Get Unstuck & On Target

Get Unstuck & On Target


Ep221 Mike Blake - Are Your Top Talents Being Wasted? One Executive's 4,000-Mile Journey to Reclaim Purpose

September 03, 2025

In this powerful episode, Mike O'Neill sits down with Mike Blake, founder of High Score Strategies, who made the bold decision to relocate his business valuation firm from Atlanta to Portugal. Not for political reasons or tax benefits—but because his greatest talents were gathering dust, slowly eroding his sense of purpose and happiness.


Mike Blake brings over 20 years of experience in business valuation, specializing in hard-to-value assets like software code, intellectual property, and early-stage technology companies. Throughout this candid conversation, he reveals how living abroad has transformed not just his personal life but made him a sharper, more focused business leader. His expertise in valuing complex assets combined with his natural talent for languages and cultural adaptation creates a unique perspective on leadership that business owners can immediately apply.


Host Mike O'Neill expertly guides the discussion through Blake's professional transformation, drawing out practical wisdom on how curiosity becomes a competitive advantage, why non-judgmental problem-solving builds stronger teams, and how recognizing when you're stuck can be the most valuable business insight of all.


Key Insights to Look Out For:

- Why using your second-best talents instead of your best ones creates a spiritual drain that eventually impacts your business performance

- How adopting a posture of curiosity rather than judgment transforms client relationships and team leadership

- The power of acknowledging when there's no good solution to a problem—and why sometimes the best advice is telling clients they're genuinely stuck


This episode isn't just for those considering international relocation—it's for any business owner feeling misaligned with their true strengths or facing difficult transitions. Listen now to gain fresh perspective on what it takes to make meaningful change, even when it requires significant sacrifice. Mike's story will inspire you to honestly assess where your talents are being underutilized and find the courage to make necessary shifts in your business and life.


Remember to subscribe to Get Unstuck and On Target for more conversations that blend strategic business insights with authentic leadership wisdom. Your next breakthrough might be waiting in this episode.


Find all the show notes and links here: https://www.unstuck.show/221