Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Reyes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jonathan, 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?
I grew up with a single Mom in a low-income neighborhood. As a child/adolescent my Mom shielded me from the “real world”. As a kid I never had full exposure to situations or individuals that would expose me to limiting belief. As i grew older in middle school and high school I realized how many of my peers grew up and/or were exposed to people and situations they shouldn’t have been.
With time I would develop a sense of gratitude for the things we tend to overlook sometimes. Things like our health, daily essentials, and care from those who loved me the most. As an adult I have leaned into this mentality now being a “light” for others. Always looking to uplift those I come in contact with. Living the phrase “people remember how you make them feel”.
Now that I am in my mid 30’s with children and a wife, I always share messages with others like:
– Millions wish they had the “problems” we have.
– Our life can literally change in an instant, so keep working and believing.
– Optimistic mindset will bring optimistic thoughts that turn into reality.
– God brought us here for a purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I run my own financial planning practice through Northwestern Mutual. Professionally I have worked both for myself and in the corporate world. As I have grown, family has become the forefront of my life. My career allows me to have more control over my schedule to spend more time with them when it truly matters.
My practice aligns with my core values. It allows me to add value in a area where many struggle – financial awareness/planning. Growing up in an environment where financial stability was not a priority, I have firsthand experience as to how crucial it is for individuals and families alike to spend more time learning and planning around finances. Lastly, I am firm believer that while we are here, we are planting a garden that we will never see fully flourish/blossom – positive or negative, what we do is bigger than us!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Empathy, networking, and work ethic.
Empathy – Sometimes life can become cold, rigid, and/or tough. As humans we sometimes tend to become this way as well through circumstance. Through my professional and personal lives, I have learned that communication and relationships become much more impactful when we learn empathy. Now this does not mean that we fall for anything or get taken advantage of, it’s a balance you learn. An intuition you build through the situations/interactions you encounter. Be kind!
Networking – Networking opens up your world to new places, people, and experiences. Most importantly – different perspectives! It does not matter what line of work, what interest you have, or what you belief in. Networking is powerful and impactful. Many corelate networking to extraverts only. Truth is you can network where, how and with who YOU feel comfortable with. Business opportunities, personal development, learning, and great relationships are all things to look forward to through networking.
Work ethic – You can’t cheat the grind/hustle in ANYTHING! Monetarily or not. If you do not commit to the work/process/plan of whatever it is that you are doing – it will more than likely not work out for you. Develop a good work ethic and you will accomplish things and make it through whatever and/or wherever you are. Eventually when you build up the work ethic you learn to work smarter and more efficiently. This only comes through time though. So again, you can’t cheat the grind of anything. Why would you want to? The process is what you remember the most and what defines you.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The magic of thinking BIG and the energy bus.
These are great and easy reads. I understand many do not like to read or find it challenging so these should be easy to take in.
Our life and its outcome depend on how we train our mind and thoughts. We can overcome and accomplish anything as long as we have the right mindset.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jonathanreyes.nm.com
- Instagram: growithjon
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-reyes-9b5b99292/
Image Credits
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