HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point University had a special guest visit campus on Tuesday, September 23, who recently became one of High Point's Access to Innovators ahead of the 2025-26 school year. Jon Gordon, an 18-time bestselling author who has served as a consultant for top CEOs, Fortune 500 companies and professional sports teams spoke to the HPU athletic department and student-athletes.
 
Gordon has written 32 books, including 18 bestsellers and five children's books. In 2007, he published "The Energy Bus," which has sold more than 3 million copies and has inspired readers to approach life with a positive, forward-thinking mindset. His newest book, "The 7 Commitments of a Great Team," was released on May 20.
 
In Gordon's message, he discussed how to overcome negative thoughts as an athlete when competing and practicing. He emphasized the importance of trust, uniting with others around you, neutralizing the negativity in your mind and elevating your thinking.



 
"One of the things that I would take out of this is that people understand, myself included and my players, is that you are responsible for your own success because you have to be your own motivator," Assistant Baseball Coach Jerry Edwards stated. "You have to understand how that pertains to whatever you are dealing with that day. We all have different problems and things come up throughout the day, but at the end of the day I have to be the one that encourages myself and talks to myself, which I thought was very powerful when he said that. You have to talk to yourself… don't listen to yourself because when you listen to yourself you can see where the negativity really comes in. You just need to continue to look for something that is positive and keep moving forward. That's what I took away from his message."
 
"Hearing Jon Gordon speak was truly inspiring," men's basketball student-athlete Liam Carney stated," especially as he explained leadership through the perspective of athletes. He shared valuable insights through his own experiences, showing how leaders must bring energy, teamwork, and a positive mindset to every challenge. His message reminded us that leadership is about lifting others up and staying resilient, no matter the obstacles."
 
Gordon reaches large audiences every week through his talks, podcast, books and various media appearances, including as a guest on NBC's "TODAY" show and "FOX & Friends." He earned a Bachelor of Science in human ecology from Cornell University and a Master of Arts in teaching from Emory University.