High Stakes Consultants - Team Building, Scaling, Streamlining

Michael Norwood helped resolve a situation that without his help, would have made it difficult for our company to survive.

True Course Simulations creates simulations for pilot training in virtual reality for clients such as the United States Air Force Academy and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

We hired Michael regarding a high stakes problem with a business partner with whom I could not communicate effectively. This created a chaotic environment causing us to nearly miss crucial deadlines.

My stress level was unbearable. It even affected my blood pressure, which went through the roof. My relationship with my significant other was suffering greatly as well because the situation was consuming so much of my time, energy and ability to concentrate.

Enter Michael! It only took him a total of 12 billable hours to get him up to speed on the make-it-or-break-it situation, on the technicalities and complexities of our business, and for him to conduct two phone calls with all the involved parties. With Michael’s help, we quickly realized that the only answer was to end the relationship with that partner.

As a result of how Michael handled that critical situation for us, our business began going through the roof.

His knowledge of the software business is very broad and deep. He knows so many people. He has very effective ideas on a wide range of business issues from hiring and managing team members, streamlining operations, avoiding legal issues and scaling our business. We collaborate regularly with Michael, especially when we need to make tough decisions. He consistently helps us focus on achieving our business vision and goals.

He is a true friend to our business and made it fun now to go to work every day again. We are so grateful in so many ways to Michael.

Ray Bédard
President True Course Simulations
Prescott, Arizona More...

Michael was invaluable in identifying and launching our Better Than Sex! brand and video series. He distills issues and strategic opportunities in laser-like fashion. And he's a pleasure to work with! Stu Zimmerman, CEO, Only the Source LLC More...

As a woman operating in a man’s world, the value of Michael’s help has been incalculable. Whether working with Michael to structure a million-dollar proposal to a Las Vegas hotel for one of my large sculptures, or him quickly resolving a costly long-term, high-stakes conflict with an intractable service provider, Michael has completely taken the load off my shoulders in the toughest of situations and negotiations.

Perhaps even more invaluable is how Michael has taught me how not to be walked over, ignored or be taken advantage of. Rather than showing I’m tougher than any of the high-powered men I have to deal with, I’ve learned from Michael how a woman’s natural politeness and diplomatic approach is her greatest asset . . . as long as you remain rock solid and stand firm within your boundaries.

I just wish I had Michael to help me earlier in my career as a sculptress, which took me to Europe, the Arab Emirates and now to America, commissioned by Heads of State and Fortune 500 Companies. Besides everything else he’s helped me with, I always will be thankful to Michael for making me less sensitive, more objective and more straightforward when making others accountable, all while retaining a woman’s natural grace and charm. More...

My gratitude to Michael Norwood is immeasurable – for his commitment, know-how, ingenuity and even tough love. For the past seven years, Michael has been my go-to expert, time and again, concerning a wide variety of sensitive, urgent and complex business matters. In the area of people and team challenges, where precise and clear communication is imperative, Michael has saved me from making crucial errors because of the emotions that were involved. In unclear and risky situations, he has guided me in:

• Negotiating contracts
• Mediating serious conflicts
• Improving marketing messaging
• Choosing brand names and promotional campaigns.
• Navigating social media and digital options
• Preventing me from taking risks whose implications
I hadn’t seen or misjudged.

Michael also has helped me effectively deal with people of questionable integrity. To bring out the best in people. To restore harmony to partnerships and teams riddled with rivalries and personality differences. To respond to sudden setbacks and challenges. He’s done this by managing my expectations of others, guiding me in speaking my truth to fix shaky relationships, and in giving constructive (as opposed to destructive) feedback.

Without Michael’s keen awareness, emotional intelligence, and articulate languaging, I don’t know what I would have done when dealing with seemingly impossible people, threatening business situations, and high-risk/reward opportunities.

- Larry J. Rosenberg, PhD, CEO, TheLarryShow.com, Tucson, AZ More...

As a world-renowned psychologist and author of 8 books, I’ve been a guest speaker around the world on the subject of emotional intelligence in the workplace. I have consulted with Dr. Michael Norwood for many years to handle a number of highly sensitive situations. These have been primarily in business, but in personal circumstances as well. Michael’s abilities arise from a combination of natural gifts and the experience of working at very high levels in Washington DC, Silicon Valley, Hollywood and in a wide range of very tough circumstances where he’s pulled rabbits out of hats in seemingly hopeless situations. He has helped me deal with some very tricky situations where, if the needle weren’t thread just right, everything could have fallen apart. He’s like a horse whisperer for people. He knows how to bring the best out of others and how to resolve seemingly impossible conflicts with a naturalness that leaves all parties wondering why there was ever a conflict to begin with. More...