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After more than three decades working in manufacturing leadership positions, Mark Cundiff discovered that one of his greatest passions wasn’t just about improving operations or boosting profits – it was about developing people.
In this episode, Mark shares how a leadership lesson from a John Maxwell book ignited a lifelong journey of growth and mentorship.
Now in his 60s, Mark is investing his time and energy into helping others become better leaders through coaching, speaking and writing.
If you’ve ever wondered how to make your future bigger than your past, this conversation is for you.
Mark’s life after 50 is a masterclass in intentional reinvention. As someone who averaged reading a book a week for nearly three decades, Mark’s devotion to personal development has created a deep reservoir of knowledge that he’s now using to serve others in meaningful ways.
Now at age 60, Mark is focused on helping individuals and organizations move from reactive firefighting to proactive leadership.
He described it as shifting from the “fireman” mentality, which is constantly addressing immediate problems, to becoming a “Smokey the Bear” type leader, who prevents issues through careful planning and strong systems.
That idea alone reframes what good leadership should look like, especially in today’s fast-moving, relationship-driven work environments.
Through his business, Mark works with leaders who have hit a plateau and want to grow. He especially enjoys coaching people who were promoted into management roles, but were never properly trained or mentored. That’s a major leadership blind spot for many companies, Mark noted, and one that often causes good people to fail unnecessarily.
Mark’s advice to aspiring leaders is to cultivate a growth mindset and surround themselves with the right resources. He pointed to several books that have helped him, including “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” and “Bringing Out the Best in People,” both written by John Maxwell.
“The Laws of Lifetime Growth” by Dan Sullivan had a particularly profound impact on his outlook after turning 50.
To help people assess whether they’re stuck in a reactive rut, Mark created a free tool called the Drift Detector, which is available on his website. The seven-question quiz helps people identify whether they’re moving with purpose or just going through the motions.
He also curates a weekly newsletter packed with leadership lessons, book recommendations, and tips that can be consumed in under 10 minutes.
One of Mark’s favorite questions to ask, especially when people are facing challenges is: “What does this make possible?” It’s a mindset-shifting prompt that encourages people to turn adversity into opportunity.
In addition to coaching and consulting, Mark is building a YouTube presence, planning a podcast, and considering writing one or more books based on the content he’s been blogging about for years. He’s even exploring fractional leadership roles with smaller companies that need high-level operations guidance without hiring a full-time executive.
For Mark, this stage of his life is an opportunity to fully embrace his passion for helping others unlock their leadership potential – especially those over 50 who are still eager to learn, grow and contribute.
To learn more about Mark or to take the Drift Detector assessment, visit www.markjcundiff.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn or subscribe to his newsletter for weekly insights into personal and professional growth.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
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After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.