Speaker - I help leaders create clarity and make fearless decisions | Demystifying Sales and Organization Enablement 📈 | Featured in Find My Catalyst, Autoklose, The Learning Guild | Speaker (NSA) | Golfer ⛳

Founder of Catalyst A.C.T.S and executive leader blending New York drive with Southern California adaptability. I help business leaders make decisive, purpose-driven decisions through strategic problem-solving and organizational development.

At Catalyst A.C.T.S, I've developed a methods based on clarity, culture, integrity, and caring. My approach to sales and leadership prioritizes problem-solving and client needs over aggressive tactics.

As an advisor and coach, I cultivate strong organizational cultures and develop effective leaders using proven processes, frameworks, and innovative thinking. My background spans success in tech companies, transition to advisory roles, and implementation of visual strategies (#WhiteboardWednesday).

Known for straightforward (sometimes colorful) communication, I connect deeply with clients to drive meaningful change. My goal-oriented approach, tempered with empathy, empowers business leaders and entrepreneurs to excel professionally and personally.

Outside work, I am a family man, avid golfer, and a NY Jets and Islanders fan.

Let's connect to elevate your business leadership and organizational effectiveness.

7200 and just getting started. Always.

Leadership
Revenue
Operations (Culture)
With a foundational layer of execution.

Let’s start with a couple of definitions…
Leadership - how we move forward.
Revenue - how we fund the ability to do what we do.
Culture - how we do what we do. a.k.a Operations
Execution - how we achieve results.

I aim to create clarity through simplifying. Deconstructing, isolating for specific variables, and identifying next steps, so that you and your team can take them.

Execution occurs through focused work. That happens with clarity.

It’s not sexy, but it works.

If you want something new keep rotating through the latest trend. If you want execution. You know a guy.

Let’s go - Find YOUR Catalyst.

Mike Simmons

I’m an enabler and coach - first and foremost. I help leaders and professionals like you breakthrough the challenge of second guessing the work you are doing. I do this through a combination of frameworks, process, tools, and thinking.

My approach begins with a beginners mind. The foundation starts with questions. Questions informed by experience, practice, and doing the work.

These are my guiding principles - 
✅ - Understand the customer better than they understand themself.
✅ - Deliver the solution in the context of what’s important to the customer.
✅ - Don’t limit yourself with preconceived notions.
✅ - Don’t let your problems become the customer’s problem.
✅ - Set expectations and execute flawlessly.

More than 2.5 decades of operations, consulting, customer success, sales, sales operations leadership experience. 20 of these years have been in the EdTech space where I helped numerous clients achieve success through the application of innovative technology to their learning, skills development and behavior change challenges. 

A lifelong learner, my approach is creative, analytical, and driven to achieve results. 

I’m also a husband, father, and aspiring golfer 🏌️‍♂️ .
 
HubSpot Partner - focused on Organization Enablement, Revenue Enablement, Customer Enablement, and building Revenue Engines.

Recognized for Leadership, Team Development, Enterprise Sales, Strategic Account Management, Partner Management, and Cross-Team Collaboration.

Creative and Critical Thinking, helping other think differently about problem solving, decision making & execution.

Very interested in the evolution of GTM (Go to Market), PLG (Product Led Growth), Organization Enablement, EdTech, Digital Transformation, and Management Operating Systems. (MIND, EOS, OKR, MBO, etc)

I simplify execution through internal and external customer communication.

At DevLearn & Sana leveling up trade show booths 🔥

SEASON VII - Merry and Bright - Starts Today.

Couple of things. I will get better. I will test some more stuff this year, including framing, lighting, and setup.

The challenge...
- Daily video creation (short form)
- Reduce the time from record to post
- Improve presence on camera.
- Connect the dots between lessons from movies that apply to business, life, and sales.

The theme this year - movies released between 2000 and the end of 2009.

If you want to go back and watch the original stuff DM me, I'll send the playlist links.

