Red Mike Messages

No one expects perfection the first time. Give yourself a break. #DrinkTheBourbon #doitagain #redo

Red Mike Message: If It’s Blasphemy, It’s Blasphemy—No Matter Who Does It When outrage depends on who's doing the offending, it's not about principle—it's about politics. You called it "art" last year. Now it’s “blasphemy”? Pick a lane. #DrinktheBourbon #SelectiveOutrage #DoubleStandards #PoliticalHypocrisy

Red Mike Message: Nothing Is Given. Everything Is Earned. Nothing worthwhile is handed to you. From careers to relationships, success must be earned—just like milking the cow. #DrinkTheBourbon #Arthur #milkthecow

Red Mike Message: “Why Doesn’t He Hit Good?” Real performance—not pedigree, polish, or presentation—is what ultimately counts. #DrinkTheBourbon #hitsmatter #StatsDontLie

Red Mike Message: Respect Over Titles It doesn't really apply to today's Red Mike Message, but I can't get David Allan Coe's "The Ride" out of my head. "You don't have to call me Mister, Mister." #DrinkTheBourbon #Respect #Authenticity

Red Mike Message: The High Cost of Nothing We often talk about what things cost—money, time, effort. But what about the cost of doing nothing? A wake-up call for anyone waiting on the sidelines. #DrinkTheBourbon #Nothing

Red Mike Message: A Toast to Doing It Your Way In today’s Red Mike Message, a birthday, a beverage, and a fighter pilot remind us that life doesn’t wait. Celebrate the moments. Live on your terms. And never miss your chance to raise a glass. #DrinkTheBourbon #HBD

Red Mike Message: Fire with Clarity, Not Ego Firing someone isn’t supposed to feel good. But when it’s time, the most respectful thing a leader can do is be clear, direct, and dignified. This Red Mike Message cuts through the noise—and the excuses—with a leadership lesson too many avoid. #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB #moneyball #billybeane

Red Mike Message: The Leadership Mistake That Cost Everything One of history’s greatest leaders made a single decision that changed everything. It worked—but it wasn’t right. This Red Mike Message is a reminder that the real cost of leadership isn't always measured in failure… but in the way we succeed. #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB #jordanpeterson #joerogan

Red Mike Message: Handling Insubordination Without Losing Control When a team member defies authority, chaos can follow. Respond with strength and protect your team culture without compromising your values. #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB

What Sam Houston Knew That Others Didn’t: Revenge was expected. Mercy was genius. Discover the bold decision that changed Texas forever. #DrinkTheBourbon #sanjacinto #texas

Red Mike Message: The Garage Test – What Are We Holding Onto? The clutter we hold onto—at home and at work—are we keeping it because it’s useful, or because we’re afraid to let go? Cut the drag, honor the past, and create lift for your team. Leadership starts with clarity. #DrinkTheBourbon #mariekondo

Red Mike Message: Condemnation Without Conditions There is no “but” when it comes to violence, or racism. If your moral compass only works when the other side does something wrong, then it’s not a compass. #DrinkTheBourbon #goodfriday

Red Mike Message: Service Over Self It's Not About You. #DrinkTheBourbon #ServiceOverSelf #savingprivateryan #captainamerica

The Law of the Leaky Bucket: What You Tolerate, You Teach Where are the holes in your organization? In your processes? #DrinkTheBourbon #LeakyBucket #benignneglect

The Boiling Frog: Taxes, Debt, and Complacency From 2% colonial taxes to 30% today, have we learned to live with too much? Discover the hard truth about what we tolerate—and what it’s turning us into. #DrinkTheBourbon #boilingfrog #boilingover #nationaldebt

Celebration to humility—through the lens of Easter traditions. #DrinkTheBourbon #Humility #resilience

Inspired by a powerful lesson from a high school teacher and paired with Oliver Aust’s “How to Listen” framework, this Red Mike Message explores why real listening—not just hearing—is a game-changing leadership skill. Learn how to shift from passive hearing to intentional listening and unlock deeper understanding, trust, and influence in every conversation. #DrinkTheBourbon #leadbylistening

“Someone’s Always Watching: Be the Kind of Story Worth Telling” Someone’s watching—your kids, your team, a stranger you'll never meet again. How you live matters. In this Red Mike Message, I reflect on Scouting, football, regret, and choosing to live a life that would make the front page for the right reasons. You don't need a badge to make an impact. You just need to live with honor. #Dri...

Be the First One Off the Bus: Leading by ExampleThis Red Mike Message breaks down accountability and culture. Watch, share, and tag someone who always steps up. #DrinkTheBourbon #WorkEthic #LeadByExample

Real Leaders Pick Up the Phone: Why Credibility Is Earned, Not Given True leadership isn’t about staying above the grind—it’s about stepping into it. When I took over as Executive Director of a Texas agency, one of my first moves was to take calls alongside my staff. Not to watch them—but to join them. In this Red Mike Message , I share why credibility can’t be bought, borrowed, or faked—and how g...

The Leadership Lesson That Changed My Life: One Millimeter from Disaster A high school football injury nearly ended more than just my season—it forced me to confront one of life’s toughest leadership lessons: letting go of the plan you had, and embracing the life you’re meant for. In this Red Mike Message, I share how one millimeter made all the difference—and how a coach’s quiet courage gave me t...

Red Mike Message 4-4-25 Start by Starting. Critics be Damned. #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB #teddyroosevelt

Act Like You Belong #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB #HowardSchultz #richardbranson #georgecostanza

Set Yourself Apart Be Real and RIP Iceman. #DrinkTheBourbon #DTB #ValKilmer