JONATHAN MANNING: PASSION, PURPOSE & PUSH!

Jonathan Manning
Interviewed by: Kadiann Addman
Photo Credit: JDH Photography
kaddman@believersreport.com  

Meet Jonathan Manning, Brooklyn born, 27 year-old Young Entrepreneur, in fierce pursuit of the will of God for his life and determined to reach and impact as many people as he possibly can along the way.

B.R.: So, give our readers some insight into the man Jonathan Manning...How has your life changed let’s say over the last 5 years?

J.M.:  I believe I am a simple man that has huge goals.  Five years ago, the best thing that has happened to me was the birth of my son Isaiah Manning.  Although his arrival was joyous, the process leading to his birth was life changing. I left the church for a period of time, while I was in a marketing company learning how to be a successful business person. During this time I began to live a life that was contrary to the teachings I was brought up with.  I was in Baltimore, Maryland, and I basically was running away from God and everything that I know. After a period of time, I decided to rededicate my life back to God. Although I was excited about this, the announcement of my son devastated a lot of people around me. Where I thought I would find love and support, I found rejection and was despised. This was the time that my whole life changed, and it pushed me to making sure that I help everybody that I see needs help.  I never want a person to have the feeling that they are without hope, and can’t achieve greatness.  I was around a man that owned a successful multi-million dollar business, and he taught me how to think big, and help others, so when I came back to the church, this has been my motto to people, “Think Big and Help others along the way.”

B.R.:  What was the driving force that pushed you to accomplish the things you have so far?

J.M.:  Legacy is something that is on my mind when I reach for my goals. What will you say about me when I leave here? Will I leave such a mark in your life that you will tell your children about my work?  I believe God has given each and every person the ability to take the gift he gave them and make an impact on lives.  Can I be such an effective leader, that many leaders are birthed out of my life? Can I be such an effective author, that many decide to write books, just because they are connected to me? Can I be such an effective businessman that, everybody around will think of entrepreneurship in some way. This has driven me and will continue to till the day I die.

B.R.:  You recently wrote a book, "I Found God When I Found My Bible", which I must say is an interesting title...What is the premise behind this book?

J.M.:  This book is a theological perspective through lessons in my life. I was brought up in the church my whole life, and I heard thousands of sermons.  I also began to preach and lead at a very early age.  You could only imagine the slight arrogance I had.  I was only exposed to what I was taught, and at the time it was good enough for me.   However, the day came when my mentor, who is not Christian, challenged me on basic fundamental beliefs that I SHOULD have known. When I realized that I couldn’t defend my own belief, without getting upset, judgmental or defensive, I sat in my seat in total shame. I picked up the bible and I said to God “I am going to learn this bible with a blank mind, and You show me what I need to know.” I began my scholarly path by joining Nyack College, and as I learned, I asked questions. The more questions I asked, the more I realized people don’t really know how to defend what they believe. I asked questions about Denominations, Oneness vs. Trinity, and how does one receive the Holy Spirit? What should be our approach to things that aren’t mentioned in the bible, but we look at as sin?  After all these questions, I began to realize the more I know is the more I really don’t know.  It is only the Holy Spirit that can give revelation of Jesus Christ. This was when I felt like I was learning who God is all over again.  Not by what others say, but by His word.

B.R.:  What projects are you currently involved in?

J.M.:   Well I have a lot on my plate, and I’m figuring out how to make sense of everything. I am currently writing my second book called “Destroying the Lazy Me.”  This will be a motivational book released next year.  I manage an artist named Crystal Forrest, which we are looking to push her album in the near future.  I started a school called “The Table School for Entrepreneurs,” which empowers people to start businesses.  I am also a part-owner of an All Natural Hair Company called LaJAshley.  These are my main projects right now.  Everything else is a working progress. 

B.R.:  Please tell us about The Table School for Entrepreneurs?

J.M.:   The Table was an idea that came to me all at once while I was sitting in the train on my way home. I thought about my connections with a lot of successful business owners, and I know a lot of people don’t have the knowledge and understanding on the importance of entrepreneurship. I started a school that not only inspires people to start successful businesses, but gives them the right mindset, with a great support group that would help push them into conquering fear and achieving success.

B.R.:  What are you hoping to accomplish with starting this school?  What do you hope students take away from "The Table"?

J.M.:  I want to be able to have an impact on many lives, and help people believe that they actually can start a successful business. I want at the end of my life to look back and see many entrepreneurs that have made a better living for themselves.  I want all my students to have enough knowledge that they can teach many people how to be successful.  It is not a traditional way of learning, but by the time you finish all of the courses, you will be in a different season and hopefully a business owner.

B.R.:  Being a young entrepreneur yourself, what is your motivation?

J.M.:  There are two things that come to mind. I want to be able to put myself in a position financially, where I can do what God has called me to do, which is help people.  John the Baptist said to the people, the person who has two coats, give one to the person that does not have.  I always looked at this way; I can’t give if I don’t have.  He did not say the person with one coat should give to somebody in need, but he said the person with two coats, which means I must have abundance.  The more I have is the more I can help.  The only way I can control how much I have is by running a business.  The next reason is I want to make sure that all my family is financially taken care of.

B.R.:  I'm sure there are many pitfalls to being a "self starter", but what is the most important lesson you have learned to date?

J.M.:  The most important lesson I am “learning” is how to destroy the “Lazy Me”, which is why I am writing about it.  Laziness kills your effectiveness. The more I learn how to stop surrounding myself around small thinkers, and have a winning mindset by destroying laziness and pressing for my goals, is the more I will achieve all my goals.

B.R.:  I understand you are also a minister of the gospel.  Share with the readers a relevant word about the will to step out of the norm and the importance of having unwavering faith in God's promises for their life.

Photo Credit: JDH Photography

J.M.:  Romans 12:2 says “Be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to prove the perfect, acceptable, and perfect will of God. The reality is the people that have accomplished the will of God for their lives are people that have adopted a different mindset.  If you are going to do something that is going to make an impact in the world or in your region, you have to change your mindset from the typical mindset of your surroundings. If everybody you know does not have money, it is a mindset problem. If everybody has trouble with bills, it is a mindset problem. If we are all struggling and not being effective, it’s a mindset problem.  What we need to do is break the conforming mindsets of our region, so God can show you how to impact them. Abraham had to come out of his father’s country and have faith in God, in order for them to be blessed by him.  Moses had to spend forty years in the wilderness, to develop a different mindset to have faith in God to lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt.  Trusting God to make an impact in the world might seem strange to many, but at the end of the day, you will complete His will.

B.R.:  What other projects can we expect from you in the near future?

J.M.:  I am an open canvas and I’m open for endless possibilities.  However, I am going to focus on the projects I have on my plate right now, and make a huge impact with each of them.

For further updates on what's new for Jonathan please see video.....