Pursuing Ventures and Virtue

John Cannon’s unique background in business, finance, political science, monasticism, philosophy, theology and spirituality has equipped him well for launching SENT Ventures. In this episode, John speaks to how God has redirected the course of his life more than once, moving from a business and political career to several years as a Carmelite monk, to establishing SENT as an entrepreneur.

From an early age, John sought to make a difference in the world, which led him first to an interest in political service, then to business. Chasing a career and success in investment banking and consulting, however, John gradually left the practice of his Catholic faith. That is, until he visited his father in the hospital who, after a significant automobile accident, was in immense pain. “Despite this incredible suffering, he was very other-focused,” John recounts, experiencing within his own heart a newfound clarity of God’s existence, of his love and mercy, and of a path to transformation. Wanting to surrender more and motivated by the contemplative spirituality of St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, John entered religious life in a Carmelite monastic community.

Religious life provided him the opportunity to live an integrated and wholistic human life, with time dedicated to prayer, the Mass, work, communal meals, recreation, exercise, hobbies and rest. “These are core building blocks of how God wants us to flourish,” he said, noting that the horarium allowed him to do everything with intentionality, something that we can easily lose with the frenzy of our activity-packed life. The communal aspect also taught him how important it is that we not be isolated one from another. These are lessons he carried into establishing SENT after hearing the call to leave religious life.

“Prayer is the highest ROI activity you can do,” John emphasized, adding that it’s the key to perseverance; an indispensable virtue for business success. SENT is designed to provide founders and business leaders a community of business peers to support their drive, vision and leadership while, at the same time, providing the fellowship of peers to encourage their walk of faithful discipleship and spiritual formation. SENT opens its members to the ongoing conversion to which God calls them so that they, in turn, can witness to God in and through their daily work and encounters.

Guest: John Cannon
Title: Founder, SENT Ventures

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