Jon Vroman: Living in the Front Row

Jon Vroman is a husband, father and social entrepreneur who helps people live life "in the front row." In this episode of EO 360°, Jon discusses the importance of moments, community and family, and dives into what the art of "moment making" really means. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:33 – Jon is on a mission to show you how to live life in the front row; through the transformative art of movement making he is a social entrepreneur, husband, father, and ultra-marathoner 00:49 – He has two books, "Living College Life in the Front Row" and "The Front Row Factor: Transform your Life with the art of Movement Making" 01:12 – He is an award-winning speaker and has given more than 750 keynote speeches for companies, universities, organizations, associations; he hosts his own podcast "The Front Row Factor Podcast" 02:35 – He is a community builder; he hosts live events, summits, retreats, and celebrations 03:10 – The first experience that really touched Jon's life 03:30 – The story of how his dad created a rite of passage for him at a lake house when he was 10 years old 04:11 – His dad started a boy's club in the lake house when he was a kid, and he inducted Jon into the club 04:53 – His dad and uncle brought him to the boy's cabin and told him the acronym of the cabin "FLA" and what it meant to be a part of the club 05:40 – That moment helped shape his thinking that drives him today; he's obsessed with how we can make the most of all of our moments and help others do the same 05:57 – Being a moment-maker isn't controlling the moments, but controlling their meaning and your behavior 07:12 – Plan for his sons 07:19 – Jon and his wife talk about passing down traditions and rite of passage 07:72 – He started the "Front Row Dads" retreat for men to open up the discussion as to how to become better fathers 08:05 – Jon's in the process of figuring out how to be the best dad 09:00 – Being "of Roman" in today's world 09:36 – Jon doesn't recall his father's specific lessons in being a man; he taught basic values and how to show up in life 09:50 – His father taught integrity and compassion 10:27 - His father has been a part of the church for decades; a new pastor took a stand against gays in the church and his father left (he has a gay daughter) 11:06 – He took a stand for his daughter; he is truly a family-first guy 11:58 – Her sister's coming out experience: It was tough, but Jon was accepting 13:20 – When you make bold life decisions, oftentimes they are not easy 13:41 – Jon's jobs 14:00 – He was a waiter at an officer's club when he was 16 or 17, he worked at Subway for a day, he started selling Cutco when he was 18 14:22 – Cutco was more his speed; he was more in control of his destiny 14:36 – He is friends with Hal Elrod and John Ruhlin and they met at Cutco; the Cutco community built a space for friendship 15:45 – "Living Life in the Front Row" reminder of "Man in the Arena" Theodore Roosevelt speech 16:20 – Being the man in the arena vs. just a spectator 16:34 – Where "Life in the Front Row" came from 16:53 – Being a participant up front instead of a spectator in the back; whether you're in the front row or in the arena, your participation is a choice 17:37 – When you are in the front row, you can lift others up and participate; the front row is a metaphor of proximity 18:10 – Proximity is power; get close to the people, places, things, and thoughts that make you feel alive and reach your goals 18:40 – We often think of taking the front seat and miss the chance to be a moment maker for others and reap the joy of serving others 19:05 – Front row fans give fuel and shine the light on the person onstage 19:46 – Jon loves being onstage, but he also loves being in the crowd and giving that energy 19:59 – The audience should remember that it is about stepping into your best space, no matter where you are; engage, be of service, and come alive 20:45 – The background of the idea 20:53 – In 2005, 3 things happened at the same time: 1) He wondered how he can make a difference in this world 21:23 – 2) He was at a Jason Mraz concert and he saw people having an incredible experience in front, and people checked out in the back 21:54 – The same thing was happening to two different people, but they were experiencing it in completely different ways 22:35 – This lead to the question: How am I living my life? 22:43 – 3) He was invited to run an ultra-marathon, started training, and realized that he needed a deeper meaning 23:26 – They decided to start a charity to raise money; he needed to learn what he fears and love to find fuel 24:15 – Connection to fear and love: He didn't want to waste his moments in life, and he loves moments that matter 24:38 – He thought of a way to help people who are possibly at their life's end to experience a moment and connect with a community that engages in a "Front Row" lifestyle; like Make-a-Wish meets Tony Robbins 25:05 – The organization has raised $2.5 Million so far and has created experiences to people all over the U.S. and Canada 25:30 – Summary of 3 things that happened: The Jason Mraz concert, the ultra-marathon, and the looming question of what/how to give to the world 25:45 – He was a part of the Tony Robbins community and the question of how to give/serve/contribute was often brought up 26:03 – How do you choose which moments to maximize? 