Season I - Favorite Christmas Movies
Season II - Pixar Movies
Season III - Favorite Movies
Season IV - Ted Lasso
Season V - The 80's
Season VI - The 90's
Season VII - The 00's

You can't reflect on what you are going to do. And you can't get to season VII if you don't launch season I.

Do the work. Reflect on the work. Iterate. 

Season VII of #merryandbright starts today.

My last scheduled speaking event is today.

It’s never a gig. It’s an opportunity to create impact.

It’s an opportunity to transfer energy.

It’s an opportunity to help people think different, do different, and ultimately be different.

Today, at 1:25 ET checkout this session at National Speakers Association Activate.

The whiteboard is the tool.
The ability to create leverage with it is the skill. 

Let’s GO!

——————

And yes, if you are looking to change the way communication happens across your internal and external customer base - we should talk.

We launched this newsletter in September.

It was the initial step in a rebrand - focused on intentional design for customer experience. YOUR experience.

The key metrics we are focused on.
- New Subscribers
- Social Shares
- Churn

The job to be done of the newsletter?
- Increase Awareness (the number of people who know we exist)
- Increase Impact (the number of people who put the work into practice)

The design is Hub & Spoke (IYKYK) - Leadership on the Left, Revenue on the Right, Execution is the base layer, Culture is the thread.

There are many paths you can take on the trail. Many places to stop. Places to Learn.Think.Act.™ (the 2nd trailhead)

That can all start with a spark, a catalyst for change - a simple quote. (the 1st trailhead)

When you do the work - you may be drawn to go deeper. (the 3rd trailhead)

And, when you do the work - you can find others who are on a similar journey. (the 4th trailhead)

Each aspect of the newsletter is designed with intention. Designed to help you get from where you are to where you want to go, in the context of Leadership, Culture (operations), Revenue, and Execution.

Yes - each post is tagged with digital and physical tags. Yes - you can get the stickers when you see me out IRL. And yes, the first 100 subscribers will get a sticker pack.

When you are ready to take a trip, to go on a journey - you can find your catalyst at findmycatalyst.com

This the thumbnail from the post that went live this earlier today.

Share this - and help someone find their catalyst.

Communication —> a key stepping stone on the path to execution.

Communication is a “soft” skill, that is “hard” to master, can be improved, and will accelerate speed to impact.

You can measure the effectiveness of communication training and coaching by tracking execution.

Want help?

You know a guy.

Ask questions at Thanksgiving. 

Save yourself and your family. 

PS - this works at work too.

#communication
#leadership

Where do you find inspiration?

This is the most copied putter in history.

Earlier this week I posted a picture of a Karsten Co. Anser.

The 3 putters in this picture were made after it.

Dalehead (the 85029 run of Ansers)
30th anniversary Scottsdale Anser
And 
Byron Morgan DH89

Scotty’s interpretation? The Newport.

Stand on the shoulders of giants.  Karsten Solheim the founder of KARSTEN GOLF (PING, INC.) is one of those giants.  

Don’t forget the trailblazers. Build forward in their memory. 

On this Thanksgiving weekend, I’m thankful to keep moving forward on the shoulders of giants.  

If you are looking for leadership. Start with a mirror.  

If you are looking for help. Start with me. 

Leadership is how we move forward.

#leadership

I want to help you and your team get better at communication. 

Communication is one of 5 fundamental leadership skills. And, it's the one that will make the biggest impact in the short term on performance.

SKO, RKO, GKO - you know a guy. I have a special set of skills, specific tools, and will help you and your team align on their mindset when it comes to communication.

Mindset = attitude, belief, clarity of definition.
Skillset = the skills you hone to accomplish an objective.
Toolset = the things you use to create leverage when applying those skills.

Communication is hard, it does not need to be complicated. Simple communication is more effective than complex. 

There are things that are said. There are things that are heard. There are things that are remembered. 

With the right skills, and the right tools, you can improve the likelihood of your success, and get on the path to execution.

Sound interesting? Let's talk.
Know someone this could help? Please share.

AI for the win. The prompt used here was pretty simple, and the results are revealing (you'll have to hit Brent up for the actual prompt, it was his - with some fill-in the blanks by me). 

