Answer extracted from The Purpose People Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
Why does Steve Mitchell's mission center on his grandchildren's future?
Mitchell's mission is to stay as fit, strong, and healthy as possible—mentally, physically, and emotionally—so he can live long enough to see his youngest grandchild become an adult and pass on his knowledge and lived experience. He believes purpose must be bigger than oneself, and this intergenerational legacy is what drives him forward every single day.
For Mitchell, purpose isn't abstract or self-focused—it's deeply personal and rooted in family. His youngest grandchild represents a concrete, measurable goal: living long enough to witness their transition into adulthood. This isn't simply about longevity; it's about maintaining the physical, mental, and emotional capacity to be a present, engaged grandfather who can offer guidance and perspective.
The emphasis on legacy reflects a philosophy Mitchell has built over decades of lived experience. Having served six years in the British Army as an infantryman across Colchester, Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Middle East, Canada, America, and Egypt, he has accumulated perspectives that only come through real-world challenge. After leaving the army to prioritize fatherhood, he pursued music seriously with bands including Ebonfly and The Ley Lines, worked as a chef, and maintained his own physical and mental discipline. As discussed in The Purpose People Podcast, this combination of direct experience—whether military, artistic, or practical—is precisely what he wants his grandchildren to inherit.
What makes this mission particularly compelling is that Mitchell ties his personal health goals directly to his ability to give. He's not training for vanity or personal achievement. Every decision about his fitness, mental resilience, and emotional wellbeing is framed as a responsibility to his family line—a framework that transforms wellness from an individual pursuit into an intergenerational investment.
Steve Mitchell — Founder, Release the Best You. Mitchell left school labeled as a daydreamer with undiagnosed ADHD, became a trainee chef, then served six years as a British Army infantryman across multiple continents. After leaving the military to prioritize fatherhood, he built a career as a musician and entertainer performing with major bands while also working as a chef and in property maintenance. Sober for 10 years as of New Year's Day 2017, Mitchell now leads Release the Best You, a personal development coaching business, while relocating to France with his wife Donna after 34 years of marriage.
Mitchell's mission statement also reveals how his philosophy on purpose emerges throughout the episode—shaped by a lifetime of overcoming obstacles. As a school student, teachers doubted his potential; one teacher even laughed when he said he wanted to join the army, calling his timekeeping and attention to detail "terrible." Rather than accept that verdict, Mitchell proved the doubters wrong, transforming what was labeled a weakness (undiagnosed ADHD) into a driver for resilience and unconventional success.
Purpose bigger than oneself: the generational lens
Mitchell consistently frames his mission within a generational context. The youngest grandchild isn't just a personal motivation—it's the anchor point for a broader philosophy about responsibility and legacy. He views longevity and health not as personal victories but as tools for giving knowledge and lived experience to the next generation.
This perspective distinguishes his approach from many wellness narratives. He isn't training for accolades, Instagram aesthetics, or personal records. Every discipline—mental clarity, emotional stability, physical strength—serves a single purpose: to be present, capable, and wise enough to guide his grandchildren through their own journeys. To hear more about how Mitchell's personal discipline connects to his broader life philosophy and the role his wife Donna has played in this journey, listen to the full conversation on Listenly.
Key takeaways
- Mitchell's mission is to maintain fitness, strength, and health across all dimensions—physical, mental, and emotional—specifically so he can live long enough to see his youngest grandchild reach adulthood.
- Purpose, in Mitchell's view, must extend beyond the self; his driving force is ensuring his grandchildren have their grandfather present to pass on knowledge and lived experience.
- He frames longevity and wellness as tools for legacy-building rather than personal achievement, transforming daily health decisions into intergenerational investments.
- Despite childhood doubts from educators about his potential (due to undiagnosed ADHD), Mitchell has built a life of unconventional success, demonstrating that perceived weaknesses can become sources of resilience.
See also
What major career transitions has Steve Mitchell made after leaving the army?
After leaving the army to prioritize fatherhood, Mitchell pursued music seriously, performing as a singer-songwriter with multiple bands including Ebonfly and The Ley Lines. These bands performed alongside major artists including Girls Aloud, Take That, Daniel Beddingfield, and Charlotte Church at events like T4 on the Beach and Glastonbury.
What role did his wife Donna play in Steve Mitchell's entrepreneurial journey?
Mitchell credits his wife Donna as the lynchpin to his entire entrepreneurial success. She supported him when he decided to join the army, moved with him through multiple military postings, and has been running her own doggy daycare business for 17 years while supporting his various ventures.
How does Steve Mitchell view the traditional education system and its limitations?
Mitchell criticizes that the education system teaches children to absorb and regurgitate information for exams rather than encouraging free thinking or lived experience. He was labeled a daydreamer and naughty kid at school despite having undiagnosed ADHD, yet went on to build a successful career outside traditional frameworks.