The Real Story Behind Lofton Approved

(And Why It Matters to Your Business)

Can I just be completely honest with you about these 'About' pages? My marketing team says I have to have one. They tell me you need to know my background and credentials. And while that's all true, what you really need to know is whether I understand what you're going through.

So let me tell you the real story - not the LinkedIn version, but the version that explains why I can actually help you navigate what you're dealing with.

The Real Story Behind

Lofton Approved

(And Why It Matters to Your Business)

Can I just be completely honest with you about these 'About' pages? My marketing team says I have to have one. They tell me you need to know my background and credentials. And while that's all true, what you really need to know is whether I understand what you're going through.

So let me tell you the real story - not the LinkedIn version, but the version that explains why I can actually help you navigate what you're dealing with.

From Big-Box Retail to C-Suite: How I Learned to Solve Big Problems

The Beginning:

Learning Business from the Ground Up

I didn't start in some corner office. I started where most entrepreneurs begin - in the trenches, learning that business is messy, people are complicated, and growth always costs more than you think it will.

My first real taste of business leadership came in middle management at big - box retail. You know the environment - high pressure, thin margins, and if you couldn't figure out how to motivate a team while hitting numbers, you weren't going to last long.

But here's what I learned in those early years: the fundamentals of business aren't found in MBA textbooks. They're discovered when you're standing in front of a team that's looking to you for answers, dealing with customers who have real problems, and trying to make profit margins work when everything seems to be working against you.

The Climb:

What C-Suite Leadership Really Teaches You

Two decades and several companies later, I found myself in C-suite positions, making decisions that affected millions in revenue and hundreds of employees. This is where I learned the difference between managing a business and truly leading one.

In the C-suite, you discover that every decision has ripple effects you never anticipated. You learn that what looks like a simple operational change on paper becomes incredibly complex when you factor in people, systems, market conditions, and timing.

But here's what they don't tell you about C-suite roles: the bigger the decisions, the lonelier it gets. The more responsibility you have, the fewer people you can talk to about what's really keeping you up at night. The weight of knowing that your choices don't just affect you-they affect every family that depends on your company for their livelihood.

The Realization:

Why I Started Lofton Approved

After 20+ years of solving big problems at big companies, I realized something: the challenges that kept me up at night as an executive are the same ones keeping entrepreneurs awake right now.

The difference is, as an entrepreneur, you don't have a board of directors or a team of VPs to help you think through the tough decisions. You're making million-dollar choices (that feel like life-or-death decisions) often without anyone to bounce ideas off who truly understands the weight of what you're carrying.

That's when I knew I had to do something different. All that experience solving complex business problems, all those lessons learned from both successes and failures, all that hard-won wisdom about what actually works in the real world - it needed to serve entrepreneurs who are facing these challenges for the first time.

What My Journey Means for Your Business

I've been the guy who had to cut costs without cutting quality. I've been the leader who had to motivate teams through uncertainty. I've made the tough calls that kept companies profitable during market downturns.

More importantly, I've felt the weight of knowing that my decisions didn't just affect me -

they affected every family that depended on our company for their livelihood.

That's exactly why I can sit across from you (virtually or in person) and understand not just the technical challenges of growing your business, but the emotional weight of being responsible for it all.

When you're trying to decide whether to expand into a new market, I've been there. When you're wondering if you can afford to hire that key person, I've made that call. When you're losing sleep over a decision that could make or break your company, I know exactly how that feels.

This isn't theoretical knowledge. This is experience earned through decades of real decisions, real consequences, and real results.

How We Do Things Differently at Lofton Approved

We Look at the Whole System, Not Just the Symptoms

Most consultants focus on fixing one thing—your marketing, your operations, your sales process. But businesses don't fail because of one thing. They fail because multiple systems break down at the same time.

The Lofton Approved Difference is that we look at your entire business ecosystem: your operations, your team, your finances, your market position, and yes, your mindset as a leader. Because everything is connected.