If you want to see it revealed live - check out the replay of our live stream earlier today. *yes, we go live every morning at 0600 MT

The detail here is awesome. And, as you review it - you will smile. I guarantee.

You will see yourself, at different stages, and in different roles. (Guarantee that too) 

Here are a couple of questions I'd like this to inspire in your next team meeting or that slack channel that you will share this in.

- What jumps out at you first?
- What's missing?
- How could you simplify this?
- What will you now eliminate in your process?

Looking for a thought partner or guide to help facilitate that conversation?

You know a guy.

PS - I'm Mike Simmons - I'm that guy. I have a whiteboard. I have an awesome set of tools (aka questions), and I know how to use them.

Oh yea, it me up and I'll share the "buyer journey" version with you.

Day 2 - Batman Begins

The 2000s were a great decade for comic book fans that were waiting to see the characters they grew up with - brought to the big screen.

Here are 3 lessons you can take away from Batman Begins that apply to business, life, and sales.
- Embrace the suck. Adversity can be a catalyst for change.
- Only you will know. Stop looking for others to answer the tough questions.
- Apply technology to different use cases - this is where innovation happens.

Question - 
Is the Nolan trilogy the best trilogy in movie history?

Merry and Bright is in full swing. 

#merryandbright
#leadership

Change how you communicate with customers - both internal and external - and you will execute better in the next 30 days, than you have all year.

And, I can show you how.
And, you can do it now.

Give me a whiteboard, a couple of markers, and questions - and I can connect with any audience - INSTANTLY.

You can do this too.

Sound interesting? Let's talk.

__________________________

Thanks to NSA for allowing me to share with my peers earlier today during NSA - Activate.  Thanks to all of you who provided feedback, and shared your experience. And, thanks to Talk-a-Dot for helping me capture that feedback.

Getting better everyday. On to the next.

Are you using words that you don’t understand?

If you hear a word used incorrectly, do you correct it?

Do you clarify or validate alignment on definitions?

If not, and you aren’t achieving results, you may be a feckin’ eejit.

Said
Heard
Remembered 

Trust but verify 

Confirm who will do what by when, and you will move forward.

#leadership
#communication

Alignment. The focus this week. 

Here’s a clip from the video that goes live in the newsletter today.

Subscribe at findmycatalyst.com

Shorthanded in OT

After giving up a 2 goal lead, then tying the game in the last 3 min.

When you are behind, you are not finished.

Finish strong.

"The more you do the inner work, the more the dream works."

Thank you Ravi for joining me on this episode of the Find My Catalyst podcast and for the story coaching you provided in real time.

If you have not checked out Relationship Currency yet - MAKE SURE you do so.

Find your Catalyst on the Find My Catalyst Podcast

Ep 459 - Relationship Currency - with Author Ravi Rajani is now available wherever you listen to podcasts.

“An event is supposed to cause change — people should leave different than when they came in.”
- DeShawn Wynn, CMP-HC

Thinking about your next event?
Or, deep in the planning process?
Or, working through the final stages?

If you are an event planner, or someone who is thinking about their next event - this conversation is for you.

Thanks DeShawn for the awesome chat.

Episode 461 of The Find My Catalyst Podcast is now available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Scale Without the Chaos: Sales Organizations That Can Actually Grow

The simple questions, and how to ask them, to create awesome conversations this week wherever you celebrate Thanksgiving.

PS - these also work at SKOs, Holiday Parties, Client Dinners, Lunches, etc...

#questions
#communication
#leadership

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Mike Simmons's Linkedin Analytics

Mike Simmons

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Mike Simmons's Best Posts (last 30 days)

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Mike Simmons

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Mike Simmons's LinkedIn Performance

What is Mike talking about?

Who is engaging with Mike

Mike Simmons's Best Posts .css-1emoo84{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:400;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);}(last 30 days)

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Mike Simmons's Linkedin Analytics

Performance ScoreMike Simmons's LinkedIn Performance

Mike Simmons's Best Posts (last 30 days)