Kevin Mays: Lead Yourself First Before You Lead Anyone Else

Most founders think the problem is their team or the market, Kevin Mays says it’s their own thinking. In this episode, he reveals how “founder syndrome,” outdated mental software, and comfort zones quietly cap your business and your life.

In this episode, Gary and Kevin Mays discuss:

• Leaving the traditional engineering/corporate path
• Motorcycle journey, breakdown, and transformative “nothing to lose” moment
• Consciousness, cognition, and leading yourself first
• Founder syndrome and the limits of control in leadership
• Balancing wealth, vision, and a truly fulfilling life

Key Takeaways:

• Life-changing clarity often comes when you realize you have nothing to lose and full responsibility for what happens next.
• Much of adult behavior is driven by unconscious patterns and “software” installed in childhood, not genuine free will.
• Successful founders frequently sabotage their own companies by clinging to control instead of empowering the high-caliber leaders they hire.
• True leadership mastery rests on presence, self-awareness, clear intention, and a compelling vision that guides decisions.
• Money alone cannot fill inner emptiness; aligning clients, work, and relationships with your values creates far deeper satisfaction.

“Most of us think we’re operating out of a place of free will, and the reality is, there are deeply ingrained patterns that are driving us more than we know.”  — Kevin Mays

About Kevin Mays: Dr. Kevin Mays is a leadership coach, speaker, author, and strategist dedicated to helping leaders grow with cohesion, clarity, and purpose. With years of experience guiding executives and teams, Dr. Mays blends research-based insight with practical application to create meaningful, lasting change.

Grab a copy of The Vision Mastery Playbook for FREE: https://vision.maysleadership.com/ 

Pre-Order the book Lead Yourself First: https://leadyourselffirst.maysleadership.com/ 

Connect with Kevin Mays:  

Website: https://maysleadership.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kevin-mays/ 

To get in touch with Gary:

Website: https://betterpathtraining.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gsinderbrand/

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.