The Mindset That Builds Leaders: John Donnelly’s Formula for Consistent Wins Part 1

In this powerful episode of the No Broke Months Podcast, Dan Rochon sits down with John Donnelly, Executive Director of Sales at Service First Mortgage. They unpack John’s journey from Best Buy to building a 100+ person sales force, and how servant leadership, personal reinvention, and a 12-hour walk transformed his life. John reveals what it takes to lead with consistency, navigate tough decisions, and build a team culture that thrives—especially in today’s volatile mortgage market.

What you’ll learn on this episode

• Why “Would I follow me?” is the most important leadership question
• John’s formula: self-leadership > team leadership
• The story behind John’s 12-hour solo walk and 30-mile journey
• How he’s using the Kilimanjaro climb to inspire his team and himself
• The #1 leadership mistake John made—and how you can avoid it
• Dan’s rule: Most hires either last 90 days or six years—no in-between
• How to know when it’s time to let someone go (for their sake and yours)
• Mortgage market 2024: Rates, seller concessions, and the pressure of uncertainty
• Why mid-level producers are disappearing—and how to stand out
• Servant leadership and casting a contagious vision of growth

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The 12-Hour Walk by Colin O’Brady: A challenge-based book that inspired John’s mindset reset and personal transformation.
• Service First Mortgage: John's company where he leads a 100+ person sales team.

To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:

• Website: No Broke Months
• Podcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople Podcast
• Instagram: @donrochonx
• Facebook: Dan Rochon
• LinkedIn: Dan Rochon
• Teach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead