Episode 286: Say Yes Until Say No: Action, Leadership & Growth with John Donnelly
Too many high-performers get stuck in overthinking. They let opportunities pass, waiting for the “perfect time.”
John Donnelly knows this firsthand. From leading through the 2008 mortgage crash to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50, John built his career and life on one principle: say yes until you have to say no.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how saying yes more often can unlock opportunities, deepen your self-awareness, and help you prepare for your own “mountain.”
We’ll cover how John leads with curiosity in a structured industry, why self-awareness is the ultimate ROI, how to gamify big goals like Kilimanjaro, and the practical ways you can start saying yes to growth, even when fear says no.
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About the Guest: John Donnelly is the Senior VP of Sales at Service First Mortgage, where he has led through industry highs, the 2008 financial crash, and ongoing disruption from technology and AI. Beyond his decades in leadership, John is a lifelong learner and adventurer, most recently proving it by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at 50. His motto: say yes until you have to say no.
About the Episode: Growth isn’t about waiting for the perfect time, it’s about saying yes, taking action, and learning as you go.
In this episode of the GrowthReady Podcast, Steve Mellor sits down with John Donnelly to explore how saying yes can unlock opportunities, build self-awareness, and lead to transformational growth. From stories of leading teams through chaos to personal lessons gained on Kilimanjaro, John shares how curiosity, consistency, and conscious action create unstoppable momentum.
Key Topics & Themes
- What it means to say yes until you must say no
- Leading through crisis: lessons from the 2008 mortgage collapse
- Why curiosity beats certainty in leadership
- How a 12-hour walk sparked self-awareness and life-changing goals
- The preparation and lessons from climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
- Why consistency matters more than perfection
- Turning ceilings into floors: leading with legacy for your family and team
Links & Resources Mentioned
- Connect with John Donnelly on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejohndonnelly/
- Learn more about Service First Mortgage → https://playbig.mortgage/
- Follow Steve Mellor → LinkedIn | Instagram
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This podcast was produced on Riverside and released via Buzzsprout
#GrowthReadyPodcast #Leadership #SayYes #HighPerformance #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #TakeAction #MindsetMatters #Kilimanjaro #Adaptability
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