👉 Download Mork’s Guide to an Epic 2026: https://gamma.app/docs/Morks-Guide-for-an-Epic-2026-hemh311wz29r1jg
👉 Download Mork’s Guide to Resilience: https://aa5c-ea.systeme.io/resilience
🌟 Hire Patrick to speak about Purpose, Resilience, and Leadership: https://patrickmork.com/speaking
"If you think business is just about the numbers, you’ve already lost."
Welcome back to Mork Unfiltered. I’m your host, Patrick Mork, and today’s guest is someone who has lived through the highest highs and the absolute lowest lows of the business world.Â
David Higgley isn't just a heavy hitter at Perella Weinberg; he’s a guy who has walked the path of a lawyer, an entrepreneur, and a global dealmaker.
In this episode, we’re getting real about the things most executives are too afraid to say out loud. We talk about the "fetal position" moments—those days when everything is falling apart and there is no safety net to catch you.Â
David opens up about starting his own firm just as the 2008 financial crisis hit, why most "mega-mergers" end up being a total train wreck, and the massive emotional toll that high-stakes leadership takes on your marriage and your mind.
If you’re an entrepreneur trying to scale, or an operator wondering if the grass is greener on the other side, David’s story is the reality check you need.
The Chapters:
[0:00] The Human Truth: Why deals are about souls, not just spreadsheets.
[2:07] The Pivot: Leaving the law to find where the real impact is.
[9:06] The Paralysis of Fear: How to make a move when you’re terrified.
[13:40] The Family Toll: Can you reach the top without losing your marriage?
[17:33] Starting in a Meltdown: What it’s like to build a business when the world is ending.
[24:50] Resilience: Managing the mental "wear and tear" of the grind.
[44:10] The Disaster Rate: Why 70% of business deals fall apart.
[53:40] Part-Time Therapist: Helping founders navigate the scariest 18 months of their lives.
[1:00:11] The Finish Line: Advice for the next generation of leaders.
#M&A #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Resilience #MentalHealth #StartupLife #InvestmentBanking #MoreUnfiltered #DavidHiggley #CareerPivot #CEOInsights
If this episode moved you or gave you a different lens on adversity and growth, I want to invite you to go deeper.
I wrote Step Back and Leap for people exactly like us. People building through chaos. People trying to find meaning inside uncertainty. People choosing purpose over comfort. You can get it here:
https://a.co/d/e4nd8RT
And if you want practical tools you can use today to strengthen your resilience, I created a short, tactical guide you can download immediately. It’s called The Mork Guide to Resilience and it is designed to help you build inner strength, recover faster, and lead from a grounded place:
https://aa5c-ea.systeme.io/resilience
Because sometimes the most powerful leaps forward start with stepping back, grounding yourself, and reconnecting to why you are here in the first place.
— Patrick
