What if the reset you need is not more effort, but a slower rhythm you can access in just a few minutes a day?

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Lee Holden, Qigong master, Tai Chi teacher, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, with a BA in Psychology and longtime guide in the practice of mindful movement. Lee first discovered the healing power of Qigong and Tai Chi after experiencing injuries that nearly sidelined his varsity soccer career in college. Together, they explore why slowing down may be one of the most effective ways to restore energy, regulate stress, and support long term performance.

Lee shares his personal path from collegiate soccer at UC Berkeley to the world of Chinese medicine, Qigong, and Tai Chi. After a serious injury left conventional approaches falling short, Lee experienced firsthand how practices rooted in movement, breath, and attention could support healing and recovery. That experience sparked a lifelong mission to make Qigong accessible and practical for modern life.

Throughout the conversation, Mike and Lee unpack what Qi Gong actually is, why it is often called the mother of Tai Chi, and how moving meditation can be easier and more effective for many people than sitting still and trying to quiet the mind. They talk about hustle culture, chronic stress, and why so many high performers feel wired and tired, even when they are doing all the right things.

This episode offers a different model of performance, one that prioritizes nervous system regulation, daily recovery, and what Lee calls the art of effortless power. If you have ever felt like you are sprinting a marathon, this conversation invites a new pace. Ready, set, slow.

In this episode, you will learn:

• What Qigong is and how it has been practiced for over 4,000 years
• Why Tai Chi emerged from Qigong and how the two practices differ
• How Qigong supports health, healing, and prevention through mindful movement
• The connection between movement, stress, and the nervous system
• Why managing stress is essential for longevity and sustainable performance
• How Qigong can complement other forms of exercise and training
• The role of relaxation and awareness in restoring energy
• Why consistent movement supports joint health and mobility over time
• How Qigong helps shift the body out of chronic fight or flight
• What it means to cultivate effortless power in daily life

If you are looking for a practice that helps you downshift, recover from stress, and build long term vitality without adding more grind, this episode is for you

Episode Resources:

Lee Holden: LinkedIn / Youtube

Holden QiGong

Holden QuiGong Courses and Workshops

Ready, Set, Slow: How to Improve Your Energy, Health, and Relationships Through the Power of Slow

by Lee Holden

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would have to be true if you were legally bound to hire and keep your executive assistant for three years?

That single question changed everything for Tim Francis.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins sits down with Tim Francis, founder of Great Assistant, to unpack why delegation so often fails for founders and how to rebuild it the right way. After five failed assistant hires in a row and a growing sense of exhaustion, Tim realized the problem was not a lack of talent. It was the system, the sequence, and the mindset behind delegation itself.

Tim shares how rethinking hiring, onboarding, and expectations helped him move from constant pressure to calm focus and real leverage. This conversation breaks down delegation as a progression rather than a handoff, where clarity improves over time and trust is built intentionally. Together, Mike and Tim explore how the right executive assistant can transform not only productivity, but how a leader shows up across work and life.

This episode is for founders, CEOs, and executives who feel stretched thin, unsure what to delegate, or hesitant to hire because past attempts did not work.

• Why the opportunity cost of not hiring an assistant is often overlooked
• How spiritual resilience supports sustainable leadership
• Reframing delegation as a skill that can be learned and refined
• The importance of effective onboarding for long term success
• The Seven Yes Test for deciding what to delegate first
• How clear task design improves outcomes and trust
• What a strong hiring process actually looks like
• Why alignment and time zone matter more than cheap labor
• How delegation creates a positive profit loop
• The unexpected benefit of delegation including mental clarity and peace of mind

If you are ready to stop carrying everything yourself and start leading with intention, this conversation offers a grounded and practical roadmap.

Episode Resources:

Tim Francis: LinkedIn

Great Assistant

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As 2025 comes to a close, we wanted to pause and look back on some of the moments from The Mike Method that stayed with us.

Over the past year, we’ve had thoughtful conversations with leaders, founders, educators, parents, and creatives across a wide range of industries. While the topics varied, a few themes kept showing up again and again: leading with more awareness, staying grounded under pressure, strengthening relationships, and building meaningful work without losing yourself in the process.

In this special year end episode, we revisit standout moments from conversations with Mo Jessa, Anna Brooks, Milam Miller, Lillie Desjardins, Jen Murtagh, Jayson Gaddis, Lisa Dion, Greg Smith, Zach Berman, Catherine D’Orazio, and Simon Bowen.

If you’re reflecting on the year behind you or thinking about what you want to carry forward into what’s next, we hope this episode gives you a few ideas worth sitting with.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode Resources:

• EP64 Lessons in Presence, Gratitude, and Mindful Leadership with Mo Jessa
• EP73 Nervous System Regulation and Staying Grounded with Anna Brooks
• EP50 The Power of Charisma with Milam Miller
• EP65 Father-Daughter Insights on Leadership, Resilience, and Connection with Lillie Desjardins
• EP32 Breaking the Motherhood Penalty with Jen Murtagh
• EP30 Navigating Conflict and Building Stronger Relationships with Jayson Gaddis
• EP46 Regulation, Leadership, and High Performance with Lisa Dion
• EP44 The Future of Learning with The CEO of Thinkific Greg Smith
• EP71 Entrepreneurship, Resilience, and Reinvention with Zach Berman
• EP52 The Pink Tsunami: Women, Wealth, and the Future of Capital with Catherine D’Orazio
• EP69 The Secret to Scaling Your Business Without Losing Its Genius with Simon Bowen

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.