Meet Jody

We recently connected with Jody and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jody, so happy to have you on the platform and I think our readers are in for a treat because you’ve got such an interesting story and so much insight and wisdom. So, let’s start with a topic that is relevant to everyone, regardless of industry etc. What do you do for self-care and how has it impacted you?

For me, self-care is about staying grounded and intentional. I start my mornings with a workout, hydration, and time in the infrared sauna — that’s my reset button for the day. It gives me momentum, discipline, and clarity before the demands of work begin.

The impact has been significant. I’m more patient, more focused, and far better at separating the urgent from the important. It’s made me a steadier leader, especially in high-pressure situations, and it allows me to consistently show up at a high level for my team and the people I serve.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Thank you for the opportunity to share my story. I wear a few different hats, but they all connect back to one mission — helping people become stronger, more confident versions of themselves.

Professionally, I’m an executive leader in the public sector, an entrepreneur, an author, and the host of The Progress Zone Podcast. I’ve spent more than 25 years serving the public, leading teams, and communicating through some of the most challenging moments organizations can face. That experience shaped my belief that real progress is built through small, consistent steps — not overnight transformations.

That philosophy eventually led me to launch The Progress Zone brand, my book, and my podcast. I wanted to create a space where people could explore mindset, personal growth, leadership, and the practical habits that help you build a life on your terms. On the podcast, I sit down with CEOs, entrepreneurs, health experts, and everyday people who’ve created meaningful progress in their lives. Those conversations are some of the most inspiring work I get to do.

At the same time, I’m building a health and fitness business as a franchise owner with Alloy Personal Training, with our first location in Cary, NC and plans for additional expansion. Alloy is a small-group personal training model focused on strength, longevity, and helping adults move and feel better. For me, it’s not just a business — it’s another way to serve my community and help people change their health in a sustainable, meaningful way.

Right now, I’m focused on continuing to grow The Progress Zone platform, expanding Alloy Personal Training in the Raleigh area, and creating more opportunities for people to access practical tools for growth. Whether it’s through fitness, leadership, or mindset, my goal is to help people take the next step toward the life they want — one day at a time.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities have shaped my journey more than anything else: resilience, intentional communication, and a commitment to continuous growth.

The first is resilience. Life and leadership will test you in ways you don’t expect. The ability to stay steady, adapt, and keep moving forward — even when the plan falls apart — has played a huge role in my career. For anyone early in their journey, resilience isn’t built overnight. It comes from doing hard things, setting small goals, and proving to yourself that you can get back up again.

The second is intentional communication. Whether it’s leading teams, navigating public-sector work, building a business, or hosting a podcast, communication is at the center of almost everything I do. It’s not about talking the most — it’s about listening, understanding, and choosing words that build trust and clarity. You develop this by observing great communicators, asking more questions than you answer, and practicing being clear and concise.

The third is a commitment to continuous growth. I’ve always believed in the idea of “always be learning.” Every season of life requires new skills. Early on, I focused on studying leadership and human behavior. Later, I dove into entrepreneurship, fitness, and personal development. The best thing you can do early in your career is stay curious. Read, listen, ask questions, seek mentors, and surround yourself with people who challenge you in the right ways.

If I could offer one piece of advice, it would be this: don’t rush the journey. Build your resilience one step at a time, communicate with intention, and stay committed to your own growth. Those three things will take you further than any job title ever could.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I’ve learned that real success comes from going all in on your strengths while making sure your weaknesses never become roadblocks. Your strengths are where you create the most impact, the most momentum, and the most fulfillment — they’re the lanes where you naturally perform at a high level. But no matter how gifted you are, ignoring the areas where you struggle can eventually limit your growth.

Early in my career, I made the mistake of trying to be excellent at everything. I thought well-rounded meant doing it all. What I eventually realized is that spreading yourself too thin makes you average, not exceptional. My career accelerated the moment I leaned fully into what I naturally do well — leading people, communicating clearly, building relationships, and staying calm during complexity and crisis. Those strengths opened doors for me long before any job title could.

At the same time, I’ve never allowed my weaker areas to sit untouched. Entrepreneurship pushed me into finance, operations, and human resources — areas I wasn’t naturally drawn to. I didn’t aim to be the expert in all of them, but I became strong enough to make informed decisions and built systems and teams that filled the gaps. You don’t need to master every part of the equation; you just need to understand it well enough to lead it.

The goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress. Lean fully into what makes you great, strengthen the areas that could hold you back, and surround yourself with people who complement your skill set. That’s how you expand your potential and build a career and life that feel aligned with who you are.

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Jody Donaldson

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