Sept. 1, 2026

Success Starts With Serving Others and Staying the Course

Success Starts With Serving Others and Staying the Course
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What if one of the best ways to grow your business is to stop asking what you can get and start asking how you can help? After 27 years in staffing, more than 1,000 professional placements, and 15+ profitable years running his own boutique IT staffing firm, Mike Barefoot shares how persistence, integrity, adaptability, and a service-first approach shaped his success. Tune in to discover smarter ways to hire, build meaningful professional relationships, navigate business setbacks, and create success that isn't defined by money alone.


Key Takeaways

  • A savvy approach to completely change the way you approach networking
  • Why waiting for complete consensus can quietly sabotage your hiring process
  • What hiring managers should prioritize when skills on paper don't tell the whole story
  • How listening more and talking less can reveal exactly what customers and employees need
  • Integrity vs. short-term profit: which is more important?


Resources / Links Mentioned

About Mike Barefoot, MBA
Michael Barefoot, MBA, is a motivational speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and former staffing executive who brings together lessons from more than 27 years in the staffing industry and 37 years as a martial artist. During his career, he placed more than 1,000 professionals, generated over $50 million in revenue, earned numerous top-performer awards, and spent more than 15 years leading Red Zone Resources, a profitable boutique staffing firm specializing in IT, Accounting & Finance, and Administrative/Clerical talent. Today, Michael draws on the discipline of martial arts and his experiences in recruiting, sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship to motivate others to recognize their abilities, strengthen their mindset, and pursue success in both their professional and personal lives. He holds an MBA from Campbell University and a bachelor's degree in Business Management from North Carolina State University.


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