We were lucky to catch up with Jon Antonucci recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jon, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
When I was in my early teens, I came across a saying that, to this day, remains one of my absolute favorites.
“I don’t care if my glass is half empty or half full. I’m just thankful to have a glass with something in it.”
I loved that quote so much that my sister actually had it put on a shirt and gave it to me as a gift!
While the quote itself is nice, it’s the implication of the quote that is so meaningful to me. It represents something we possess as human beings: the right to choose our perspective. This has nothing to do with our circumstances or other people. It’s simply the opportunity we all have to decide how we will perceive the world and then how we will react to it. And I choose to do so with gratitude.
The beauty of this sentiment is that it really sank in, in my mid-teens, when I learned to apply the concept to stress. It dawned on me that, worry is completely useless. Not only is it a HUGE emotional energy expense, but it also frequently results in us making poor decisions and thus making whatever we were stressing about (which probably wasn’t that bad in the first place) even worse!
So, as I have developed as a person, I have learned that optimism is both possible (via choice) and productive (via outcome). Thus, I have been called by one person, “so optimistic it makes (her) sick to her stomach.” 😀
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Right now most of my waking hours are dedicated to working with the business I founded last year.
SML Consultive is positioned as the global leader in front-line leadership development.
We provide dynamic and engaging leadership tools for leaders who actively work with staff, Our goal is to empower effective engagement with internal clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and impact that facilitates increased employee retention and customer satisfaction. And, our real-world solutions are customized to meet the unique needs of the individuals and organizations we serve, ensuring dynamic impact and the opportunity for leaders to leave a legacy that changes the world—starting with the team and organization they are serving.
This is something I am increasingly passionate about.
Despite being an almost entirely new industry, the reality is that a lack of resources for front-line leadership is a major problem in almost every industry! We are working diligently to help organizations serve their front-line leaders so they can effectively serve the teams and ultimately the end user.
So many front-line leaders genuinely WANT to be able to lead well, but they have never been given the tools to do so. We want to help them. And, by helping them, we help the organization and we also help the community!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I had to learn the hard way that, if you do not have integrity, you don’t have anything. Character means more than money, fame, or “success”.
Like I said, I had to learn this the hard way (and I mean the really hard way). But, I am glad that I learned it eventually.
It has made me a much better man, and a better leader.
The advice I would give to those who are early in their journey is to be diligent in guarding your character.
Pay close attention to who you spend your time with.
Pay close attention to where you spend your time.
Pay close attention to what is most important to you.
These things will make a person fabulously successful or debilitatingly unsuccessful.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I love collaborating with 2 entities.
1. People who have a heart for leadership and service. I love being around people who want to serve, give back, and improve the world around them. Those who have good ideas and I can synergize with are those who I love to spend time and invest with.
2. Organizations that see the value in empowering front-line leaders. This may be a SaaS business, that wants to collaborate via referral or a business that knows they need to invest in their leadership if they want to increase their success. Either way, I’d love to connect with you!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.servantmindedleadership.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servantmindedleadership/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ServantMindedLeadership
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-antonucci/
- Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/@servantmindedleadership
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sml-consultive-phoenix
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sml-consultive
Image Credits
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