05/29/2026
About 12 years ago I received a call from a large recognized franchise…
“Jon, we would like to have you come back again this year and speak at our national convention but…
This is where I got the lesson!
…we received some feedback that you were too intense…we would just ask that you tone it down a bit”
Well as anyone committed to growth does, I was open to the feedback and approached my speaking sessions with that in mind.
A few months later after delivering my sessions I received an email.
“Jon, we received our surveys after convention and the common theme was that you must of been off because you really didn’t bring the energy”
Whutttttt?!?! 🤦🏻♂️
Right there and then I GOT IT!
Find your voice and be true to self!
Intense is who I am.
There’s always going to be people you just don’t connect with.
Go all in on who you are, what you do and what you stand for.
I think like many of us in early stages of our career we are certainly open to feedback while also trying to really meet our audience where they are at.
That’s responsible but…
Sometimes that can go a little too far into “people pleasing” where we are trying to be all things to all people and end up nothing to no one.
At that point and that discovery, it was very easy for me to decide, I’m going to be me!
I can tell you undeniably at that point, everything changed.
Sure it pushed away a segment of people who want nothing to do with my delivery and intensity…
It also created some of the most valuable business and professional relationships still to this day.
Be you, be unapologetic about it, not everyone is going to like you but…
I can promise you this, the power of relationship with those you do connect with will be like rocket fuel for your business.
And everyone else? They’re just not your people and that’s ok
Always be open to feedback. Always listen to your inner voice too. Trust it.
