Today’s interview is going to be a little bit different because Michael’s background is business leadership oriented BUT you will be touched when you read about some of the adversity he’s had to endure like dealing with a hidden disability and his wife’s cancer.

Not only that but like I did, he quit Wall Street to pursue a calling.  This interview has an interesting twist to it because I see him as a lightworker disguised in a business suit.  He once worked as a high powered executive for financial giants like Morgan Stanley before saying goodbye to Wall Street.  It was his wife cancer that triggered it but not for reasons you think it did.

Let me just say one more thing.  If you were to look at his photo, you would not notice anything out of the ordinary like a disability right?  Well, let me give you hint – Tom Cruise also has it.

I’m VERY EXCITED to have him here and so without further ado, let’s call him out from the “green room!!!

Mr. Michael Lee Stallard, COME ON OUT AND GREET US!

1.  One of my favorite questions when I want to learn about someone is by asking them to give me their 5 second introduction when I pose the question:  “What do you do for a living?”

I speak, train and coach leaders about how to develop the “Connection Cultures” that are necessary for individuals and organizations to thrive.   Connection Cultures help make people feel connected to their leaders, their organization’s identity, the people they work with, and to the work they perform.

Stephen’s Response: Michael, whether or not you intend this to be of a spiritual topic, in my view, this is exactly what you’re doing with this platform.  Let me explain.

On a deep level, all of us are desperate to feel connected, especially in the workplace.   More than ever, employees are feeling disconnected from one another and their management because the communication gap has gotten wider.  Employees are seen as “dispensable” in this day and age, shattering any remnants of a connection that might have once existed.  The “us versus them” mentality pervades many workplaces, indicating a great need for healing and the  restoration of trust.

In my view, you are performing a valuable spiritual service without being blatant about it.  Through your work, you are doing a very important job of connecting hearts in the workplace.  BRAVO!

2.  Tell me in 3 to 5 sentences something we can’t read in your bio or at the “About Page” at your website/blog.

I’n recent years I learned that I’m an achievaholic. When my wife Katie successfully battled cancer in 2003 and again in 2004, we experienced an outpouring of “connection” in the form of love, encouragement and support from our family and friends. It was life-changing for me.  It made me realize something I”d been missing in life and that was missing in the workplace: human connection.  I”ve dedicated my life”s work to helping increase connection in the workplace and in life outside of work.  Connection helped heal Katie.  It helps everyone experience more joy, productivity and prosperity in life.

Stephen’s Response: Haha, I can certainly relate Michael.  An achievaholic?  Gosh yes!  I’ve always been curious to know why some of us are like that while others are not?

I read about your wife’s cancer in one of your publications (not sure which one it was but it was POWERFUL).  I can see why the outpouring of connection you felt at the cancer center was life changing because there you and Katie were, probably scared out of your wits, not sure where to turn or whether the doctors would be caring enough.

We’ve all heard stories about apathetic doctors and nurses who have been trained to distance themselves from their patients.    They appear stoic and uncaring – to them, they’re just performing their duties and moving on to the next patient.

3. How long have you been at E Pluribus Partners?

I left Wall Street in 2002 to found E Pluribus Partners (www.EPluribusPartners.com).

Stephen’s Response: Hmmm…you know I also left Wall Street to pursue my dreams of becoming a speaker, author/writer and pilot.  It was a scary time for me.   What about you?  What led you to the moment when you decided to call it quits?    How did you prepare for it?  (you can answer in the comment section if you’d like)

4.  How did you come up with that very broadly appealing title of ”E Pluribus”?

It is a very unique name! E Pluribus Unum is the motto of America.  It’s a Latin phrase that means “out of many, one.” Creating a sense of community, of “oneness,” in the workplace is key to improving employee engagement, productivity and innovation.  The forces of connection create that feeling of unity.

Stephen’s Response: One of things I love about doing interviews is that I am always learning something new. Until now, I had never heard of the phrase “E Pluribus.”  The Latin meaning is a perfect fit for what you’re now doing to make a difference.  I love it!   It’s fitting and all encompassing.

As I’ve often stated here in this blog, I believe the planet is moving towards the light and there are many lightworkers who are occupying different sectors of the world in different positions each of whom are bringing their own talents to help humanity connect on a deeper level.  Even though you don’t label yourself as a lightworker, I do see you as one.  You just happen to wear a business suit and deal with high powered executives and their organizations.

5.  What is the real reason you started ”E Pluribus Partners”?

In 1998 I was hired as the chief marketing officer of Morgan Stanley”s global wealth management group.   I started experimenting with some practices to engage our client-facing employees and the practices we put in place helped us double our revenues in about 2.5 years. I knew we had discovered something special and that I needed to eventually leave Wall Street to focus full time on developing these ideas and best practices.  Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, I was head of business and product development for a mutual fund company, was an investment banker, and started out in a marketing role in the tech industry. During those years I weathered several mergers and acquisitions and experienced corporate cultures that were healthy and those that were toxic.