26:18 – Sometimes maximizing a moment just means being in it; no effort needed 26:58 – Maximizing means being present and aware and knowing what matters and how to behave 27:08 – Habits, rituals, and routines help maximize moments and prepare for life 27:20 – Jon has a morning routine that allows him to focus on creating front row moments 27:42 – He stays present throughout the day to remember that he has the power to create moments; his tattoo reminds him of this power 28:30 – When he wrote the book "The Front Row Factor" he looked back over the past 12 years to see how moments were made and experienced by those with a life-threatening illness 28:50 – When the timeline is shortened, it becomes really important to do that 29:18 – Urgency to maximize moments; what is really important gets clear 29:31 – We can do that without getting news that we are nearing the end; we can make the most of the moments we have and be more intentional with our time 30:02 – The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" 30:37 – Main character is forced to live life again for the first time since his father died 31:39 – Two characters experience a moment together; the photographer doesn't take a picture to have a moment for himself 32:55 – Jon's college experience and inspiration for a college-focused life in the front row 33:04 – He spent a lot of time in Cutco, which deals with many college students, so it was a group that he knew he could serve 33:32- He transitioned to speak mostly to non-students as he grew professionally and became a father 33:58 – He speaks to organizations that value the idea of creating a culture where people show up for others, make moments count, and improve productivity and efficacy 34:29 – Examples of the Front Row experiences that he's created 34:48 – In the beginning, they created an experience for a sick rugby player, Thomas 35:30 – Jon and his team raised money to send Thomas and his family to see the rugby world cup 35:30 – Weeks before he went to the event, he had a goal to be able to stand for the national anthem at the world cup; he was extremely committed to his physical therapy 36:00 – When they started the charity, they thought it was all about the moment and the day; they underestimated the power that hope plays in peoples' lives 36:38 – Hope brings the power of future moments into this current moment; a future vision changes how we see the world today 37:11 – Hope pulls the future into the present, which gives us/teams/companies power to change the present moment 37:54 – This story shows how the moments go beyond the experience 38:07 – About 10-12 experiences were offered a year, they are growing to offer about 16 this year 38:29 – Money is raised in different ways; ambassadors give monthly, Hal Elrod gives a percentage of book sales 39:13 – People are attracted to purpose-driven businesses; you can contribute by going to the Front Row Foundation website 40:20 – Foundation directors typically prefer monthly ongoing contributions over one-time donations so that they can predict their monthly budget 41:20 – Steve Sims business: "Bluefish" 42:03 – Possible relationship between Bluefish and Front Row Foundation? 42:45 – Are there people that are introverted that simply don't enjoy life in the front row? 43:10 – If you are truly an introvert, be an introvert in the best way you can 43:23 – There is evidence that introverts enjoy being in the front row and onstage; they oftentimes love being leaders and influencers 43:38 – Susan Cain's book "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking": Some of the world's greatest leaders are introverts 44:05 – It's not the front row, it's your front row; the best seat in the house for you, not literally the front row 44:43 – Are we choosing to get close to the things that make us come alive and matter most? 45:20 – Story of an event they created for one of their first recipients, Derek 45:50 – Recipients get the gift of a video documentary and photo book that documents their experience 46:06 – Jon personally delivered the gift and Derek was soft-spoken and reserved, making Jon wonder if he enjoyed the experience 46:30 – Jon expected a different response and questioned the way they operated 46:58 – A few weeks later, Jon got a message saying "someone is more committed to the Front Row" than you are, and hinted to him to check out Derek's Facebook 47:16 – Derek had gotten a tattoo of "Live Life in the Front Row" across his back in their font 48:00 – Jon had misread Derek and the impact they had on him; we all show emotion and a "front row" feeling differently 48:50 – Front Row Factor website 49:00 – Boxers or Briefs East Coast or West Coast? East Coast Prius or Pickup? Prius Tesla or Ferrari? Tesla Jeans or Khakis? Jeans Book or Movie? Book Stay in or Go out? Go out (and do new things) Ocean or Mountains? Ocean One Ultra or Two Marathons on back-to-back weekends? Ultra Bike or Run? Run Bike, Hike or Run? Run Bike/run on roads or hike/run on trails? Trails In school, back row or front? Back 51:03 – How does the book play into the role of Jon's finances? 51:35 – Don't write a book to make money 51:54 – Most don't make money on books 52:09 – His reason for writing the book is his children; he wanted his kids to know their dad and his work 52:28 – The book is fuel for everything they do; more donors, ticket connections, etc. come from the book 52:46 – He makes a living through Front Row Dads and professional speaking; the book brings in clients 53:30 – Contact Jon through his website or by email 53:55 – Front Row Factor is grateful for ticket connections, venue connections, etc. Key Points: Being a moment-maker isn't controlling the moments but rather controlling their meaning and your behavior within them. Maximize moments by being present and aware; maximize doesn't always mean effort or muscle. The "Front Row" has a different meaning for everyone; be in the front row of your life by getting close to what makes you come alive. Resources Mentioned: Entrepreneur's Organization – The EO Network Jon's books - "Living College Life in the Front Row" and "The Front Row Factor: Transform your Life with the art of Movement Making" Jon's Podcast – "The Front Row Factor Podcast" Front Row Factor - website Front Row Foundation - website Jon's email Theodore Roosevelt speech – "Man in the Arena" Movie – "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" Susan Cain's book – "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking"