Creating culture: Bestselling author Jon Gordon will speak at the Saint Francis Medical Center Business Health Summit

Jon Gordon's books have been featured on CNN, NBC's "Today Show" and in Forbes, Fast Company, O Magazine, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He focuses on building a culture of greatness in an organization or business, a theme addressed in his latest book, "Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture." Here's what Gordon told Business Today about his upcoming stop in Cape Girardeau.

BT: Tell me about some of the groups you've spoken to recently.

JG: I've been speaking to groups for the past 10 years. I work with a lot of Fortune 500 companies, hospitals and sports teams. I recently spoke to the Atlanta Falcons and the Texas Longhorns. I work with a lot of school districts on how to create a great culture in your school. My job is to give the people a perspective on their business, their life and their work.

BT: What will you talk about during your visit to Cape Girardeau for the Saint Francis Medical Center Business Health Summit?

JG: Real success happens when you create the right culture. I'll be talking about what leaders can do to help bring out the best in their people. It's common sense, but so many organizations don't do this. To hit your numbers you must focus on the people that deliver the numbers. It's the relationships, people and teamwork that really help you focus on numbers. You have to create the culture that drives the numbers.

Jon Gordon (Submitted photo)

BT: How has the downturn in the economy affected the groups you've been speaking to?

JG: In this economy, hard work is and always will be the key to success. We have to work harder than ever before, often for less results. That's the new norm. A lot of my work is on positivity, not Pollyanna, but on resiliency.

BT: Tell me about what your five books, "The Energy Bus," "The No Complaining Rule," "Training Camp," "The Shark and The Goldfish" and "Soup: A Recipe to Nourish your Team and Culture" all have in common?

JG: They're stories. I write engaging stories with the lessons incorporated into the stories. They're stories based on real people facing real challenges and doing real work.

BT: What inspired you to become a writer?

JG: Initially I was in the Dot Com industry. Then I owned restaurants, knowing that my goal was to write and speak. I was going through personal challenges in my own life. I realized I wanted to inspire others the way that other books had inspired me. I had a passion for wanting to make a difference in people's lives.

BT:What is the most rewarding part of your job?

JG: Knowing you made a difference. The best thing I can receive is an e-mail saying we did this and this is what happened. That's everything.