Stephen’s Response: I can relate to being immersed within the toxic corporate environment.  It drained all of my energy and enthusiasm.  It is one reason untold thousands, perhaps millions, have left Corporate America in search of a better way to contribute to the world.

6.  One of the reasons why you’re being interviewed is because as a result of you contacting me (you had read an interview I did with Alexander Kjerulf, the Chief Happiness Officer in Denmark), I’ve gotten to know you more through your written account in dealing with cancer.  You wrote that story with a level of zeal and authenticity that drew me in.  My goodness, not only is there positivity in your writings but you seem like someone I’d invite into my home for dinner even though we’ve never met.  How did you become like this?

Thank you, Stephen. I was very fortunate to be born in a home with a great environment.  My parents care for people and they are encouraging and optimistic. Parents have a huge effect on their kids.  The Connection Culture applies to families too, not just workplaces.

Stephen’s Response: Yes, parents have a HUGE effect on their kids.  I was at a party recently, talking to a science teacher.  I love talking to teachers because of the impact my fifth grade teacher made on my life eons ago.  We were talking and I bought up the question of “What are the kids and their parents like nowadays?”  (He had been teaching for over 20 years so I was curious about his observations).

He said, “Parents nowadays are lax with their responsibilities in terms of monitoring the child’s school progress.  They expect the school to handle everything ranging from discipline to doing their homework.”    “On top of that,” he continued, “many kids come from broken homes.”   No wonder we have problems in the schools.  There needs to be a connection between parents, teachers and the kids.

Hey, maybe you could do that next!

7.  If I were to ask you to dig a little further, how would you define who you really are?

My hope is that I will have an overall positive effect on the lives of others from my relationships with them and from my work, and that my life will bring Truth, Beauty, Goodness and Love to the lives of others.

Stephen’s Response: I love it!  “Truth, beauty, goodness and love.”  You are definitely a lightworker disguised in a business suit. 

8.  What is the best advice you’ve ever received and given?

A life not lived for others is a life not lived.

Stephen’s Response: Hmm..interesting.   Sounds like what you’re saying is “living life without serving others is a life not lived.”  Would that be about right?

9. What do you consider your proudest achievement in life?

The fact that a dyslexic kid who had a fear of speaking developed a love for reading, writing and speaking has a certain irony and, I suppose, qualifies as an achievement.

Stephen’s Response: That is amazing!  Did you have a hard time in school because of this disability?  Were you labeled as slow by the teachers?  What about the other kids?   Did they make fun of you?

I can see how being dyslexic would cause you to fear public speaking.  Once a dyslexic, always a dyslexic, right?  How do you deal with it as an adult?  (You can comment down below).

Michael, do you think you became an overachiever because of your “hidden” disability?  I wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was “yes” because I can relate.  Being deaf and having people tell me throughout my life that I couldn’t do this or that actually became one of the greatest motivators for me.  I wanted to prove them wrong.  Of course, I now know that isn’t necessary as I need not prove anything anymore.

10.  We all have a dark side, what’s yours?

When my achievaholic beast gets out of its cage, I can be myopic and self-absorbed.

Stephen’s Response: Forgive me for laughing for I am not laughing AT you but WITH you because I can sure relate!  We all have egos which need taming every once in a while.  Some say the ego needs to be eliminated but I think it serves some useful purpose.  Like electricity or fire, it can be used for the greater good or evil.   It’s up to us.

11.  What would you say was the most embarrassing moment of your life that, at the time had you mortified, but you now freely share with others?   And what was the lesson you learned from the incident?

I had a flawed sense of love when I was young that was manifest in several unhealthy relationships.  I was seeking affirmation and twisting who I was in order to get the affirmation I longed for.  Experience and self-reflection have given me a much greater understanding about who I am and what I believe.

Stephen’s Response: Wow, this is POWERFUL.  I was on a cable TV show this morning (local) and the host was asking me what my challenges in life have been.   Among some of mine was how I cared too much about what other people thought.  As a result of that, I became someone who I was not, just for the sake of “fitting in.”

I bet you incorporate this lesson in your teachings because it is so easy for us to twist things around to get the affirmation we want from others.

We should celebrate our uniqueness!

(Turning to the audience):

Didn’t I tell you this was going to be an interesting interview?  Thank you Michael for coming to Adversity University.   I surely enjoyed getting to know you better and look forward to having you back for Part II next week.    Thank you so much for being transparent with us!

Until next time, enjoy the rest of the week.  For those of you braving bitter cold weather, stay warm!

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