The Karlsrud Company

The Karlsrud Company Mentor | Speaker | Friend
I help leaders be seen and heard so they can lead with clarity, courage, and impact.

I have been blessed with a 40-year career in sales, marketing, leadership, and now mentorship. Work for me has transcended from performance to pastoral. I work with leaders to Uncover, Unpack and Uphold their values and convictions to become a better leader and provide authentic leadership to others. The journey of leadership feels solitary, but it doesn't need to be.

Don't ever be afraid to reinvent, recreate, to adjust course in life. I have found the most liberating times of my life...
01/17/2026

Don't ever be afraid to reinvent, recreate, to adjust course in life. I have found the most liberating times of my life have been when I wanted a "do over."

Traditional wiring would tell you that you can't. Your course is set, and the expectation of your role in family, friends, and professional desires cannot change. In fact, they can. They should. You are the master of your own destiny. You get to write your own story.

Over the last almost three years, I have returned fully to the role of executive mentor. It has been a blessing and a learning curve. In the weeks ahead, a reinvention will emerge. A simpler approach to life, work, and play. One filled with gratitude, abundance, a desire to travel lighter, and to be more present with those I am with. I am slowing down to travel lighter and faster in the future. Soon, the new webpage will be complete and a tighter focus on where I want to continue to make an impact.

I look forward to more mentoring and getting back on the stage in 2026. It is going to be a grand year. I can feel it.

When was the last time you experienced true silence? Over the past week, I found myself in the Upper Peninsula of Michig...
09/30/2025

When was the last time you experienced true silence? Over the past week, I found myself in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, following the southern shore of Lake Superior. I hiked through forests, climbed mountains, sat quietly by the shore, and even shared a coffee with a seagull. For 90% of this trip, I was disconnected from wifi and the internet. My body relaxed, my anxiety faded, and I engaged in meaningful conversations with strangers about fascinating topics.

This experience reminded me, as many of us often need, that life beyond the news and social media is still beautiful. People are still wonderful. When you smile and greet the world, it often responds in kind.

Then Monday arrived, bringing back the obligations and tasks I had left behind. However, this Monday felt different. I returned grounded and calm, ready to tackle what needed to be done. I was reminded of the gratitude, humility, and beauty that surrounds us every day.

I experienced "no-thing" for four days. Imagine that.

I worked remote this week. Really remote. Mind clearing, remote. And it was good. As leaders, it is difficult to give yo...
08/07/2025

I worked remote this week. Really remote. Mind clearing, remote. And it was good. As leaders, it is difficult to give yourself permission to step away, to "travel light."

As a mentor, I, too, have a group of mentors who gave me the sage advice, "You need to take time and travel light." Meaning, the burdens of life and leadership become old friends. The weight we carry becomes normal, and it's "just what we carry."

Yet, if you ever dared yourself to set down the burden? Give yourself permission to travel light? The relief you feel is amazing. Life-giving. Re-energizing. Is it scary? Yes. Did I come back to the same issues I had prior to grabbing the handlebars? Yes. Did the world stop? No. Did I lose ground? Really??? Pack light.

Travel light. Get out of your own head. Look up. Look around. Breathe fresh air.

The world, despite everything you have heard, is still a beautiful place. And the people you meet along the way? Beautiful too.

06/17/2025

In The Arena, it’s never the sideline cynic who moves the world forward; it’s the one who shows up. Bloodied, uncertain, imperfect… but willing.

06/17/2025

We really only have what we can control or influence. Use your sphere of influence wisely. Keep them close. Check in on them regularly. Your network is your net worth.

In a world that is increasingly marked by cruelty, mistrust, and knee-jerk reactions of hate, take a moment to breathe and lean into a conversation to understand and grow, rather than dismissing and labeling. Issues are complex. People are complex. No one is happy.

Spread joy and kindness. Judgment isn't your job, and you probably suck at it. I do.

03/05/2025

I read a quote on FB today that said, "Embarrassment is the cost of entry. If you are unwilling to pay upfront, you will never be a grateful master."

