Welcome to How Leaders Lead, where every week you get to listen in while I interview some of the very

best leaders in the world. I break down the key learnings so that by the end of the episode,

you'll have something simple you can apply as you develop into a better leader. That's what

this podcast is all about. My guest today is Admiral Mike Mullen,

the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He served in both the Bush and Obama administrations

and retired in 2011 after 43 years of exemplary military service. I'm telling you, that kind of career gives you leadership wisdom you just can't get any other

way.

And Mike is kind enough to share it with us today.

He's a great American, and that's not a designation I use lightly.

He's got so many incredible stories to share.

And in every single one of them, you're going to see how to lead with integrity, how to be accountable, how to speak truth to power, and how to surround yourself with truth tellers when you're the one in charge.

Plus, you do not want to miss his insights into what's going on in the world right now in Israel,

Russia, and China and what that might mean for the future of our country.

So here's my conversation with my good friend and soon to be yours, Admiral Mike Mullen.

Mike, it's great to have you on the show, and I want to thank you so much for your service.

Thanks, David. It's great to be with you. It's a topic I really, really like.

Well, I know that as I've done my research, and I want to talk to you about your time as the Joint Chiefs Chair. But first, I want to take you back.

You know, I understand that your mom and dad were in the entertainment business. How'd that influence

your perspective on leadership? Well, at the time when I was growing up as a kid, I didn't think much

about it. But as I was able to reflect as I became, adult, you know, I took from my family, I was the oldest of five kids. My parents were both depression kids, came from the Midwest, dad from Chicago, mom from Iowa. They went to California to find their dreams and they found each other. Five kids, I was the

oldest. And my dad provided for us, worked hard. He was very good at what he did. He was also a

great communicator. He was a journalism major, University of Illinois, and he read and wrote exceptionally well,

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