Welcome to another episode of the Business Leaders of America podcast. In this episode, I sit down with John Donnelly, the Executive Director of Sales at Service First Mortgage, a company known not just for helping people secure homes, but for empowering them with the tools and knowledge to build lasting financial wellness. With a passion for leadership development, people management, and coaching, John shares the philosophies and strategies that have shaped his career and the culture he fosters at Service First.
We dive into the importance of developing a growth mindset, building high-performance teams, and the subtle yet powerful difference between listening to respond and listening to truly hear. John opens up about the book that inspired him to take a 12-hour solo walk—without distractions—and how that experience transformed his approach to business and life. He also explains how Service First Mortgage uses their S3 approach—speed, service, and synergy—to stand out in a highly competitive industry.
From navigating a rapidly evolving mortgage market to scaling a business through trust and systems, John delivers insights that are both practical and deeply inspiring. If you’re a leader or entrepreneur looking to grow your business without compromising your integrity or standards, this conversation is packed with wisdom you won’t want to miss.
Notable Awards and Recognitions
• Serves as Executive Director of Sales at Service First Mortgage, leading strategic sales initiatives across the company
• Brings over 20 years of experience in mortgage leadership, with a proven track record of driving performance and growth
• Known for building high-performance cultures that emphasize aspiration, accountability, and continuous development
• Specializes in leadership development and people management, coaching team members to reach their full potential professionally and personally
• Strong advocate for fostering a growth mindset and helping employees establish success-driven routines and systems
How to connect with John Donnelly
• https://sfmc.com/
• https://playbig.mortgage/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohndonnelly/
Show Notes
[1:26] Brief intro on John and how he got to where he is today.
[3:12] Exploring key strategies for fostering a growth mindset within a team and how to help employees build routines that drive long-term success.
[8:12] The approach to teaching the difference between listening to respond and listening
to truly hear.
[10:04] How to build and sustain a high-performance culture that stays focused on growth, aspiration, and long-term achievement at Service First Mortgage.
[17:54] Sharing insights from the book The 12-Hour Walk by Colin O’Brady and how taking an uninterrupted 12-hour walk led to powerful personal realizations
[27:35] Explaining how the S3 approach—speed, service, and synergy—is applied in practice to elevate client businesses and what makes it a differentiator for Service First Mortgage.
[34:36] Building trust in a growing team and creating systems that operate effectively without constant oversight during the scaling process.
[43:13] How to connect with John, learn more about Service First Mortgage, and explore the book The 12-Hour Walk.
[44:03] Advice for aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs on how to grow their business while staying true to their integrity and standards to achieve sustainable success.
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