We are leaders. (Manifesto)
Leaders are modern influencers, creators, writers, entrepreneurs, infopreneurs, hackerpreneurs, solopreneurs, bootstrappers, freelancers, bloggers, artists, musicians, storytellers, programmers; anyone who is drawn to create art for the betterment of others. Leaders that show up as men and women that are heart-centered, clarity-providing, meaningfully powerful, relationship-based and prioritizes people over profits.
Basically, anyone who chooses to show up by:
Engaging in work they’re proud of (that solves a real problem and enables, empowers and protects others),
Engaging in work that deeply matters to the people they have the honor to serve (value enough to exchange $ for, and love enough to tell others about).
The leader believes that a tribe isn’t there to serve you (the leader).
You (the leader) are there to serve them FIRST and FOREMOST.
Leaders create client-focused and funded businesses, where 100% of funding comes from clients, or what I call True Fans.
It’s a simple win-win dynamic:
Serve others first such that their life is better.
Receive compensation to continue living/telling a beautiful story as a result.
This dynamic means you (the leader) are completely aligned with the needs, desires, and aspirations of those you have the honor of leading, loving, protecting and providing — because the people you are serving are also the people who are trusting you to take them somewhere and become someone new.
That’s the formula for meaningful impact right there.
If you’re an amazing human being (which if you’re reading this right now, you are:)) looking for a leader to help multiply and protect your wealth and value — you’re in the right place. If you’re a leader — and want to learn how to serve and lead a tribe — you’re also in the right place.
Welcome.
I help people live and tell better stories that matter, stories that are intentionally personal and impactful.
As a leader, this is what I care about and this is what I get to do everyday...
Attract a “pocket of people” (POP) who care about making change (are enrolled in a quest for living and telling a better story),
Create deep meaningful work I'm proud of, work that solves a real problem for the people I seek to serve,
MAKE HAPPY CLIENTS. (Create a “True Fans Tribe” by mattering to them and serving them as if they were the only people left on earth. When you do this, the inevitable outcome is a better story is written.)
Peter Drucker once said:
“The purpose of a business is to create a customer.” — Peter Drucker
… but I believe HAPPY needs to be part of that assertion; to make happy customers. It’s why my logo has a smile underneath my name :). Otherwise, what’s the freaken point? I'm in the happy client business, not the commodity business.
Point three above is the driving force behind why I show up everyday. To use my God-given capacity so that others flourish. To provide more joy, more happiness, more liberty, more laughter, more of all the good stuff this life has to offer to people.
People like me.
Confession…I hate selling. It’s true, sales is the life blood of any business but “selling” is a different story. Most salespersons are so busy yelling about their average product and offering, so busy hustling for an edge, that they fail to realize that the most powerful reality is to create an experience (a product, a service) that others want to talk about because of the value that it brought to them in their quest. Selling is often focused on the transaction not the relationship. It’s often focused on saying the right things vs the having the capacity to make such a powerful impact through how one shows up that lives are forever transformed.
This is what leaders do. Leaders are driven by a higher purpose that transcends the commodity-driven dog-eat-dog world we live in today. A world powered by a greedy, selfish money-first mentality where the goal is to win at all costs.
No thanks.
That’s not me.
I don’t seek profits over people or bigger is better. I seek small; tiny even. I think small is the new big.
I'm a smaller is better leader because I’m committed to meaningful relationships over transactions. I believe relationships are the ultimate asset.
I’m committed to never be beholden to shareholders or investors, only to my clients, my true tribe who love the work I do and value I bring.
I'm in the few business, business.
We’re in the relationship business, the human-to-human business of serving and mattering to the few
The few.
Other crazy people like me.
As Seth Godin says, “People like us do things like this.
It turns out you don’t need everyone to create a meaningful contribution on this journey (shocker!).
You don’t even need a lot of people (what, seriously?).
You just need a small few (honest!).
The smallest viable tribe.
A few people who care.
A few people who will enroll in the story.
Who care about a human-to-human connection. Where people like us do things like this.
Fortunately, there are people in the world who care enough to be meaningful and specific and focused, as opposed to simply chasing more.
As leaders and creators, we serve the weird pockets of people who care about being true and making an impact. Who care about leveling up for others, because it matters to them.
I am a leader that aims to serve influencers like you. Just the crazy few
I've been leading tribes since 2002 (18 years and counting). For the first 16 years I led others as a pastor, high-stakes counselor, and non-profit founder and leader. I’ve had the honor and challenge of helping lead a church with more than 3,000 people (not very small and during a time where I did believe bigger was better) and I’ve help lead church’s of no more than 100. I’ve had to lead, love, protect and provide for audiences of one (very small and often my favorite). I then transitioned from leading in the church to leading in the real estate and coaching space, but one thing has remained constant...I’ve been totally committed to leading others to live and tell better stories for the entire time.
I believe small and personal is a key to serving and mattering in a world of noise, distractions, and bigger is better mantra’s.
I create “story-worthy” systems and pathways that’s not just another rehashed “photocopy” of what’s already available for free on a hundred million sites. It’s custom-made for you to avoid the assembly line approach that many in our industry employ.
I create programs made with love that people care about owning. Programs my particular tribe loves so much that they tell others about.
I help influencers and leaders level-up their value (skills, knowledge, and character).
I help investors multiply and protect their wealth through real estate.
I help you be the hero to the people you seek to serve.
If this resonates with you, welcome home.
I’m so glad you've stopped by. It means the world to me.
When you're ready, start with my Emergent Leader Series. (You'll be glad you did…)
Let us show you what selling done right, by people who care, looks like in action.
I’m here to serve you. Welcome to my tiny little world.
Rooting for ya,
—Jonathan “non-salesy” Smith