157: Advisor Spotlight - Mike Lobue on Daily Actions That Cure Fear
Building Teams with Vision, Mentorship, and Purpose-Driven Growth
We’re excited to introduce one of the newest voices at Axiom, Advisor Mike LoBue, in this powerful and personal episode of the Axiom Podcast. This conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, team building, leadership values, and the kind of legacy that outlasts us.
From Electrician’s Apprentice to Entrepreneurial Leader
Mike’s journey starts in New Jersey, where he learned the value of hard work from his father, an electrician, and his mother, a school worker. That work ethic, paired with an early fascination with business and entrepreneurship, drove him to study economics and finance at James Madison University, later launching his own e-commerce business—all while working full time at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
His technical experience with data and deep understanding of business dynamics gave him a unique perspective.
“It was like two sides of my brain getting constantly used,” Mike shares—combining the analytical with the entrepreneurial.
Vision Is Not Optional
Mike emphasizes that vision is essential for sustainable growth.
“The vision has to come from the top down,” he says. “It must be so clear that everyone can repeat it in ten seconds.”
Without vision:
Roles get confused
Teams lose direction
Complexity increases
With vision:
You get intuitive alignment and unified execution
“Does everyone on your team know the vision—or is it only in your head?”
Leadership Team Essentials: Integrity Over Skill
What makes a great leadership team? For Mike, it starts with character.
“Skills can be taught. But you can’t teach integrity.”
He references Abraham Lincoln’s example of building a Cabinet full of rivals—people who could challenge him, not just agree with him. That kind of diverse thought, mutual respect, and shared commitment drives long-term success.
“Your word is your worth. Your worth is your work.” - Mike LoBue. This principle underscores Mike’s belief that trust and follow-through matter more than resumes.
The Power of Encouragement & Being a “Good Finder”
One of the most heartfelt parts of the episode is Mike’s passion for encouragement.
“People want to be recognized more than they care about their pay,” he says, recounting how a single word of affirmation can change someone’s life.
He urges leaders to be “good finders”—those who intentionally look for the good in others and call it out regularly. This, he argues, isn’t just good management—it’s transformational.
Building with Values, Not Buzzwords
Mike doesn’t believe in long lists of vague values. He advocates for 3–4 core values that are lived out through behaviors and daily conversations.
“Your values are the cleats that keep you from sliding on the field,” he says. Without them, accountability and alignment suffer.
He lives by his own values—personal responsibility, leadership, and integrity—rooted in his faith and family, and reinforced by mentors who shaped his outlook and success.
Recommended Reads:
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson
How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie
The Magic of Thinking Big by David Schwartz
Good to Great by Jim Collins
Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis & Annie McKee
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Consistency Over Flash
When asked about growing a business, Mike doesn’t talk about hacks or big breaks. He talks about consistent, persistent effort. “It’s not sexy, but it’s sustainable,” he says. It’s the same principle he applied to scale a small soap business into a multimillion-dollar operation over a decade—with simple daily disciplines that compound.
On Legacy: Impact That Outlives You
Perhaps the most moving part of the conversation is Mike’s reflection on the late mentor Terry Taylor.
“We still talk about Terry every week,” he says. “His legacy continues because of how he lived.”
For Mike, legacy is about relationships, integrity, and helping others break paradigms to create a better future.
References and Downloadable Resources:
Episode 157: Recommended Books