Lee Povey

We are playing the finite game in an infinite world.

Sara and I just got back from Japan, and it forced me to confront a truth about our Western culture of "success."

In the West, we are conditioned to chase the "American Dream"—a game where making money is the primary goal, and being good at what you do is just a byproduct of that pursuit. We focus on the transaction. We focus on the "finite."

In Japan, I saw the opposite.

I met people from Michelin-star chefs to retail staff who operate with a philosophy of Excellence first. To them, making money isn’t the goal; it’s the byproduct of taking immense pride in their craft and being of service to others.

As someone on the autism spectrum, I’ve always been drawn to systems that work. Japan showed me a system of fulfillment that we are missing here:

👉 Collectivism over Individualism: "What can we create together?"
👉 The Infinite Game: Realizing there is enough for everyone to succeed.
👉 Service over Transaction: Doing the work because it’s worth doing well.

If you’ve reached the "top" only to feel successful yet unfulfilled, you might just be playing the wrong game.

I’ve broken down these reflections and how we can shift our mindset toward purpose-driven success in my latest video.

Watch the full breakdown here:

We Are Playing the Wrong Game We’ve been told the American Dream is the ultimate goal. Yet after my time in Japan, I realized we’re actually playing the wrong game... After returning from...

I was running one of my men’s groups the other night, and the conversation landed on a topic that shapes so many of our relationships at home, at work, and within teams. We started talking about listening.

And it struck us how hard that is for most of us.

Because when someone we care about is struggling, frustrated, or upset, something inside us springs into action. We want to help. We want to be useful. We want to make things better. So we jump in with advice.

It feels like the right thing to do. It feels responsible. It feels like leadership.

And yet, almost every man in that room had experienced the other side of it, the moment when you just needed to vent, to get something off your chest, and someone stepped in too soon with answers. You weren’t finished speaking, and the conversation had already moved on to problem-solving. You walked away thinking, They didn’t really hear me.

That realization landed in the room.

Listening, truly listening, is one of the most loving ways we can show up for another human being. It’s an intentional act of care.

Real listening asks something different of us. It asks us to sit with that discomfort. To trust that the person in front of us is capable of finding their own answers if we give them the time and space to think.

There’s also something fascinating that happens when people are allowed to talk without interruption. The emotional, reactive part of their brain gets to speak first. It gets to vent. It gets to release pressure. And as they hear themselves out loud, the calmer, more logical part of their mind begins to come online.

Things aren’t as bad as they first felt.

That night in the group, one of the men said something that stuck with me. He said, “When someone listens to me without trying to fix me, I feel respected. I feel capable. I feel trusted.”

That’s the power of listening.

So the next time someone comes to you frustrated, overwhelmed, or upset, try something different. Give them the space to process what they’re experiencing, ask clarifying questions, and don’t give advice!

You might find that your presence, not your solution, is what helps them most.

Yours in Leadership,
Lee Povey

Let people make mistakes. 🛑

It feels like you’re helping when you step in to fix a mistake, yet you’re actually doing something else: You’re stealing the lesson.

In today's newsletter, I explore why doing nothing is often the hardest (and most important!) part of leadership.

You can read the full article below: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/courage-let-people-make-mistakes-lee-povey-ph9lc

A leader who cannot publicly own a mistake creates a culture where people learn to hide theirs.

The highest-performing teams I’ve worked with are built on accountability, trust, and the ability to learn quickly when something goes wrong.

And that starts with their LEADERS.

This is from our latest YouTube episode on The Founders Catalyst Podcast. You can click the link in the captions to watch the full episode! ⬇️

Motherhood is one of the most demanding leadership roles there is!

There are no clear boundaries between work and life, no off switch, and no perfect playbook to follow. It requires constant decision-making, emotional awareness, patience, and the ability to show up for others, even on the days when your own energy is low.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a number of exceptional leaders who are also mothers. Founders, executives, and operators who are building businesses and leading teams, while raising their families.

What has always stood out to me is not just their capability, it’s the consistency in how they show up across both worlds.

They make decisions under pressure. They navigate competing priorities with grace and care for all. And as leaders, they excel in creating environments where others can grow.

