women to see men as they truly are,” Lindstrom says. “It’s an honest assessment of what men really want and think, told engagingly.”
