Crafting Purpose: A Journey from Art to Entrepreneurship – Welcome to the Winning at Purpose Blog

Welcome to the Winning at Purpose blog! I'm Jonathan, and it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a business coach, public speaker, and soon-to-be-published author. A native of Canada, I grew up in an entrepreneurial family where I learned the value of curiosity, failing, and resilience.

You may think I became an entrepreneur because my grandfather and father successfully built businesses. But the truth is, my Mom inspired me to follow my heart. She was a small-town dinner theater actor, and I vividly remember the dozens of posters taped to our basement walls with the plays in which she often played a leading role.

Her creativity inspired me. Because of her, I chose to pursue my dream of art, traveling across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe before living in a small mountain village in Italy. I wrote an unpublished book and spent my afternoons carving marble in an outdoor studio between the Apennine mountains.

My passion for purpose and entrepreneurship began to take root during this journey as I watched artists live their purpose, selling their pieces to a global community of art lovers. As much as I loved the creative process of writing and art, I began to think about my Dad's influence on me. After a few months of living in a tiny mountain village, I returned home to follow in my father's footsteps.

Over time, I joined three startups and started two companies, fully embracing what I had learned in creating art; failure is a natural part of the journey toward success. I was lucky enough to build a company from startup to acquisition, where I learned firsthand the profound impact of creating meaning and fostering employee engagement at work - and how purpose-driven leadership can transform a company, its customers, and its people.

I'll share insights on building a workplace culture that prioritizes meaning in the upcoming blog series. From leadership strategies to employee development initiatives, I'm excited to pass along the lessons I've learned throughout this journey.

Thank you for joining me, and here's to finding purpose and success in your business and life!