“Don’t F With Me”: The Moment Mark C. Winters Walked Away and Bet on Himself Join us on this special episode of Unlocking Moves, the show that dives into the pivotal moments in a leader’s journey that unlock real potential. This conversation came together quickly, and because of that, it’s raw, unfiltered, and honest in the best way. Many leaders love to tell their “glory” stories, but host Kurt Wilkin believes the real lessons live in the “gory” ones. This episode delivers exactly that as Kurt sits down with Mark C. Winters, co-author of Rocket Fuel and author of the newly released book Visionary. Mark takes us back to a defining moment early in his career at Procter & Gamble, when a single conversation with his boss shattered the perfectly mapped path to becoming CEO. That moment sparked what he calls his “entrepreneurial seizure”, the realization that he could not live in a world where someone else controlled his future. With a pregnant wife at home and no severance package, Mark quit anyway. What followed was a crash course in entrepreneurship, sleepless nights, financial pressure, and lessons that would shape his later thinking on visionaries, integrators, and leadership at scale. The conversation goes deep into what it really takes to be an entrepreneur. Mark breaks down the emotional toll, the isolation, and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. He shares why entrepreneurs are uniquely positioned to solve the world’s biggest problems, why capitalism only works when it is sustainable, and why entrepreneurship is not for everyone. Kurt and Mark also unpack the ideas behind Visionary, including the ten pillars of great visionary leadership, the need for self-awareness, and how defining your version of freedom changes the way you build companies. If you're an entrepreneur, a visionary, or someone questioning whether to take the leap, this episode is a raw, honest look at the cost, the upside, and the responsibility that comes with building something that matters. About Mark Winters Mark C. Winters is the co-author of Rocket Fuel and the author of Visionary. He is a longtime EOS expert, entrepreneur, and advisor who has started, acquired, and exited more than a dozen companies. Mark is known for his work helping visionary and integrator leaders operate at their best and build businesses that align with their personal definition of freedom. About Kurt Wilkin Kurt is a connector of dots, ideas, and people. For over 30 years, he has advised high-growth companies, starting his career with Ernst & Young and today serving as Founder of BusinessEarth and Managing Partner of Bee Cave Capital. He’s a serial entrepreneur with multiple successful exits and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs and CEOs build their companies. Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unlocking-moves Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/unlocking-moves #UnlockingMoves #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #Visionary #RocketFuel #EOS #FounderJourney #BusinessGrowth #GoryStories
