Mike Harbour’s journey proves that leadership isn’t born in a boardroom—it’s forged through grit, growth, and grace.
Raised in small-town Arkansas, Mike overcame a violent home, failure in school, and years of anger before discovering purpose through the Army, mentorship, and faith.
Now, as the founder of Harbour Resources, host of the Lead Up Podcast, and author of Quit Losing Talent, he equips thousands of leaders to lead from values first.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll discover:
• How pain and adversity can forge your purpose
• Why values matter more than titles
• How the military shaped Mike’s leadership mindset
• The balance between drive and emotional intelligence
• How faith, marriage, and family anchor long-term growth
If you’ve ever felt lost, stuck, or unsure of your calling—this conversation will remind you it’s never too late to become who you were created to be.
00:00 – Leadership beyond classrooms
01:10 – Growing up in Malvern, Arkansas
03:55 – Sports and performance as an escape
06:00 – Struggles in school & joining the Army
09:16 – The grandmother who believed first
13:18 – Why the military & lessons from boot camp
18:02 – Discovering personal growth: Covey & Maxwell
21:30 – Drive, dominance & emotional intelligence
28:21 – Doing leadership vs. being a leader
34:00 – Marriage, faith & raising a family
38:57 – Life lessons from hunting with his daughter
42:14 – Faith, miracles & transformation
46:30 – Learning from great leaders without idolizing
53:00 – Authentic leadership & humility
55:10 – Finding direction & purpose at every age
1:01:00 – Mike’s six core values
“Without self-awareness and emotional intelligence, you’ll always hit your leadership lid.” — Mike Harbour
“Leadership isn’t something you do—it’s who you become.” — Mike Harbour
“Transparent lives transform lives.” — Nathan Cook
“If you climb the mountain and end up alone, you’re a hiker, not a leader.” — John Maxwell (via Mike Harbour)
📘 Quit Losing Talent (Expanded Edition) — Buy Here
🎧 The Lead Up Podcast — Listen Here
📚 Developing the Leader Within You — John C. Maxwell
📗 The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People — Stephen Covey
🌐 Website: harbourresources.com
🎧 Podcast: Lead Up Podcast
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mikeharbourhar
🌐 Website: morethanbefore.org
📺 YouTube: @MoreThanBeforePodcast
📸 Instagram: @morethanbeforepodcast
leadership development, values-based leadership, faith-based leadership, John Maxwell Team, personal growth, emotional intelligence, purpose-driven life, servant leadership, marriage and leadership, resilience, transformation, growth mindset
#MoreThanBeforePodcast #MikeHarbour #LeadershipDevelopment #FaithBasedLeadership #ValuesDriven #PersonalGrowth #QuitLosingTalent #NathanCook #BeMoreSeeMoreExperienceMore
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💬 Question of the Episode:
Which of Mike’s six values—Purpose, Excellence, Action, Ignite, Drive, or Deliver—resonates most with you?
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