Jude St. John

For over a decade, Jude St. John was a key player on North America's oldest professional sports team, the Toronto Argonauts. He was named the Argos’ Outstanding Lineman by the Toronto chapter of the FRC for 2005 and 2006 seasons, and has physically and emotionally embodied the spirit of teamwork, passion, leadership, and perseverance. Known for his sharp intelligence and captivating speaking style, this amiable and approachable gentle-giant combines his teaching background, his experience as a Offensive Lineman, and his interest in community involvement to produce a talk that's in demand with both education and business groups. St. John’s keynote presentations concern the lessons that football has taught him about life, and the importance of recognizing priorities and learning from experiences.

St. John graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an honours bachelor degree in Physical Education, and a Bachelor of Education degree. Following an undefeated national championship season with the University of Western Ontario, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats drafted St. John. After three years in Canada's "Steeltown", St. John signed with the Toronto Argonauts. After ten gruelling years of the CFL, St. John was thrilled to be a part of the 2004 Grey Cup Championship Team. In his 11 seasons with the Argos, St. John played 181 games, seventh-most in club history and third-most by a lineman.

St. John worked as a substitute teacher at the secondary school level for eleven years at the Thames Valley District School Board, and became familiar with the intricacies of young people. In September 2009, he returned to teaching in London, Ontario.

In addition to his presentations on leadership and perseverance, St. John has spoken to audiences about the negative impact of bullying and performance-enhancing drugs. He is an avid outdoorsman, and a dedicated husband and father to five children.

• Holistic Leadership

  Plato was the originator of a philosophical teaching about the constitution of human beings that has been called trichotomy. Trichotomists believe that human beings are comprised of three separate and essential parts: body, soul, and spirit. Using this self-developed platonic framework, Jude discusses how holistic leadership influences people by considering: their physical needs; the mind, will, and emotions; their spirituality.
  
  Their physical needs include such things as a productive work environment and competent physical structures as well as the physical needs of individuals. Jude benefited from being under the leadership of current president of Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, Keith Pelley, who modeled these ideas. These ideas, in turn, helped propel the 2004 Toronto Argonauts to be Grey Cup Champions.
  
  Soul leadership leads individuals on the level of their mind, will, and emotions. Effective leadership in this area will earn a leader the title of "heart and soul" of an organization. Jude learned these traits from teammate Michael O'Shea who is arguably the best Canadian to ever play linebacker at a professional level. From years on the professional football field Jude has learned the significance of soul leadership.
  
  Spiritual leadership is concerned with such things as conscience, intuition and communion that will direct how a leader casts vision, cultivates ethos and considers values. Mike "Pinball" Clemons was a teammate with Jude on the Argonauts as well as Jude's coach and eventually CEO of the Argonauts. Jude learned these leadership concepts from "Pinball" who continues to inspire leaders with his brand of leadership.
  
  Jude will share both his leadership experience and his experience with leaders who have demonstrated an understanding of this paradigm. The forceful stories from the world of professional football are used to highlight this holistic approach to leadership.

• Perseverance, Passion, and People

  "I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything."
  - John D. Rockefeller.
  
  Jude has played football professionally for 14 seasons. Playing in over 200 games at the grueling offensive line position has taught Jude the benefits of perseverance. Winning a Grey Cup championship after 10 years in the Canadian Football League was a journey in working hard over a long period of time. Jude has experienced the fruits of this powerful trait synonymous with endurance, persistence, and determination.
  
  Jude will share the benefits of perseverance with stimulating stories and experiences from his career on the gridiron. He will describe his experience with a grueling injury that nearly jeopardized his career and how not giving up lead to success.
  
  Jude will explain how passion is the motivational fuel that perseverance utilizes to propel one to success. He will provide practical steps to stimulate passion by considering time; the past, present, and future. These are very practical suggestions that help listeners apply the concepts and ideas presented.
  
  Finally, Jude will emphasize the necessity of recognizing the priority of the people in our lives. "To do great things requires passion; to be a great person requires compassion" – Mike "Pinball" Clemons. This talk will encourage perseverance, ignite passion, and prioritize people!

• Teamwork – Protection, Pleasure, and Productivity

  Is there a sport that requires more teamwork than football? The Canadian rules require 12 players to simultaneously perform tasks with unity and purpose for success to be realized. Jude has played football for over 22 years; 4 years at the University of Western Ontario and he has played it professionally since 1995 in the Canadian Football League. In those years Jude has learned the importance of teamwork.
  
  Using a middle-eastern proverb as a springboard for discussion, Jude shares with his listeners how teamwork can provide protection, promote pleasure, and program productivity. By sharing team concepts from his 2004 Grey Cup Champion Argonauts, Jude will encourage participants to harness the power of teamwork. He will detail how specific concepts and practices have encouraged teamwork with a group of very diverse individuals as can be found in a Canadian Football League locker-room. Jude uses poignant personal stories and anecdotes to emphasize his points. This presentation is sure to encourage and motivate team members.
  
  These teamwork ideals have been tested by fire in the trenches of the professional gridiron. They are sure to both educate and encourage your team and its members.