On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Sara Hardwick from Giftology to dive deep into the legacy of our great friend and Giftology founder, John Ruhlin. Sara opens up about how the Giftology team has carried on John’s mission of generosity, relationship-building, and faith following his unexpected passing.

We explore the powerful “return on relationships” philosophy that made John’s approach to gifting and human connection so unique, how intentional generosity can transform your business and personal life, and what it looks like to truly honor someone’s legacy. Sara shares behind-the-scenes stories, how Giftology helps leaders and entrepreneurs grow through strategic gift-giving, and practical ways you can bring more heart and impact to your work.

About Sara,

Sara Hardwick is a dynamic force in the realm of relationship strategy and business development, serving as the Community Relationship Strategist at GIFT∙OLOGY. With a passion for nurturing meaningful connections, Sara leads the R.I.C.H. Relationship Society, an educational membership designed to revolutionize referral-based business practices. Her journey into this role began while still in college at The University of North Carolina when she built the internet's largest gifting community where she put into practice her innate ability to blend savvy communication with operationalized gift-giving. This early success laid the foundation for Sara's trajectory, focusing on unlocking loyalty in clients, employees, and referral partnerships through the power of generosity and strategic relationship-building.

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

In this episode of Positive Leadership Wednesday, we explore how creating the right environment can transform your team and your results. Inspired by a story about organic lawn care, I’ll share why building a thriving culture allows your people, and your organization, to naturally flourish. When you focus on spreading positivity and cultivating a place where team members can grow, you leave no room for negativity or toxic influences. Great leaders don’t need quick fixes or shortcuts; they foster strong, supportive environments where everyone can succeed together. If this message resonates with you, share it with your team to help build an even stronger culture!

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my newest book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Ready to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and purpose? The Certified Positive Leader Program is for anyone who wants to grow as a leader from the inside out. It’s a self-paced experience built around my most impactful leadership principles with tools you can apply right away to improve your mindset, relationships, and results. You’ll discover what it really means to lead with positivity… and how to do it every day. Learn more here!

Join me for my VIRTUAL Day of Development, August 26th! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

Start your week with a powerful dose of encouragement on this episode of Positive Mindset Monday! If you’ve been feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or just run down by the demands of life and work, you’re not alone and there’s a way to rise above it. This episode dives into the true source of lasting energy: reconnecting with your purpose and mission. Discover how remembering your “why” can reignite your passion and help you push past fatigue and burnout. You’ll learn why staying focused on your vision, not just your to-do list, keeps you resilient, energized, and ready to make a real impact. Whether you’re a leader, a team member, or simply someone who wants more positivity in your day, this episode offers practical insight to help you thrive, renew your motivation, and fuel up for the week ahead.

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

In this episode of Positive Leadership Wednesday, I explore why positive leadership is the true competitive advantage in any team or organization. Drawing from real-world stories and history’s greatest change-makers, I explain how optimism and belief empower leaders to overcome adversity and inspire those around them. Positive leadership isn’t about ignoring challenges, it’s about seeing what’s possible and rallying your team toward that vision with resilience, grit, and hope. I hope this message encourages you to choose positivity in your leadership journey. If it resonates with you, share it with someone who could use a boost today!

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Mac Lake for an honest, funny, and deeply meaningful conversation about faith, leadership, and purpose. Mac shares his journey from a shy kid in a tiny West Virginia town, to becoming a pastor, leadership developer, and the father of chart-topping Christian artist Brandon Lake

We talk about the setbacks, faith steps, and even awkward dating stories that shaped Mac’s life, the surprising ways God weaves together our stories, and the keys to building a strong marriage that gets better over time. Mac offers practical, eye-opening leadership wisdom, like the “learning, growing, mastering” model for developing teams, why investing in yourself unlocks your potential to invest in others, and how to lead with both skill and spirit (plus, he shares the simple-but-powerful system for one-on-ones you need to try).

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

Start off your week with a new perspective on this Positive Mindset Monday! This episode dives into the power of thinking like a rookie, embracing big dreams, asking bold questions, and believing that anything is possible. You’ll hear a motivating story about how approaching challenges with curiosity and optimism, instead of limiting beliefs, can lead to surprising wins and new opportunities. Discover how to balance the wisdom of experience with the hungry, hope-filled attitude of a beginner. If you’re ready to shake off the “curse of experience” and create your own good old days, this episode is for you. Pass the encouragement along and inspire someone to dream big this week!

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

On this episode of The Jon Gordon Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Samuel Wilkinson from Yale for a truly fascinating and thought-provoking conversation about the intersection of science, faith, and evolution. Dr. Wilkinson shares the journey that inspired his book, Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply About the Meaning of Our Existence, and together we dig into some of life’s deepest questions: Can science and spirituality really go hand in hand? How do evolution and faith both help shape our understanding of human purpose?

We unpack everything from the “dual potential” within human nature, our capacities for both selfishness and sacrificial love, to the mysteries of free will, consciousness, and whether our brains are actually wired to tune into higher frequencies like love, positivity, and connection. We also challenge some big assumptions about the origins of humanity, what really drives our instinct to help others (even at great personal cost), and why strong family bonds are central to both our biology and our society.

If you’ve ever wondered how science and spirituality might fit together, or questioned whether there’s purpose woven into the process of evolution, this conversation is going to open your mind and encourage your spirit. Don’t miss it!

About Dr. Samuel Wilkinson,

Samuel T. Wilkinson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Yale Depression Research Program. He received his MD from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. His articles have been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been the recipient of many awards, including Top Advancements & Breakthroughs from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation; Top Ten Psychiatry Papers by the New England Journal of Medicine, the Samuel Novey Writing Prize in Psychological Medicine ( Johns Hopkins); the Thomas Detre Award (Yale University); and the Seymour Lustman Award (Yale University).

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!

In this episode for Positive Leadership Tip Wednesday, we dive into the concept of a "caring trademark", that unique, personal way leaders show their team they truly care. Hear real-life examples, from handwritten thank you notes to incredible acts of kindness, and discover why having your own caring trademark sets you apart as a leader. You’ll be inspired to find and nurture your own authentic way to connect with others, lift your team, and make a lasting impact. If this message resonates with you, feel free to share it and help spread the power of positive leadership!

Here’s a few additional resources for you…

Follow me on Instagram: @JonGordon11

Order my new book 'The 7 Commitments of a Great Team' today!

Every week, I send out a free Positive Tip newsletter via email. It’s advice for your life, work and team. You can sign up now here and catch up on past newsletters.

Join me for my Day of Development! You’ll learn proven strategies to develop confidence, improve your leadership and build a connected and committed team. You’ll leave with an action plan to supercharge your growth and results. It’s time to Create your Positive Advantage. Get details and sign up here.

Do you feel called to do more? Would you like to impact more people as a leader, writer, speaker, coach and trainer? Get Jon Gordon Certified if you want to be mentored by me and my team to teach my proven frameworks principles, and programs for businesses, sports, education, healthcare!