Over the my nearly 40 years of business experience, leadership, speaking and now coaching, I can tell you these are the most prophetic words I have seen lately. Hell, after all these years I still get embarrassed, but you don't see me blush as much under a fuzzy face, worn eyes, and a more silent response. But isn't that the point of it all? Mastery. Mastery means that what feels easy to you is someone else's struggle or potential embarrassment.

What an incredible opportunity we have as leaders to turn embarrassment into mastery. To lessen the blush and improve the skill, teach the lesson, provide grace where possible and take the long approach to developing one another.

No one does well in the moment of embarrassment. But we all thrive in moments of grace.

02/26/2025

The way the world is feeling, I think I need to start a blog called, "You got to be sh****ng me."

I started a non-profit with a group of wonderful people called Executives Mentoring Soldiers (emsus.org). This group hel...
02/26/2025

I started a non-profit with a group of wonderful people called Executives Mentoring Soldiers (emsus.org). This group helps transition soldiers from active duty to their first civilian job. To date, we have over 35 executives and have mentored over 115 soldiers into their new lives. Right now, we have 60 more soldiers in queue, waiting for mentors to become available. By the year's end, we hope to help over 200.

It's -30 with the windchill tonight, fire in the place, football on the TV and I'm reflecting on this morning's presenta...
01/20/2025

It's -30 with the windchill tonight, fire in the place, football on the TV and I'm reflecting on this morning's presentation at church. It was an hour-long presentation about Hospice, its role, the myths, and most importantly, lessons learned from those whose time has ended.

There were 10 lessons given from the dying, but the last one struck me as most important. "Do not be afraid." The phrase is said 365 times in the Bible, ironically one for each day of the year. But in this case, the context was about death- do not be afraid.

What struck me was just the opposite, do not be afraid to... live. As a mentor and coach to those who make a life of striving to accomplish things, we are often singularly focused on achieving; wealth, status, and accolades. We might do so out of the fear of failure. We might do things because we have the skills and talent and we don't want to see it go to waste. But what do we do when we've hit our peak performance years (around 45 for most), and we are on the decline? Are we still clinging to accomplishments? Are we afraid to let go of what of we've become at the expense of exploring what we WILL become in the future?

I was struck with the idea of "do not be afraid," about the end of life, and instead, I am asking myself, "What would we do if we weren't afraid?" We have one glorious life. The dying would say... fear not, live it fully, and leave the judgment for the afterlife.

Happy New Year! I've intentionally spent the last year off social media, except for birthday wishes, congratulatory mes...
01/10/2025

Happy New Year! I've intentionally spent the last year off social media, except for birthday wishes, congratulatory messages, and condolences to those I've known and lost.

I knew this past year was going to be one that was wrought with emotion, posturing, and tribalism that frankly didn't fit me, what I believe in, or support- and it wouldn't have mattered once people thought they needed to either paint me with a blue or a red brush.

The fact of the matter is, I had an outstanding year! I still like everyone on my Fb feed, no one felt the need to try to define me, and I built, maintained, and started many wonderful relationships.

In 2009, I launched my company with the motto, "Be Seen. Be Heard." At the time, I thought it was cool and a little different. I didn't know that 16 years later, we would all be so fragmented, isolated, and facing the greatest epidemic of our time; loneliness. I work with those who lead and quietly wish for things to slow down enough that someone would take the time to actually see you and hear you.

A couple of key things happened this past year; I am back into mentoring/coaching the "strivers" of the world- as Arthur Brooks writes about. If you want to learn more about what I do, visit my new website michaelkarlsrud.com. (You can still get there through Karlsrud Company). Second, I returned as a Chair for Vistage Worldwide, a peer-to-peer executive board for CEOs, Owners, and key executives. It feels like returning home. I have 40 folks or so, that I am growing to love the more I spend time with them. Always looking for a few more.

In the past, I had the fortune of a very successful speaking career. I still speak, not as often, and the topics have changed. But rest assured, they are still focused on people, culture, empowerment, and leadership. That's on the site too.

Finally, I'm a new fan of Atomic Habits by James Clear. I don't know how often I am going to post here, but more than in the past. I'll share some learnings with clients, random thoughts to ponder or share a stupid dad joke.

Until then, I will share one of my new favorite quotes. "Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is knowing that you don't put it in a fruit salad."

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Stillwater, MN
55082

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(612) 747-3184

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