Michael Arnold
Michael watched Neil Armstrong step on to the moon while sitting on his grandpa’s knee. He wanted to be an astronaut, but discovered in high school he was 3 inches too tall! Michael decided to become an engineer and build taller spaceships, discovering his passion: solving problems by changing the status quo.
He also found love marrying his high school sweetheart. They are both mechanical engineers with two sons, one an Electrical Engineering graduate from the Citadel and another studying Computer Engineering at the University of South Carolina. They all currently live in Anderson, SC.
Michael’s mentor in college told him “Don’t become a quality engineer in the automotive industry.” Luckily, he ignored this advice and found the last 25 years in automotive quality to be challenging and fast paced, but now understands the advice thanks to the command and control management culture.
Michael’s focus the last 15+ years has been finding and solving complex problems, gaining both Shainin Red X Journeyman and Six Sigma Black Belt certifications, including teaching and coaching Six Sigma. He has averaged over $1 million in cost avoidance every year of his career. Michael now draws on this experience and knowledge to train and coach others to resolve their complex problems with innovative solutions.
“A coach encouraged me to become uncomfortable. Next thing I know, I am auditioning for a TEDx talk,” giving a TEDxGreenville Talk about the need to prepare our kids for an uncertain future by training them to be better problem solvers and a TEDxClemsonU Talk on the Cure for Lazy Leadership.
Michael is now a speaker, trainer and coach for the John Maxwell Team helping others identify and solve their biggest problems, no matter if they are technical or leadership problems. In other words, he now helps others build their taller spaceships.