John Violette
John Violette is the co-founder of mainelove, a venture he pursued while already holding a job he loved, driven by a desire to challenge himself beyond the familiar. His hardest-won business lesson: stop talking when the deal is done — overexplaining after a verbal close cost him an entire partnership, and silence is often the most powerful close of all.
From the discipline of watching a brother push through medical school with relentless grit to the gut-punch of losing a closed deal with a single careless sentence, John Violette's story moves between the personal and the professional in ways that are rarely tidy. In this interview with Powerful Blueprints, John covers the beliefs he has had to unlearn, what money has really taught him about himself, and why forgiving generously — even without the full story — may be the most underrated business skill of all. Good morning, John!
What is the first thing a college student should know about building something real?
John believes the willingness to seek out or create opportunities — not the product itself — is the single most valuable asset a young entrepreneur can develop.
The most important thing for a college student to understand is that the willingness to seek out or create opportunities is often more valuable than the product itself. The real value comes from putting yourself out there: talking to new people, building something from scratch, and taking the initiative to make it real. That drive is what makes someone a strong entrepreneur or business leader.
It's so much easier to join a business once it's launched, but starting a business and having the willingness to fail says a lot about your character, and the learning through that process is invaluable.
With mainelove, I could tell the opportunity had huge potential. I was already in a job that I really loved, but it was very similar day to day, and I was already looking to do something more to challenge myself. Pushing ourselves to be bigger and better is the way that we can maximize who we are on so many levels.
What was the worst professional decision John Violette ever made, and what did it teach him?
John lost a major deal by continuing to talk after it had already verbally closed, a mistake that taught him one of the most durable rules in sales: when the deal is done, stop selling and leave.
It was when I lost a deal in my last job by overexplaining something after the deal was verbally closed. That really stung. It all happened because I said something after we had already closed the deal — I kept telling them about the company, and I don't remember what I said, but something I said once we had already come to the agreement ended up costing us the whole partnership. It was a powerful lesson that you shut up and leave when the deal is done. You don't have to keep pitching or selling.
What belief did John Violette hold for years that turned out to be wrong?
John has come to believe that withholding forgiveness and jumping to conclusions about people's intentions is one of the most damaging habits a leader can carry, and that extending genuine benefit of the doubt — even without the full story — is key to success in all aspects of life.
A continued learning for me is to be more forgiving. I have learned that what seems to be happening is not always what's actually happening, and that fully understanding what's going on and giving people the benefit of the doubt is key to success in all aspects of life. I have realized that people are trying to do their best, and what happened may not be what it appears to be, especially when you are in a conflict. Don't assume anything. And I also realize that I don't even need the whole story; I just give people the benefit of the doubt and err on the side of believing they are doing their best.
What has money taught John about himself?
John's relationship with money has shifted from managing financial stress to using it deliberately — as a tool to amplify what matters most and to build a long-term foundation for his future family.
First, I recognize the impact of financial stress and how heavily it can weigh on you during difficult times in life. So, I have a deep appreciation for the positive times when you don't have that hardship. I try to use money to amplify the things I most want in my life and spend in ways that are meaningful to me. I also try to view it as providing a base for my future family — building a foundation for the long-term. While I support myself now, I will not just be supporting myself in the future but my family.
Who is the one person who actually changed the way John thinks?
John points to his brother Luke, a doctor whose daily example of determination, grit, and intention has shaped how John approaches everything he does.
My brother Luke has always been a role model for me. He is a Head and Neck doctor at a top medical institution in the US, and throughout his time at medical school and beyond, he has showcased how relentless you can be in everything you do. Every day, his small actions are a living example of determination, grit, and intention — a lesson that you can create whatever you set your mind to. I continue to be inspired by his tenacity.
Thank you so much for sharing your story with us, John.
Frequently Asked Questions about John Violette
What is John Violette's core advice for college students who want to build something real?
As someone who has started a business while already working a job I genuinely loved, I believe the willingness to seek out or create opportunities is often more valuable than the product itself. The real value comes from putting yourself out there — talking to new people, building something from scratch, and having the guts to make it real. Starting a business and having the willingness to fail says a lot about your character, and the learning through that process is invaluable. Most people wait for the perfect conditions, but the drive to begin before everything is ready is what separates strong entrepreneurs from everyone else.
What is John Violette's biggest sales lesson?
After losing an entire partnership deal by talking too much after it had already verbally closed, my biggest sales lesson is this: shut up and leave when the deal is done. I don't remember the exact thing I said, but something I kept explaining — after we had already come to the agreement — ended up costing us the whole partnership. You don't have to keep pitching or selling once a deal is closed. That experience stung in a way that very few professional setbacks have, and the lesson has stayed with me in every negotiation since.
What is John Violette's philosophy on forgiving people in business and in life?
Having watched conflicts play out in business and in life, I've come to understand that what seems to be happening is not always what's actually happening. People are trying to do their best, and what happened in any given situation may not be what it appears to be — especially when you are in a conflict. My approach now is to not assume anything, and to give people the benefit of the doubt even without the full story. I err on the side of believing people are doing their best, and that posture has made me a more effective leader and a better person overall.
How has John Violette's relationship with money evolved over time?
Having lived through the weight of financial stress firsthand, I now hold a deep appreciation for the times when that hardship is not present. Rather than letting money become something I chase or worry over, I try to use it to amplify the things I most want in my life and spend in ways that are meaningful to me. I also view it as building a foundation for the long-term — not just for myself today, but for the family I plan to support in the future. That shift in perspective, from survival mode to intentional use, is one of the clearest ways my relationship with money has changed.
Who is John Violette's greatest influence, and why?
Without question, my brother Luke has shaped the way my mind works more than anyone else. He is a Head and Neck doctor at a top medical institution in the US, and watching him move through medical school and beyond showed me just how relentless a person can be in everything they do. Every day, his small actions are a living example of determination, grit, and intention — a reminder that you can create whatever you set your mind to. It is not one big dramatic lesson he taught me; it is the steady accumulation of watching someone live with that kind of purpose that has stayed with me.
What motivated John Violette to co-found mainelove while already employed?
At the time I launched mainelove, I was already in a job that I really loved — but it was very similar day to day, and I was looking to do something more to challenge myself. I could tell that the opportunity with mainelove had huge potential, and that pull was hard to ignore. Pushing ourselves to be bigger and better is the way that we can maximize who we are on so many levels, and joining an existing business once it is already running would not have given me that same edge. The decision came down to character: starting something from scratch, with the real possibility of failure, was exactly the kind of test I needed.