They do it with a level of care and responsibility that has deeply influenced how I think about leadership. I’ve learned a lot from the mothers I’ve coached, especially when it comes to emotional intelligence, resilience, and setting boundaries in a way that still maintains connection.

And of course, a big part of that learning started much earlier. My own mum, Lin Povey, played a huge role in shaping how I see the world and how I show up in it. Her strength, consistency, and care set a standard that I continue to learn from.

Mother's Day is a good reminder to acknowledge that impact. To all the mothers leading in their families, their businesses, and their communities, thank you.

The work you do matters more than is often recognized.

Motherhood is one of the most demanding leadership roles there is!

There are no clear boundaries between work and life, no off switch, and no perfect playbook to follow. It requires constant decision-making, emotional awareness, patience, and the ability to show up for others, even on the days when your own energy is low.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a number of exceptional leaders who are also mothers. Founders, executives, and operators who are building businesses and leading teams, while raising their families.
What has always stood out to me is not just their capability, it’s the consistency in how they show up across both worlds.

They make decisions under pressure. They navigate competing priorities with grace and care for all. And as leaders, they excel in creating environments where others can grow.

They do it with a level of care and responsibility that has deeply influenced how I think about leadership. I’ve learned a lot from the mothers I’ve coached, especially when it comes to emotional intelligence, resilience, and setting boundaries in a way that still maintains connection.

And of course, a big part of that learning started much earlier. My own mum played a huge role in shaping how I see the world and how I show up in it. Her strength, consistency, and care set a standard that I continue to learn from.

Today is a good reminder to acknowledge that impact. To all the mothers leading in their families, their businesses, and their communities, thank you.

The work you do matters more than is often recognized.

For a long time, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that I’m autistic.

Looking back now, they were woven through my childhood, my career, my relationships, and the way I experienced the world. The struggle came from something else entirely.

People didn’t believe me or accept it.

You can read the full article (and my story) below: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leepovey_for-a-long-time-i-struggled-to-come-to-terms-ugcPost-7457853072254595075-S6x4?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAARL29kBhiIVWW-xbT23Z4M20I4BVq-NDm8



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If you're a neurodiverse leader looking to optimize your performance, let's connect. You can book a FREE initial consultation here: https://lnkd.in/gNMdssGD

What Being Autistic Has Taught Me About Energy, Success, and Self-Acceptance | Lee Povey For a long time, I struggled to come to terms with the fact that I’m autistic. Looking back now, they were woven through my childhood, my career, my relationships, and the way I experienced the world. The struggle came from something else entirely. People didn’t believe me or accept it. You can ...

Mental Health Awareness Month has me reflecting on a pattern I’ve been seeing more frequently in leadership conversations.

Leaders are far more open about stress, pressure, and burnout than they were even a few years ago, and that is a positive shift…AND at the same time, I’m noticing something else that is worth calling out.

More awareness has not always led to more responsibility.

I’ve had conversations with founders and executives who can clearly articulate how overwhelmed they feel, how stretched they are, and how much pressure they’re under. There is a level of honesty there that I respect.

And when we look at how that is impacting their leadership, there are often behaviors that show up and are tolerated rather than addressed. They know they need to change, but aren't yet willing to do the work needed to make those changes.

Shorter patience with their teams, avoidance of conversations they know matter, reactive decision-making, and a general sense of operating in survival mode.

None of this makes them bad leaders. It makes them human. And being human does not remove the responsibility that comes with leading others.

This is the part that I believe requires more courage to talk about. Your mental state directly impacts the people you lead. It shapes the environment you create, the standards you set, and the decisions you make. As a leader, your emotional state sets the tone for the entire organization, both positively and negatively.

So it matters that you talk about it, and it matters even more that you do something about it.

Over the years, working with Olympians, world champions, and high-level leaders, I’ve seen that high performance is not about eliminating pressure or avoiding challenge.

It is about building awareness and discipline to manage yourself effectively. It’s moving from being reactive to conscious and thoughtful decisions and behaviors.

If you’re leading others, this is part of the role.

And if this is something you’re working through, you don’t have to figure it out on your own. I’m always open to a conversation.