We recently had the chance to connect with John Crossman and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning John, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I just dropped off my daughters at college. The oldest is a senior at Palm Beach Atlantic University and the youngest is a junior at Southeastern University. For the older one, we drove to West Palm Beach together, I got her moved in and then she dropped me off at the Brightline Station in WPB. When I arrived in Orlando, the younger one picked me up at the Orlando Brightline. To have these two women drop me off and pick me up was rather amazing to me. They are launching! They are strong, young, exceptional women. The irony of being a successful parent is that they leave you. But they do come back to check on you, which is awesome! Very proud of my daughters!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is John Crossman. My father was the late Reverend Kenneth C. Crossman. He was a pastor and civil rights leader and made a profound impact in my life. My work today revolves around my two companies. CrossMarc Services is my real estate company. We handle acquisitions, investments, development and advisory services. We build community in a literal way. My other company is Crossman Career Builders. We help companies grow and do workforce training. We tackle tough subjects in the workplace. We help companies in preventing them from having their CEO on the jumbotron at a Coldplay concert. We build community through the connection of people.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Dr. Les Kozlow changed my life forever. He was my high school speech teacher. I liked school but it was a struggle for me. I didn’t know until years later that I am dyslexic. When I took speech class my junior year of high school, it was the first time that I felt alive in school. It all made sense to me. Going into my senior year, he asked me to join the debate class. I turned him down. He went to the guidance office and dropped one of my classes and added me to the debate class. He saw in me what no one else ever had—and it changed the way I saw myself. When I wrote my book, I dedicated it to him. When I was inducted into the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame, he came! Years later, he died in a car accident. His wife asked me to do the eulogy, and I did. We then endowed a scholarship in his name, and it exist today!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In 2013, I had some of the biggest successes of my life. I was inducted into the FSU College of Business Hall of Fame and was named an honorary alumnus of the University of Florida (and I went to FSU)! I was in great shape and winning races for my age group. I was appointed by then U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to the Military Academy Appointment Board. Lots of big stuff! After running my best half-marathon ever, I just didnt feel right. Within two days, I was diagnosed with clinical depression. The next two weeks of my life was a form of hell that is hard to describe. I really felt like I was going to die. I lost 25 pounds and really could not function. I was living minute to minute. If I didnt have my wife, I feel that I would have died. In the bottom of it, my faith was all that was left. While it was awful, it gave me empathy. I can now connect with people who are suffering in a much deeper way.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Impact. It is really always about making impact. I love making impact as part of team and through relationships. Promoting racial reconcilitation, promoting suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and prison ministry is all about using our resources to make the greatest impact on our community. Its not power, fame, or money. It is about making a difference.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope there will be stories of people who I impacted, people that I don’t even know about. I want to serve others and give generously. I have been thanked and acknowledged for many things, but I hope there are people who benefitted and are now in a better place because of the work I do in using my gifts and talents to serve others.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.crossmancb.com www.crossmarcservices.com
- Instagram: john.crossman
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcrossman/
- Twitter: @JohnCrossman1
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossman123/
- Youtube: @crossmancareerbuilders8311
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SkDQmU8vNmvpCWh9nXozw
https://www.amazon.com/Career-Killers-Builders-Millennial-Should/dp/1946928003
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