Libsyn Directory

Jon Vroman: Living in the Front Row

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Release Date: 02/06/2018

Higher Education and Entrepreneurship | Jeff Meade

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Jeff Meade is the founding director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at Paul Quinn College, a HBCU in South Dallas where most students are the first in their families to attend college. He ran marketing agencies for decades before leaving the industry to build the support system he never had as a young founder. In this episode, Jeff and Dave discuss the program he built, which now requires every student to launch a business to graduate, the six-week course where freshmen pitch for outside judges, and why Jeff spends most of his time teaching his students confidence. Links: Jeff's Website:...

Lessons from the Terminally Ill | Travis Luther

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Travis Luther is a five-time founder, sociologist, and the author of "The Last Exit: Lessons in Business and Life from the Terminally Ill." He grew up on welfare in a trailer park, beat a six-year opioid addiction, and went on to build and sell multiple companies before sitting down with founders who had just been given a terminal diagnosis. In this episode, he tells Dave what those founders wish they had done sooner, and why he believes the gap between the life you're living and the one you meant to live can still be closed. Links: Travis’s Website: Travis’s Book, The Last Exit:

The Art of Public Speaking | Nausheen Chen

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Nausheen Chen is a public speaking coach who has worked with leaders at Amazon, NASA, and the UN. After years as a filmmaker, she left that career when her husband pushed her to build a business around the thing she had loved since childhood: performing and speaking in public. In this episode, Nausheen talks about why public speaking triggers fight or flight response, how thought structures like the rule of three stop you from rambling, and what real preparation looks like, from audience research to recording yourself on camera. Links: Nausheen’s Website: Nausheen’s LinkedIn: ...

Franchising Chicken Wings | Matt Friedman

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Matt Friedman is the co-founder of Wing Zone, the author of "From Frat House to Franchising," and the new CEO of Epic Wings. He started the Wing Zone in 1993 out of his fraternity house kitchen at the University of Florida with $500 and a one-page business plan. In this episode, Matt and Dave trace how that turned into 140 locations across six countries and ultimately a sale in 2020. They also get into the day the university shut him down, his 27 year partnership with his co-founder Adam, and what Matt would do differently as a first-time CEO. Links: Matt’s Website: From Frat House to...

Coaching with Jay: Leadership Through Stages

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Jay Bacrania, growth consultant at Crews & co., returns for another session of "Coaching with Jay," this time focusing on how leadership has to change as a company grows. Jay and Dave discuss unique ability, flow state, and the personal calendar exercise that helps founders see what fills them up versus what drains them. They talk through the crossroads every owner hits when the company starts to outgrow its leader, including whether to stay the right size, grind through, grow into the next seat, or bring in someone else. Jay also covers the shift from operator to leader and when to hire...

The $1.5 Billion Sale of Freshly | Mike Wystrach

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Mike Wystrach is the founder of Freshly, the ready-made meal delivery company he launched in 2015 and sold to Nestlé for US$1.5 billion five years later. In this episode, he shares his journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family on a cattle ranch in southern Arizona to starting Freshly. He and Dave discuss what it takes to scale a physical food business fast, how Freshly hit a US$8 million run rate in five months, and the exhaustion that eventually compelled him to sell. They also cover his current work at PetFolk, his US$75 million consumer VC fund Cutting Horse, and how he thinks...

The State of AI for Entrepreneurs in Mid-2026 | Ethan King

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Ethan King is an entrepreneur, AI advisor, and author of “ Done: Let AI Do Your Work So You Can Live Your Life.” In this episode, he returns to the show for a mid-2026 update on where AI actually stands for business owners. He and Dave dig into why most entrepreneurs are still stuck at the chatbot level, what it looks like when AI stops answering questions and starts completing tasks, and how Ethan published 12 blog posts in 40 seconds without a word of generic slop. They also get into the anti-AI backlash, the stark contrast with how China is approaching it, its impact on jobs, and...

Immigrant Entrepreneurs | Gorm Tuxen

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Gorm Tuxen is a Danish-born entrepreneur and author of “Immigrant Entrepreneurship in America.” In this episode, he shares his journey from arriving in the U.S. in 1982 to founding the Tuxen Group, a holding company spanning tech, security, parking, and transportation. He and Dave explore what makes immigrant entrepreneurs disproportionately successful, including the statistic that nearly 50 percent of billion-dollar U.S. tech companies are founded by foreign-born founders, and dig into the mindset advantages that come from starting with nothing in an unfamiliar country. They also discuss...

The Tour de France and Doping | Tyler Hamilton

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

With the Tour de France coming up in July, Tyler Hamilton's story remains relevant. Tyler is a former professional cyclist who competed at the sport's highest levels — from the Olympics to the Tour de France — throughout his extensive career. Tyler joins the podcast to discuss his book The Secret Race and his involvement in the doping culture that surrounded professional cycling. Related Links: The Secret Race: Inside the Hidden World of the Tour de France: Adventure Base Camps:

Personal Branding on Social Media | Kimberly Moffit

EO 360°: A podcast by the Entrepreneurs’ Organization

Kimberly Moffit is an international relationship expert and the founder of KMA Therapy, one of Canada’s premier psychological care clinics. Over the last 14 years, she has scaled KMA into a multi-location practice while amassing over 1.5 million social media followers and 70 million views on her YouTube channel. In this episode, Kimberly talks about her research on entrepreneurial isolation, the psychological realities of carrying a team, and how founders can leverage consumer empathy to unlock rapid growth on social media. Links: KMA Therapy: Kimberly’s Instagram: Kimberly’s YouTube: ...

More Episodes

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”

TOPICS