In this episode of Properties to Profits, I unpack the first and strongest of my saboteurs—the Controller—and how it’s shaped (and limited) my business, relationships, and leadership. This is part of my ongoing journey with the insights I’ve gained from the book Positive Intelligence, and if you’re the type who feels the need to do it all yourself, you’ll definitely relate.

I get vulnerable about how control has helped me hit early milestones but held me back from scaling, building trust, and creating a sustainable team. You’ll hear practical steps I’m using to shift from controlling to empowering—and how it’s already making a massive impact.

Episode Timeline:

[0:00] - Why Positive Intelligence is a must-read for personal and professional growth

[1:00] - Breaking down my top saboteur: the Controller

[1:44] - How controlling behavior creates burnout and breaks trust

[2:21] - The shift from fear-based control to purpose-driven leadership

[3:06] - Practical ways I’m rewiring my reactions—starting with breathwork

[4:27] - Empowerment over micromanagement: flipping the internal script

[5:32] - Real stories from my team where letting go led to growth

[6:30] - The truth: controllers don’t scale—and why it matters

[8:05] - Personal reflection: how my upbringing shaped this saboteur

[8:39] - Daily practices to reduce control and activate the Sage mindset

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Control is often rooted in fear and chaos. Recognizing where it comes from is the first step in transforming it into something productive.

2. Micromanagement stunts growth—for you and your team. Real leadership is about empowerment, trust, and allowing others to fail forward.

3. Small daily practices create massive mindset shifts. Breathwork, reflection, and sensory exercises help build mental resilience and self-awareness.

Links & Resources:

• Learn more and take the Saboteur Assessment: positiveintelligence.com

• Connect with me on Instagram: @realestatemike02

If you found value in this episode, don’t forget to rate, follow, and share the podcast. And if you’re working on taming your own saboteurs, shoot me a message—I’d love to hear your story. Let’s keep turning properties into profits!