The Yes Mindset: What a Global CEO Learned About Family, Service, and Success | MTM

"What if the most game-changing shift in your life is a three-letter word you’ve been afraid to use?

In this episode of Men Talking Mindfulness, hosts Will Schneider and Jon Macaskill sit down with Jim Alling—former President of Starbucks, COO of T-Mobile USA, and CEO of TOMS—to explore how the simple word yes, when paired with gritty gratitude and servant leadership, can radically transform the way men lead, live, and relate.

Jim has spent decades leading some of the most recognizable global brands in the world, overseeing tens of thousands of employees and billions in revenue. But behind the titles and responsibility, he learned a deeper lesson: success without presence, values, and service comes at a cost. In this conversation, Jim gets honest about burnout at the top, the pressure of constant availability, and the quiet toll hustle culture takes on men who feel responsible for everyone but themselves.

Together, Will, Jon, and Jim unpack how saying yes to the right things—family, values, curiosity, and service—can open doors to purpose, connection, and sustainable leadership. They also explore when no is the most courageous response, especially when health, relationships, and integrity are on the line.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How one mentor at Starbucks taught Jim the “power of yes” and reshaped his leadership

• Why Jim chose his child’s health and family over a secure corporate path

• What gritty gratitude looks like when life is hard—not polished or performative

• The difference between servant leadership and leadership that simply performs

• Why men who “have it all together” often feel empty, isolated, or burned out

• How to say yes without becoming a doormat (values, boundaries, and clarity)

• How humility, humor, and service kept Jim grounded across Nestlé, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and TOMS

This episode is especially for men who feel caught between outward success and inner exhaustion—or leaders who want to make a real difference without losing their humanity in the process.

You’ll walk away with:

✅ A new understanding of yes as a doorway to purpose, not people-pleasing

✅ A servant-leadership framework that still delivers real results

✅ Practical tools for integrating gratitude into pressure and responsibility

✅ Encouragement to lead as your whole self—not just your job title

Sponsor

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Release Dates

• Medical Edition Vol. 1: December 22, 2025

• Consumer Edition Vol. 1: January 20, 2026

Discount Code: PFH25

Offer Windows

• Medical Edition: Dec 20, 2025 – Jan 31, 2026

• Consumer Edition: Jan 20 – Feb 20, 2026

Proceeds support the development of the Children of Veterans Program.

Preview both editions here:

Links & Resources

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If this episode resonates with you, please like, subscribe, leave a comment, and share it with one man who needs to hear it. That’s how this message reaches more people who feel stuck, burned out, or alone.

Question for you:

👉 What’s one values-based YES you’re ready to say this week?

This episode was coproduced by Robert Lopez of "