Chief Change Officer Podcast: Episode #409 – Sandy Goldgaard: Climbing the Wrong Mountain — Part One
Release Date: June 12, 2025
Introduction
In Episode #409 of the Chief Change Officer podcast, host Vince Chan engages in a profound conversation with Sandy Goldgaard, a multifaceted individual whose journey spans from being a national slam dunk champion to a seasoned corporate leader and the founder of SEG (Simple, Easy Growth). This two-part series delves deep into Sandy's experiences of chasing titles, experiencing burnout, and ultimately realizing that he had been "climbing the wrong mountain." The discussion encompasses themes of ego, clarity, and the innovative "Life Pills Method," offering listeners a blend of personal anecdotes, philosophical insights, and practical strategies for personal and professional transformation.
1. Guest Background and Early Success
Sandy Goldgaard's Athletic Beginnings
Sandy begins by recounting his childhood in Denver, Colorado, where a fascination with flying and basketball took root. Inspired by basketball icon Michael Jordan’s assertion, “I can fly” (02:56), Sandy dedicated himself to mastering the art of dunking. His relentless training—performing 1,400 toe raises every night—culminated in winning the national slam dunk championship in Lubbock, Texas, and securing a four-year starting position at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Transition to Professional Aspirations
With dreams of playing professional basketball in São Paulo, Brazil, Sandy’s athletic career faced an abrupt halt due to a skiing accident. This unforeseen setback forced him to pivot, applying his competitive spirit and work ethic from sports to the corporate world. For nearly three decades, Sandy thrived in the corporate arena, scaling the corporate ladder with a focus on “sizing up the competition” and “outworking everybody” (02:56).
2. Transition and Realization
Achievement Vs. Fulfillment
Despite achieving considerable success—including managing substantial budgets and leading large teams at Regis (the precursor to WeWork)—Sandy felt an underlying sense of unfulfillment as his children became independent. Reflecting on his priorities, he recognized that his relentless pursuit of money, power, and recognition had overshadowed his personal well-being and true aspirations.
Stripping Away to Find Clarity
Sandy began a transformative journey by cleansing his diet, abstaining from alcohol, and stripping away external distractions. This introspective period was pivotal in “tracking opportunities to allow the best version of myself to come out” (08:15). He emphasized the importance of “dropping my ego” and letting his true self surface, leading to the founding of SEG and a redefined understanding of wealth as the ability to “do what I want, when I want, with minimal effort” (08:15).
3. Lessons Learned
Understanding True Success
Through his experiences, Sandy redefined success beyond traditional metrics. He articulated that true wealth encompasses both monetary gains and the capacity to appreciate life’s miracles. This holistic view shifted his priorities from external achievements to internal well-being and meaningful contributions.
The Influence of Upbringing
Sandy discussed how his Catholic upbringing instilled a belief that life was meant to be endured with minimal desire and maximal resilience. This mindset led him to numb his emotions and equate hard work with self-worth—a lesson he had to unlearn to achieve genuine fulfillment (08:52).
4. Action vs. Inaction
Intentional Inaction Defined
A pivotal part of the conversation centered on the concept of "intentional inaction." Sandy clarified that this doesn't equate to laziness but rather involves discerning the nature of one's actions. He contrasted mindless busyness driven by ego with "inspired action" that aligns with one's true self and natural energies (22:31).
Personal Examples and Historical Insights
Drawing parallels with historical figures like Gandhi and Albert Einstein, Sandy illustrated how periods of introspection and silence can lead to inspired breakthroughs. For instance, Gandhi’s mediation skills and Einstein’s theoretical insights were products of deep internal focus and alignment with his life energy (23:36).
Notable Quote:
"When I chase what it is I think I want, my life becomes a furnace of stress and anxiety... When I sit in silence, I realized that what I want also wants me, it is looking for me, and it will find me." – Sandy Goldgaard (08:52)
5. Host’s Resonance and Experience
Vince Chan’s Parallel Journey
Vince Chan shared his own experience of starting the Chief Change Officer podcast, highlighting the serendipitous and inspired nature of its inception. Similar to Sandy’s journey, Vince began without a rigid plan, allowing the podcast to organically grow through genuine inspiration and alignment with his core mission (29:17).
Organic Growth Through Inspired Action
Vince emphasized that following one’s inspiration, rather than adhering strictly to external directives, fosters authentic growth and meaningful connections. This philosophy mirrors Sandy’s advocacy for aligning actions with one’s true self and natural energies (30:52).
6. Conclusion and What’s Next
Embracing Simple, Easy Growth
The episode concludes with Sandy outlining his mission to help others achieve a “lower stress way of managing their life” while attracting what they truly desire. He advocates for understanding and harnessing one’s unique life energy to create an “amazing experience” rather than a life of constant striving and stress.
Teaser for Part Two
Vince hints at the next installment, where listeners will explore the aftermath of climbing the wrong mountain—covering growth, healing, and building a life that genuinely fits one’s true self. The discussion promises to delve deeper into the "Life Pills Method" and the art of "stripping down without falling apart."
Key Takeaways:
- Redefining Success: Moving beyond traditional metrics of money and power to embrace holistic well-being and meaningful contributions.
- Intentional Inaction: Choosing actions that align with one’s true self and natural energies, rather than succumbing to ego-driven busyness.
- Inspired Action: Allowing moments of silence and introspection to foster inspired and impactful actions.
- Personal Transformation: The importance of shedding external expectations to uncover and nurture one’s authentic self.
- Empowering Others: Sandy’s commitment to helping others achieve personal and professional growth through inspired and aligned actions.
Notable Quotes:
"When I chase what it is I think I want, my life becomes a furnace of stress and anxiety... When I sit in silence, I realized that what I want also wants me, it is looking for me, and it will find me." – Sandy Goldgaard (08:52)
"We owe it to ourselves to lean into what's right in front of you and not chase something you think you want." – Sandy Goldgaard (22:31)
"Change becomes really easy when you're listening and you're in tune with yourself and your coherent vibration with the universe." – Sandy Goldgaard (30:52)
Join the Conversation
To explore Sandy's insights further and embark on a journey of simple, easy growth, tune into Part Two of this enlightening series on Chief Change Officer. Subscribe on LinkedIn, Apple, Spotify, or YouTube @chiefchangeofficer, and become part of a community dedicated to ambitious human transformation.