Second Mile Leadership

The “Secret” to Leadership with Author Mark Miller

What does it actually look like to build a leadership culture that lasts — not just talk about it, but live it for decades? In this episode, I sit down with Mark Miller — bestselling author, former Vice President of High-Performance Leadership at Chick-fil-A, and one of the most respected voices in leadership development today. Mark began his writing career by teaming up with Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, to write The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do  — a book that has since become a cornerstone resource for leaders around the world. Over 25 years, Mark and his team invested tens of millions of dollars searching for and validating leadership principles that actually work in the real world.  We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Mark pulls back the curtain on his own leadership journey — from starting as an hourly team member to spending the last two decades of his career focused entirely on serving leaders and helping them grow themselves, their teams, and their organizations.  We dig into why so many organizations fail to prioritize leadership development even when they know they should, and what it costs them when they don’t. Then we get into the heart of The Secret itself — the SERVE framework — and what it actually looks like to execute each element at a high level inside a real organization. If you lead people, this conversation will challenge the way you think about your role. Get Mark’s new book The Secret 4th Edition:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHJYP531?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&bestFormat=true&language=en-US [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FHJYP531?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_ud_dp_QDXTKB9SWF8C9X5J01Z6&bestFormat=true&language=en-US] Get more info on Mark and his company Lead Everyday: https://leadeveryday.com/ [https://leadeveryday.com/] Reach Mark on his cell: 678-612-8441 or email him mark@leadeveryday.com

Building a Strong Culture - The Blueprint

Building a strong culture isn’t accidental—it’s a deliberate, ongoing process that shapes every aspect of your business. In this episode, we break down what it really takes to create a culture that drives performance, alignment, and long-term success. We start with defining the kind of culture you actually want—beyond buzzwords—and how that vision should guide your decisions. From there, we tackle one of the hardest realities in leadership: getting the right people on your team and making tough calls when someone isn’t the right fit. You’ll learn how to place people in roles where they can thrive, establish clear standards and values that aren’t just words on a wall, and communicate those expectations in a way that sticks. We also explore the leader’s role in coaching, modeling behavior, and consistently reinforcing what matters. Finally, we dive into accountability—how to uphold your standards without creating fear, and how to ensure your culture stays strong as your business grows. If you want a team that’s aligned, motivated, and built to win, this episode will give you the practical framework to make culture your competitive advantage.

The Leader’s Secret Weapon

In this episode, we explore why personal development isn’t just a “nice to have” for leaders—it’s essential. Strong leadership starts from within, and the most effective leaders are those who continuously invest in their own growth,  skills, self-awareness, and mindset. Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you approach growth—and inspire you to lead with greater clarity, purpose, and impact.

Influence Over Authority (Part 3)

Why do some leaders never have to pull rank to be heard? In this final episode of our influence series, we break down the 4 C’s—and how they shape the kind of leadership people choose to follow. If you want to stop relying on authority and start building real influence, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Influence Over Authority (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our Influence Over Authority series, we dive into one of the most overlooked truths about leadership: people don’t commit to leaders who use authority—they commit to leaders who genuinely care about them. Influence grows when leaders shift their focus from being served to serving the people they lead. In this episode, we talk about why the best leaders intentionally invest in their teams, understand the individual goals of the people they lead, and actively help them grow. When leaders take the time build relationships and to support their people’s ambitions, something powerful happens—trust increases, commitment grows, and the team becomes aligned around a shared purpose. If we expect people to help us achieve our goals, we have to be willing to help them achieve theirs. In this episode we discuss: * Why genuine care is the foundation of leadership influence * What it really means to serve your team as a leader * How investing in individuals strengthens team performance * Why helping others reach their goals builds lasting commitment Leadership influence isn’t built through position or authority—it’s built through service.