About Me
About Me
DISCERNING [dih-sur-ning] having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
Michael Messer
I believe in the transformative power of private enterprise for individuals and communities. My goal is to help you build a thriving and profitable business that creates a positive impact. Many businesses lack clear intention and direction, often mistaking busyness for purposeful action. I'm here to change that. Through strategic guidance and meaningful engagement, I will help you to define your business' purpose, craft a plan for impact, meet your financial goals, and foster valuable connections with employees, customers, suppliers, and local organizations. Together, we can build a purpose-driven company that creates the change that you want to see in your community and the world.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for more information about my professional background.
I believe in the transformative power of private enterprise for individuals and communities. My goal is to help you build a thriving and profitable business that creates a positive impact. Many businesses lack clear intention and direction, often mistaking busyness for purposeful action. I'm here to change that. Through strategic guidance and meaningful engagement, I will help you to define your business' purpose, craft a plan for impact, meet your financial goals, and foster valuable connections with employees, customers, suppliers, and local organizations. Together, we can build a purpose-driven company that creates the change that you want to see in your community and the world.
Michael Messer
I believe in the transformative power of private enterprise for individuals and communities. My goal is to help you build a thriving and profitable business that creates a positive impact. Many businesses lack clear intention and direction, often mistaking activity for purposeful action. I'm here to change that. Through strategic guidance and meaningful engagement, I will help you to define your business' purpose, craft a plan for impact, meet your financial goals, and foster valuable connections with employees, customers, suppliers, and local organizations. Together, we can build a purpose-driven company that creates the change that you want to see in your community and the world.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for more information about my professional background.
Michael Messer
I believe in the transformative power of private enterprise for individuals and communities. My goal is to help you build a thriving and profitable business that creates a positive impact. Many businesses lack clear intention and direction, often mistaking busyness for purposeful action. I'm here to change that. Through strategic guidance and meaningful engagement, I will help you to define your business' purpose, craft a plan for impact, meet your financial goals, and foster valuable connections with employees, customers, suppliers, and local organizations. Together, we can build a purpose-driven company that creates the change that you want to see in your community and the world.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for more information about my professional background.
THREE PILLARS OF THE COACHING FRAMEWORK
I help business owners and executives to see new opportunities, reimagine their business and drive growth. Through the pillars of Clarify, Grow and Lead, we gain clarity on objectives, enhance personal effectiveness, attract ideal clients, optimize sales processes, and build valuable partnerships. As your business expands, we focus on cultivating a strong organizational culture, strategic planning and team-building to lead with impact.
Coaching Framework
GROW
Your business & impact
LEAD
Lead in the community.
CLARIFY
Where you want to go
GROW
Your business & impact
LEAD
Lead in the community.
My Origin Story
The idea for Discerning Strategies was born over 20 years ago, when at the age of 27 I was sent to a former prison camp in the Russian Far East. Yes, you read that correctly! At the time, I was starting my career as a social impact investor working on behalf of the U.S. government. I was asked to travel to the Russian Far East to kick the tires on a U.S.-Russian joint venture. They sent me to a city called Magadan.
Imagine a city that was built in the far eastern reaches of Russia, established in the 1930s as the administrative center for forced labor camps (aka gulags) in Siberia under Stalin. Many people living there are descended from political prisoners who were literally sent to die in this remote corner of the globe. Although I came to Russia to count how many jobs and U.S. exports my client's company had created as part of their joint venture, I was struck by how much more of an impact their investment had on "intangibles."
My Origin Story
The idea for Discerning Strategies was born over 20 years ago, when at the age of 27 I was sent to a former prison camp in the Russian Far East. Yes, you read that correctly! At the time, I was starting my career as a social impact investor working on behalf of the U.S. government. I was asked to travel to the Russian Far East to kick the tires on a U.S.-Russian joint venture. They sent me to a city called Magadan.
Imagine a city that was built in the far eastern reaches of Russia, established in the 1930s as the administrative center for forced labor camps (aka gulags) in Siberia under Stalin. Many people living there are descended from political prisoners who were literally sent to die in this remote corner of the globe. Although I came to Russia to count how many jobs and U.S. exports my client's company had created as part of their joint venture, I was struck by how much more of an impact their investment had on "intangibles."
How many people do we know that feel disempowered, fearful, risk-averse, and unable to get to where they want to be?
How many people do we know that feel disempowered, fearful, risk-averse, and unable to get to where they want to be?
Igniting the Impact
I met with local business owners, government leaders, and employees, all of whom told me that this one company offered something more than just jobs and wages... this business offered a new way of thinking.
The local stakeholders experienced a thoughtful business partner that knew how they wanted to contribute to their adopted community. Employees were introduced to new ways of management that encouraged staff to think out of the box, take risks without a paralyzing fear of failure, and to collaborate. The people on the street liked achieving a higher standard of living, but what they really wanted to tell me was how empowered and hopeful they felt about their community.
What I learned from this experience is that businesses have a tremendous opportunity to intentionally create the impact that they want to see in the world.
They can choose to empower employees. They can choose to engage with the community.
They can plan for success and measure it in ways that go beyond profit and loss.
Igniting the Impact
I met with local business owners, government leaders, and employees, all of whom told me that this one company offered something more than just jobs and wages... they offered a new way of thinking.

The local stakeholders experienced a thoughtful business partner about how they wanted to contribute to their adopted community. Employees were introduced to new ways of management that allowed them to think out of the box, take risks without a paralyzing fear of failure, and to collaborate. The people on the street liked achieving a higher standard of living, but what they really wanted to tell me was how empowered and hopeful they felt about their community.
What I learned from this experience is that businesses have a tremendous opportunity to intentionally create the impact that they want to see in the world.
They can choose to empower employees. They can choose to engage with the community.
They can plan for success and measure it in ways that go beyond profit and loss.
Discerning Strategies is Born
Discerning Strategies is a reaction to my years in corporate America which very often reminded me of my experience in Magadan. I couldn’t shake the feeling that so many people in business have a gulag mentality. How many of us know people that feel disempowered, fearful, risk averse or unable to get where they want to be in business or their careers? I established Discerning Strategies to help business leaders to break out of their mental prison camp and create companies that are successful, empowering and impactful in the communities that they serve.
Discerning Strategies is Born
Discerning Strategies is a reaction to my years in corporate America which very often reminded me of my experience in Magadan. I couldn’t shake the feeling that so many people in business have a gulag mentality. How many of us know people that feel disempowered, fearful, risk averse or unable to get where they want to be in business or their careers? I established Discerning Strategies to help business leaders to break out of their mental prison camp and create companies that are successful, empowering and impactful in the communities that they serve.
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