We often think that experience makes us bolder. But psychologically, the opposite is often true. As leaders get older and more successful, they stop taking risks because they are terrified of damaging their identity as a "winner." We call this The Curse of Experience.

In Part 2 of this interview series, Michael breaks down the internal psychology of the leader. We move from the tactics of Part 1 into the deep mental frameworks needed to handle high-stakes pressure without burning out.

In this episode, you will learn:

-The Curse of Experience: Why successful leaders become risk-averse to protect their ego, and how to fight it.

-The ARC Model: A 3-step psychological framework (Awareness, Response, Compassion) to stop reacting and start leading during a crisis.

-Imposter Syndrome Reframe: Why feeling like a fraud is actually a good sign that you are pushing your leadership range.

-Defining Stress: The realization that stress is simply "trying to control what is out of your control".

The Challenge The Stress Audit: Next time you feel your chest tighten, stop and ask yourself: "What am I trying to control right now that is actually out of my control?" (e.g., a customer's reaction, the economy). Remind yourself that you can only control your own thoughts, behaviors, and actions.

Resources

-Join the Conversation: Join our Leadership Mindset 2.0 community on LinkedIn or Facebook

-Get Live Coaching: Move from listening to doing inside the Growth Leaders Collective. Start your $1 trial at RMichaelAnderson.com/GLC

Mentioned in this episode:

Now Open - the 2026 Mindset Accelerator

Special Announcement: Enrollment is open for the 2026 Leadership Mindset Accelerator. This is a live, 3-month program starting February 24th to help you move from "Doer" to "Strategic Leader." Here's the link:

2026 Mindset Accelerator