From Panic Attacks to Purpose: How One Dad Started a Movement by Sharing His Story
Jon Hord was a VP of IT at a beer and wine distribution company. He'd left art school, traded his creative passions for promotions and paychecks, and climbed the corporate ladder.
Then came his first panic attack.
"It's terrifying to physically lose control of your body," Jon told me during a LinkedIn Live event. "That was an undeniable moment where I needed to stop and evaluate what was going on."
The Wake-Up Call
Working with a life coach and learning the Sedona Method, Jon had a revelation: his number one priority wasn't spending meaningful time with his kids. It was work. Status. Proving himself in a role that was slowly destroying him.
"I tied my value as a father directly to my ability to be a provider," Jon said. "I gave up my passion for money and responsibility and status."
So Jon made a decision that looked crazy to everyone around him: he left his VP role to become a coach specializing in helping fathers.
He launched The Engaged Father Project.
From Dark Box to Megaphone
When we first connected in August, Jon wanted to share his message but podcast guesting felt like "this big dark box" he was afraid to look at.
In the months since, Jon has been booked on over a dozen shows including Real Men Feel, Menfolk Journeys, Dad Hat Shenanigans, Imperfect Dads, Raising Men, and Strong Dad Show.
The results went beyond exposure:
Meaningful connections that turned into friendships
An invitation to speak at a summer camp
Podcast hosts joining his new community on Skool
Fathers finding him and enrolling in his coaching program
"Working with you took something that felt terrifying and daunting and made it so simple," Jon told me. "I'm just answering some yes or no questions and picking the time I want to show up and record."
The Power of Being Real
Jon doesn't hide behind a polished persona. He talks about his panic attacks, his anxiety medication, the version of himself that wasn't showing up for his kids. He cries at commercials and America's Got Talent auditions.
His preparation process? "My wife said to me: F it, let it fly. Just not being afraid to be yourself and being really open and vulnerable."
That authenticity is driving real results. His Skool community grew to over 100 active members, with fathers sharing how they're making real differences at home.
As Jon put it: "Authenticity and vulnerability and just being open and honest, it's really refreshing. Especially now that people are questioning whether something is AI or not. The value in real, honest, emotional communication is going to go way up."
The full conversation with Jon Hord is available on LinkedIn here.
You can learn more about The Engaged Father Project at [theengagedfatherproject.com], find Jon on Instagram [@theengagedfatherproject] or join the Skool community here.
