#60: Be Bold! Get out of your comfort zone, take chances, and win with Mike Plaia

When you think of some of your favorite leaders, leaders who've inspired you, what characteristics come to mind? Typically, people want leaders who are purposeful, curious, self-aware, present, engaged, and caring. Your favorite leaders tend to care about you as a person, not just a number. Our guest today – is all of those and more. 

In this last episode of season 6 in Coaching Through Stories, Dr. Eric Bean speaks with PharmaPoint’s CEO, Mike Plaia about navigating leadership challenges through bold decisions and resilient mindset shifts. 

Mike Plaia, is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience in business and leadership. As the CEO of PharmaPoint, a technology-driven, pharmacy management company, Mike has overseen its recognition as one of the fastest-growing private companies and an industry leader in healthcare innovation. Previously, he co-founded Source Medical, the largest provider of IT solutions for ambulatory surgery centers, and Industriaplex, an Inc. 500-ranked company. Mike also spent time at General Electric, leading initiatives in acquisition integration and Six Sigma.  

A graduate of West Point, Mike served in the U.S. Army as a Field Artillery Officer, earning multiple commendations. Outside of business, he’s passionate about mentoring youth through sports and serves on several community boards, including Rise Above and gotURback, both focused on supporting local initiatives. 

In today’s episode, Mike shares his experiences from West Point, the military, and leading high-growth companies, emphasizing the importance of taking risks and stepping out of comfort zones. He reflects on how failure is a necessary part of success and the critical role of trust and compassion in leadership. 

You will gain practical insights into managing fear, building resilient teams, and fostering a culture where both success and failure are embraced as part of growth. Listeners will leave this episode feeling motivated to be bold and take on new challenges. 

Key Takeaways: 

• The importance of boldness and embracing discomfort to achieve growth 

• How to build trust and compassion as a leader 

• Why failure is essential to long-term success and development 

• The value of journaling leadership lessons and learning from both good and bad examples 

• Strategies for balancing mental toughness with support and empathy in leadership roles 

Highlights: 

• [6:00] Mike's journey from West Point to leading high-growth companies 

• [10:24] The significance of bold decisions and taking risks 

• [14:40] Embracing failure and building resilience in leadership 

• [16:46] Trust, compassion, and accountability in leadership 

• [23:19] Key leadership lessons from journaling and reflection 

• [43:56] Why you need the “keep going” mentality 

• [51:16] How Mike evolved as a leader 

Resources: 

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/0593655036 

PharmaPoint - www.pharmapoint.com  

Connect with Mike Plaia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-plaia-676b71/