In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Nate Wolfe to explore the experiences that have shaped his leadership journey. Nate reflects on a defining early moment in his rise into leadership when he made a significant mistake and brought it forward to his company’s CEO, expecting a harsh response. Instead, the focus shifted to everything he had done right that day. That moment changed Nate’s perspective on leadership, reinforcing the importance of not letting mistakes derail progress and of recognizing the wins alongside the setbacks.

Nate and Chris also discuss one of the most difficult challenges Nate has faced: recently losing the agency’s number one line after choosing not to join a larger multi-state organization. Faced with the decision between financial security and staying aligned with their values, Nate and his team chose to protect their integrity, culture, and long-term vision, even at the cost of short-term revenue. He shares how that decision, while difficult, allows them to stay true to who they are and maintain control of their direction.

Throughout the conversation, Nate emphasizes daily habits that support his leadership, including starting each morning in the gym, separating work from family time in the evenings, and maintaining a mindset of assuming positive intent in others. He also shares advice he would give his younger self: “slow down to speed up,” stay focused on the vision, and avoid getting distracted by shiny opportunities that pull attention away from long-term goals.

Looking ahead, Nate expresses excitement about what he sees as a growing trend in the industry, a return to personal relationships and smaller, more relationship-driven partnerships. He believes staying close to people, maintaining a “legendary service” mindset, and protecting company values will continue to guide his leadership.

Chris and Nate explore:

• Learning from mistakes without losing momentum
• Choosing values and integrity over short-term revenue
• Maintaining discipline through daily routines
• Slowing down to stay focused and accelerate growth
• The importance of personal relationships in the industry
• The power of saying no to opportunities that don’t align

This episode offers an honest look at leadership, decision-making, and staying aligned with values in the face of pressure within the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.