John Donnelly, Director, Your Holistic Academy
Founder of Your Holistic Academy, a global support platform for holistic professionals, providing complementary and alternative health and wellbeing services to corporate, public sector and the general public.
What is your favourite social media platform?
LinkedIn affords me a connection with top professionals in health and wellbeing services and many other business professionals who can assist with our mission.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
Major passion is building a community of holistic professionals, networking with and on behalf of this community, learning new skills, loving life, enjoying the journey.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
The opportunity to learn from professionals across a wide range of holistic disciplines.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Never quit.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Life inspires me; love inspires me, learning inspires me, people inspire me, new adventures, new experiences, new opportunities all inspire and motivate me.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
My family, the friendships I have, the rich vein of experiences I have enjoyed.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
In-person over a cup of coffee.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Resilience, persistence, willingness to learn, trust in life.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
The truth of who I am.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
My spiritual mentor, Jason Chan. His dedication to truth, his devotion to the path of selfless service for the greater good of humanity, his creative genius and his passion for holistic business principles.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Family is of primary importance. Love of new experiences, travelling to new countries, connection with nature, love of learning, most sports interest me.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Positive. It has opened up global opportunities and allowed me to connect with incredible leaders who embrace the changes forced upon us all. It has allowed a period of reflection on what is really important in life.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I have a spiritual mentor and a business mentor. I consider myself a teacher to everyone by my actions.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Be open to learning, commit to consistent action, always ask for help, love every experience on the journey, keep focused on solutions, be creative, take time out for yourself, make self-care a priority, never quit, always believe.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Generally, people quit too soon.
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
“Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Herein lies the peace of God.”
What companies, brands, or institutions do you like or do you think are getting it right?
My only focus is on our own brand.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
Living is a success. We are all part of the evolution of life, all the same energy.