Recently I was afforded the awesome opportunity of interviewing Jon Gordon. Jon is a husband, father, and author. His best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, as well as The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture, and his latest book The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work. I could literally write pages and pages about all Jon’s accomplishments from sharing his principles with NFL Teams such as the Atlanta Falcons to the many Fortune 500 Companies like Noodles & Company, Campbell Soup, and Pepperidge Farm however Jon would tell you today that his past accomplishments are meaningless. What matters most is that something he says will inspire you to take action.
Please take a look at this short clip that Jon recorded sharing with you some thoughts about his new book “The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work“.
As you can see, Jon is inspirational. He has found his greater purpose and today is inspiring millions to find their’s as well. Like I said, I was afforded the awesome opportunity of interviewing Jon. So without further ado …. my interview with Jon Gordon.
What was your first recollection of experiencing great leadership?
I would say meeting and spending time with Ken Blanchard, the author of the One Minute Manager.
Who had the most significant influence on shaping you as a leader?
Honestly the answer is God. I wish I had better leaders in my life growing up and in my early career but I didn’t. People often ask me where my leadership principles come from and they come during my walks of prayers in the morning.
What are three words people would use to describe you?
Energetic, sincere, real.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
Busyness, stress, fear and negativity.
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Optimism. It’s the most important characteristic of a leader.
What advice would you give someone who is considering a leadership position for the first time?
Know what you stand for. Know your purpose and vision and share them. Read leadership books. I’m amazed at how many don’t read to improve themselves as a leader. Books will help you clarify what you believe and shape you and your actions as a leader. It’s not just about reading. It’s about applying.
Over the years, what is one behavior or trait that you have seen derail great leaders?
Pride. It comes before the fall. The best leaders are humble and hungry.
If you could study leadership with anyone in the world with whom would you study?
Abraham Lincoln. For a leader who is living I would say Bob Iger the CEO of Disney.
If you could give my readers one piece of advice on leadership, what would that be?
Lead with optimism. Leadership is a transfer of belief. Steve Jobs had the ability to convince people they could do things they never thought possible and they did it.
What’s next for you? Is there another book in the works?
Yes. The Positive Dog. It’s about the benefits and strategies of positivity.
If you are interested in finding out more about Jon Gordon I encourage you to visit his website at www.JonGordon.com or follow him on Twitter @JonGordon11 or Facebook.
Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links” which does mean that if you click on the link and purchase the item through Amazon that I will receive a small commission however the purpose behind this post was not for monetary reasons but yet to introduce you to an incredible leader and motivator. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”