“When you're too comfortable, when you have space to overthink, then nothing happens... But when there’s fire under you, you have to move, or you die.”
In this episode, we are joined by Mike Morrison, entrepreneur, founder of Membership Geeks, and a true veteran of life’s unexpected detours.
Mike shares openly about the many doors that have closed throughout his career and personal life, including the literal locked door that ended his "secure" marketing job, relationship breakdowns, and the surprising, sudden departure of his co-founder. Each setback forced Mike to reimagine what was next, galvanising him to build something new from the ashes.
We talk about the uncomfortable, messy bits of change: how the emergency of a closed door can often push us toward clarity, the myth of job security, and why sometimes losing everything is the spark you need to re-launch.
The Highlights:
04:30 The closed door: a company goes into administration, a post-it note, and no safety net
09:51 Losing both a job and a marriage
14:08 Why real change means letting go of comfort, overthinking, and pride
18:32 “Doing my own thing” from hustling for clients to growing a multi-seven figure business
24:19 Why how you handle each closed door will change over time
28:33 Finding clarity in chaos, and the unexpected freedom of taking action
35:33 Coping with big business changes: when your co-founder leaves
40:00 Slowing down, survival mode, and not rushing the ‘new normal’
41:31 Developing your way of managing change, even when the path isn’t clear.
What helped Mike navigate change:
Soundtrack: Anything from the albums Mesmerize and Hypnotize by System of a Down.
Book: Go It Alone by Geoff Burch (for practical, no-nonsense business advice); The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k by Mark Manson
One piece of advice: “Try and think of what this change makes possible even the smallest things. Sit with a pen and notebook and ask: what doors does this open? You can always find something to latch onto in the mess.”
About Mike Morrison:
Mike Morrison is founder of the Membership Geeks and Membership Academy, where he's been the driving force behind countless successful membership businesses for over a decade.
He’s the host of a popular podcast, author of 3 best-selling books, and can regularly be found on stages around the world at events including Social Media Marketing World, Atomicon and Podcast Movement.
But it's not all been smooth sailing. From starting a business in the depths of depression, to experiencing multiple early failures and pivots, the path to success was a bumpy one. With perhaps the biggest curveball coming with the sudden exit of his co-founder of 9 years from the business they built together. However the resilience built along the way helped him navigate these obstacles and come out of the other side even stronger.
Website: membershipgeeks.co
Work with Eleanor:
Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training.
Work with Eleanor 121 as your coach, when you are starting something new, to develop the idea, to create the idea, to get it launched.
Book in a Change Mastery for a team session - when your team is navigating change.
Book in a 90 minute workshop - to think through change at work.
Join the Another Door Opens 5 Step Programme - a course and community to guide you through the mess of change to find calm, joy and opportunity.
Buy the Book - Another Door Opens - 5 steps for navigating change.
Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/
Website: www.another-door-opens.com
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