We Stay With You Through Implementation

I don't just give you advice and send you an invoice. I partner with you through the implementation. Because here's what I learned in my corporate days: the strategy is only as good as the execution, and execution is where most businesses fail.

When you hit obstacles (and you will), when you need to make course corrections (and you will), when you're second-guessing a decision at 2 AM (and you will)—I'm there to help you navigate through it.

How We Do Things Differently at Lofton Approved

We Look at the Whole System,

Not Just the Symptoms

Most consultants focus on fixing one thing—your marketing, your operations, your sales process. But businesses don't fail because of one thing. They fail because multiple systems break down at the same time.

The Lofton Approved Difference is that we look at your entire business ecosystem: your operations, your team, your finances, your market position, and yes, your mindset as a leader. Because everything is connected.

We Stay With You Through Implementation

I don't just give you advice and send you an invoice. I partner with you through the implementation. Because here's what I learned in my corporate days: the strategy is only as good as the execution, and execution is where most businesses fail.

When you hit obstacles (and you will), when you need to make course corrections (and you will), when you're second-guessing a decision at 2 AM (and you will)—I'm there to help you navigate through it.

Beyond Business: Life Outside of Coaching

For me, that balance comes from spending time with my family, catching a hockey game, or even hitting the ice to play when I get the chance. I also recharge by heading to the beach whenever possible. And when it comes to music, I’ll stand by it every time—90s West Coast hip hop is the peak of human achievement.

When I’m not working with business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals, you’ll find me enjoying the things that keep me grounded and inspired. I believe that successful leaders need full, balanced lives outside of their businesses—and that’s exactly what I help my clients achieve. Your business should serve your life, not consume it.

Beyond Business:

Life Outside of Coaching

When I’m not working with business owners, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals, you’ll find me enjoying the things that keep me grounded and inspired. I believe that successful leaders need full, balanced lives outside of their businesses—and that’s exactly what I help my clients achieve. Your business should serve your life, not consume it.

For me, that balance comes from spending time with my family, catching a hockey game, or even hitting the ice to play when I get the chance. I also recharge by heading to the beach whenever possible. And when it comes to music, I’ll stand by it every time—90s West Coast hip hop is the peak of human achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mike Lofton?

Mike Lofton is the founder of Lofton Approved, a business coaching and leadership consulting company. With over 20 years of executive leadership experience, Mike has managed multi-million-dollar divisions, led diverse teams, and built proven strategies that help entrepreneurs and executives succeed.

Why did Mike Lofton start Lofton Approved?

After decades in C-suite leadership, Mike realized the same challenges that kept him up at night were the same struggles entrepreneurs face—without a board or executive team to lean on. He founded Lofton Approved to share hard-won lessons, support leaders, and help business owners avoid costly mistakes.

What is Lofton Approved’s mission?

Our mission is to empower business owners and executives with the clarity, strategy, and support they need to grow profitably while building teams and systems that last.

What makes Lofton Approved different from other business coaching programs?

Unlike generic coaching programs, Lofton Approved offers honest feedback, personalized strategies, and implementation support. We don’t just give advice—we partner with you to create sustainable growth.

What industries has Mike Lofton worked in?

Mike’s leadership background spans multiple industries, including retail, corporate management, and service-based businesses. This broad experience gives him unique insight into the challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face today.

Where is Lofton Approved based?

Lofton Approved is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, serving entrepreneurs and executives locally and across the nation through in-person and virtual coaching programs.

What results has Lofton Approved achieved for clients?

Clients have achieved stronger leadership, improved profitability, better team communication, and significant growth—some increasing revenue by 40% while working fewer hours each week.

How do I know if Lofton Approved is right for me?

If you’re a business owner or executive who feels stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to reach the next level, Lofton Approved can help you build clarity, confidence, and a proven path forward.

Why Entrepreneurs Choose to Work with Mike Lofton

Look, I'm not going to tell you I'm the only business coach who can help you grow your company. What I will tell you is that I'm probably the only one who's actually been in your shoes—making the hard decisions, feeling the pressure, and finding ways to break through to the next level.