From Parks to Boardrooms: Leadership Lessons from Nature with Donald Forgione and Mike Simmons

Donald Forgione — Former Director of 175 Florida State Parks, with 40+ years in ecotourism, leadership, and public service. Now a business owner, speaker, and coach, Donald connects leadership lessons from nature to business.
Mike Simmons — Founder of Find My Catalyst, leadership coach, and sales strategist, helping people identify and act on their catalyst for change.

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Three Key Quotes

1. Donald Forgione: “Trust is the key to absolutely everything… If they’re not feeling what I’m saying, I might as well throw it out the window.”

2. Mike Simmons: “A revenue challenge is often a culture challenge in disguise. Culture starts with leadership. Leadership starts with self.”

3. Donald Forgione: “Superman ain’t coming. You have to be your own Superman, your own Wonder Woman — and figure it out.”

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Mike and Donald explore the deep connections between nature and leadership, revealing how adaptability, trust, and asking the right questions can transform teams and culture. They share real-world lessons from state parks to sales, showing leaders how to align purpose, overcome obstacles, and create environments where people thrive.

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5 Key Takeaways – Finding Your Catalyst in Leadership

1. Adaptability is Essential

• Nature changes daily, sometimes hourly — so do business environments.

• Leaders must adjust “sails” when conditions shift, not fight the wind.

• Like a river finding a new path, flexibility keeps momentum moving forward.

2. Trust is the Foundation

• Without trust, communication falls flat — people must feel you’re genuine.

• Consistent standards and fairness build credibility.

• Trust enables teams to follow direction, even in tough changes.

3. Ask Better Questions

• Leaders have an obligation to ask questions others won’t.

• Tone, timing, and context matter — the “tailgate” setting often works best.

• Asking opens doors to insight; telling can shut them.

4. Sales is Everyone’s Job

• Selling is solving problems, not pushing products.

• Every role in an organization impacts customer experience.

• Internal and external “customers” both require thoughtful service.

5. Break Down Silos

• Customers don’t care which department “owns” the problem.

• Internal collaboration is as important as external service.

• Remove political barriers so the mission comes first.

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Find your Catalyst at https://findmycatalyst.com

Check out Tailgate Talks at https://tailgate-talks.com/speaker-experience/podcasts/ 

 

You Can Put the Work in to Practice, and we'd love to hear about it.

Listener Challenge: Your Catalyst Connection

This week, take 15 minutes to connect one lesson from nature to your work.

Step 1 – Observe:
Go for a walk in a park, your neighborhood, or any outdoor space. Notice one thing that stands out — a tree’s growth pattern, the way water flows, how animals interact, or even the weather.

Step 2 – Reflect:
Ask yourself:

• What obstacle is this natural element facing?

• How is it adapting or overcoming?

• How does this mirror challenges in my team or business?

Step 3 – Act:
Identify one small change you can make in your leadership or work this week inspired by that observation.

Example: If you see water rerouting around rocks, consider how you can redirect your team’s energy around a roadblock rather than trying to push through it.

Share Your Story: Email Mike and Donald with your insight — you might inspire the next podcast conversation.