After climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at age 50, John Donnelly - a seasoned mortgage professional - found himself somewhat unexpectedly on a thought leadership trajectory. In today’s episode, John and I discuss leadership in unexpected places, the power of listening, creating your personal board of directors, and how taking action - even when you don't know where it leads - can reveal a deeper purpose. 

We dive into why leadership matters in real estate transactions and every industry, and explore listening as a superpower using John's "WAIT" acronym (Why Am I Talking). John shares his concept of creating a personal "board of directors" of 10 people to model yourself after, and explains what it means to be a "class act" who shows up with intention. And he explains why he needed to climb a mountain to feel worthy of being on stage.

John and I also discuss servant leadership through the lens of wanting more FOR people than FROM them, and hear about the 12-hour walk that led John’s epic mountain hike. He also opens up about being pulled into speaking after achieving something outside his comfort zone, finding purpose by helping others reach theirs, and why you don't have to wait until you "feel ready" to do something brave.

Books mentioned:

• "Mindset" by Carol Dweck
• "Never Split the Difference" by Chris Voss
• "The 12 Hour Walk" by Colin O'Brady
• "The E-Myth Revisited" by Michael E. Gerber
• "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill
• "Good to Great" by Jim Collins
• "Your Next Five Moves" by Patrick Bet-David

Key quotes:

• "I want more FOR you than I want FROM you."
• "Are you listening to respond or are you listening to comprehend?"
• "If you don't know your purpose, go find somebody that has one and help them reach their purpose"

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn: John Donnelly
• Company: Service First Mortgage