In this episode of Voices of Leadership, Chris Atwell sits down with Beau Jolly for a grounded, deeply personal conversation about the experiences that shape real leadership. Beau reflects on a defining, life-altering moment, being diagnosed with diabetes, and how that challenge fundamentally changed the way he approached not only his health, but discipline, mindset, and leadership. What began as a personal battle became the foundation for how he shows up every day: leadership starts with self-mastery.

Beau and Chris dive into one of the toughest challenges leaders in the rep industry face: losing a major line. Beau shares how applying the same discipline and resilience he developed through his health journey allowed him to respond with consistency instead of panic. Rather than giving up, he embraced the challenge as a refining process, a “purifying fire”, and committed to steady, daily action to rebuild and grow stronger.

Throughout the episode, Beau emphasizes the importance of structure, routine, and doing hard things daily. From preparing the night before to early morning workouts, quiet time, and faith-based reflection, he explains how creating order before the day begins allows him to lead with clarity, energy, and presence. He also underscores the responsibility leaders have to invest in themselves so they can better serve their teams, customers, and families.

Looking ahead, Beau shares his excitement around new partnerships, growth opportunities, and the chance to pour into others, not just professionally, but personally. He also discusses the importance of vision, mission, and helping team members align their personal growth with the broader purpose of the organization.

Chris and Beau explore:

• How a personal health challenge reshaped leadership mindset and discipline
• Responding to major business setbacks with consistency and resilience
• The role of daily routines, faith, and self-mastery in effective leadership
• Why doing hard things builds the capacity to lead through adversity
• The importance of vision, mission, and creating buy-in within teams
• Leading with purpose by investing in people, not just performance

This episode offers practical wisdom, raw honesty, and a powerful reminder that leadership starts from within, making it especially impactful for leaders navigating pressure, change, and growth in the manufacturers’ rep community.

Chris Atwell is the Founder of Mindset-Conquest, a leadership and mindset coach working with manufacturers’ rep agencies across North America. He helps leaders strengthen their mindset, elevate their leadership, and create the clarity and structure needed to grow their business and their people.