WELCOME TO SECOND MOUNTAIN COACHING
The first mountain is about success. The second mountain is about significance.
Second Mountain Coaching helps leaders and teams turn stated values into daily behaviors that create trust, care, and results.
Simple path. Real traction.
What Second Mountain Coaching Offers
”Imagine a better future; build a better future.
David BrooksThe Second Mountain
Our Purpose
To positively influence those who will transform the lives of others.
At Second Mountain Coaching, we believe leadership is an act of service. Our purpose is to help people discover and live from their deepest values so they can lead with clarity, courage, and compassion.
Our name and guiding metaphor are inspired by The Second Mountain by David Brooks, whose work reminds us that life has two climbs. Most of us spend the first part of our journey on the first mountain—the mountain of success, measured by what we accumulate: titles, achievements, recognition, and rewards. There’s nothing wrong with that climb—it’s part of growth. But eventually, many leaders discover that success alone isn’t enough.
The second mountain is different. It’s the mountain of significance, measured not by what we gain but by what we give. It’s about contribution, purpose, and legacy.
Second Mountain Coaching exists to guide and support those ready for that second climb—leaders who want their influence to reach beyond themselves and transform the lives of others. By investing in those who shape culture—executives, educators, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs—we create a ripple effect of positive impact. When one leader grows in self-awareness and integrity, entire teams and communities are transformed.
That’s why we do what we do: to develop leaders who trade the pursuit of success for the pursuit of significance—and help others climb their mountain, too.
Values
The word values gets thrown around a lot these days. Too often, it’s become a corporate buzzword—a box to check for boards and mission statements.
At Second Mountain Coaching, we see it differently. Over the years, we’ve asked hundreds of people to tell us what values mean to them, and their insights have shaped our own understanding.
Values Are:
- Deeply held beliefs that define who we are
- Guiding principles that help us make better decisions
- The things that matter most—personally and collectively
Our work begins and ends with values because they are the foundation of a healthy culture and authentic leadership.
Our Values in Action
These six values are more than words on a wall. They’re the heartbeat of Second Mountain Coaching and the compass that guides everything we do.
Health
We believe leadership starts with wholeness. Nurturing physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being allows us to bring energy, balance, and clarity to the people we serve.
Generosity
We give freely of our time, wisdom, and attention. True impact comes from sharing what we’ve learned and investing in the growth of others without expectation of return.
Integrity
We do what’s right—especially when it’s difficult. Our work is anchored in honesty, transparency, and alignment between our words, our actions, and our values.
Kindness
We lead with empathy and respect. Every interaction is an opportunity to uplift, listen deeply, and create a sense of belonging and dignity.
Open-Mindedness
We approach ideas and people with curiosity, not judgment. Growth happens when we challenge assumptions, welcome new perspectives, and remain humble enough to keep learning.
Trust
We earn and protect trust through consistency, confidentiality, and authenticity. It’s the foundation of every coaching relationship and the culture we help others build.
Meet Steve Sosland
Steve is a professional disrupter whose career has been defined by responsibility, purpose, and the pursuit of values-based culture. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and former Infantry officer, he learned early on that leadership is less about authority and more about service, trust, and accountability.
Over four decades, Steve has been leading positive change in business, healthcare, and higher education. As COO of a rural Texas hospital, he guided the team to win the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Later, as Vice Chancellor for Leader & Culture Development at the Texas Tech University System, he disrupted traditional approaches by embedding values-based leadership into institutional strategy, aligning ethics with long-term vision, and preparing leaders of character for the future.
Today, as Founder & President of Second Mountain Coaching, Steve partners with organizations across industries to align culture, strategy, and leadership so they can thrive responsibly in the face of complex challenges. His expertise lies in driving constructive disruption that becomes a force multiplier for clarity, purpose, and resilience.
Beyond his professional work, Steve finds his deepest purpose in family—his wife of 40 years, Kelly, their two daughters, two sons-in-law, and four grandchildren. Their love grounds his belief that leadership, at its core, is about stewardship and responsibility to others.
Trail Markers
Think of these as the signs along the path. Simple, shareable guidance on leading with character and building teams that deliver. New books, fresh thinking, and what Steve is building now. Every post is a marker you can use today.
On Bananas
In 1995, on a flight to Las Vegas for a strategic planning conference, I picked up Built to Last by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras. What started as airplane reading…
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Guide to facilitating a Values Summit
1. OPEN WITH A STORY
Explain the Value of Values and why they matter for leaders and culture.
2. PERSONAL CORE VALUES
Reflect on your roots, influencers growing up, and the current core values that came from them.
3. SHARED CORE VALUES
Have every participant share their personal values, group them in themed “buckets” that evolve into the organization’s shared core values.
4. DEFINE EACH VALUE
Work in small groups to write succinct definitions for each value as it applies to the organization.
5. DEVELOP BEHAVIORS
Write 4-5 specific action-oriented and measurable behaviors that will indicate when individuals are living each value.
6. DESIGN ICONS
Work with a graphic design team (We use The Owen Group) to create visual icons to represent each value.
7. DISTRIBUTE FLYER
Send a draft version of your organization’s values flyer with name of each value, icon, definition, and behaviors to every member of the organization to review and comment. Senior leaders hold town hall meetings if possible to get input and make edits.
8. SO WHAT?
All this effort for naught unless all leaders commit to integrating the values into daily work, processes, hiring, and promotions. This is the key to sustainability.
Values are not posters. Values are practice. We make them visible in how people treat each other, how decisions get made, and how work gets done. If you want to run a Values Summit, we can help. These sessions can reshape culture in companies, families, and communities. Whether you want a few pointers or a complete Summit, reach out. We are ready to get you started.
Let’s Talk
Tell us what you want to build. We will reply as soon as we are able.