The Life You Want Is on the Other Side of What You Won't Put Down | Scott Lackey

In this episode of Unconventional Wisdom About Conventional Wisdom, Kim Miller-Hershon sits down with Scott Lackey, author of Wake Up To Die Again, a book that's getting a lot of play. From his earliest memories, Scott wanted to do two things: build a business and live a life full of adventure. He's managed both, and then some. He's a patented inventor, an Army combat veteran, an Ironman, an author, a speaker, a weekly newspaper columnist, a husband and dad, and the chief sales officer of the largest US subsidiary of a global manufacturer, all at the same time. He's the kind of person who plans a 12-day, coast-to-coast race across Nicaragua for fun, and who insists that real adventure isn't the extreme feat itself but anything that makes you come alive. In this conversation, Scott challenges one of the most deeply ingrained beliefs in business and in life: that success is always about addition. More skills, more things, the right car, the right house, the next box checked. He got excellent at living a life of addition, and kept arriving at the end of each acquisition to find an empty space and only himself standing there. The counterintuitive shift that's brought him the most satisfaction over the last 15 years is the opposite: subtraction. Not cutting the good things out of life, but shedding the weight, physical and mental, that we were never meant to carry forward, which is exactly what opens up room to acquire what actually matters. That idea runs straight into a second one at the heart of the episode: subtracting the beliefs that no longer serve you. Scott and Kim agree that the biggest danger to absolute certainty is that when you're sure you're right, there's no room left for anyone else, or for correction. Scott describes a training partner whose views he categorically disagrees with but loves like a brother, because he looks at the man's intent rather than his positions. The through-line is a stance of curiosity, the belief that getting curious about other people is not only healthier but far more fun. This episode explores: Why success framed as constant addition leaves you empty Subtraction as a healthier way to live, physically and mentally Subtracting the beliefs and stories that no longer serve you Why absolute certainty leaves no room for anyone else Leading with curiosity and reading people by their intent Why the magic-bullet promise fails, and self-trust is the real fix Why contemplative time is the prerequisite for trusting yourself Protecting culture as a leader's daily, deliberate work Sending team members to meet customers so they're seen as human Asking employees what they actually want from their careers Beating imposter syndrome by buying things because you want them, not to prove you're enough Scott's perspective is a powerful reminder that a full life often comes from taking away rather than piling on, and that the most important promises you'll ever keep are the ones you make to yourself. His journey from a man who measured himself by his possessions to one who can hold the shiny thing loosely shows that trusting yourself is the real adventure, and that you were already enough before you checked a single box. If you're a founder, leader, or anyone tired of chasing the next thing, this conversation offers practical insight, honest talk about self-trust and imposter syndrome, and a refreshing case that the boldest move might be subtraction. Connect with me here: Website: https://www.kimmillerhershon.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kmillerhershon Newsletter: https://link.kimmillerhershon.com/widget/form/aEdmdA1W5MhoMCMfy5O8 Webinar: https://webinar.kimmillerhershon.com/?utm_source=Podcast Guest Details: Guest: Scott Lackey Book: Wake Up To Die Again: Breaking Who You Became So You Can Be Who You're Meant to Be (published May 14, #1 New Release and #2 on the Best Seller List) — available on Amazon Focus: Chief sales officer, author, speaker, and weekly newspaper columnist; patented inventor, Army combat veteran, and Ironman Website: https://scottlackey.com Keynote speaking (top 10 most-requested topics): https://scottlackey.com/speaking/ Published short stories and media: https://scottlackey.com/published-work/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.