The Missionary and The Mercenary: Right Questions. Better Future.

Every day you walk the tightrope between idealism and pragmatism. Getting things done can mean compromising your principles. If you let it, the paralysis this tension creates will stop us from acting on the risks and opportunities that direct our future. And this problem is multiplied when working together in organizations where our values are diverse or even in conflict.

We call these two mindsets The Missionary and The Mercenary. They both live hidden inside of you. If circumstances mislead you into leaning too far to one side or the other, you risk making mistakes that can send you tumbling out of control.

We’ve discovered that mastering the Missionary + Mercenary balancing act is what leadership really is. Unfortunately, earning the kind of experience that leaders are made of is learned by choosing poorly and making mistakes. And today the stakes are so high we can’t afford too many of the wrong choices or we won’t have a future at all.

Making the mistakes that can limit your future comes from asking the wrong questions, not lacking the right answers.

We’ve spent decades distilling the most critical questions leaders must practice asking if they want to get everyone confidently pulling in the right direction to control their future. This is our guidebook to help you make the choices that will control your future too.

© 2025 Missionary + Mercenary, LLC (Audiobook): 9798347778997

Release date

Audiobook: 8 March 2025