Meet Jason Hopcus | Servant Leader, CEO, Innovator, Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jason Hopcus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jason, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?

Entrepreneurs often miss one key concept “Wherever you go, there you are.” Many solely focus on their business and often fail to recognize their own personal habits and routines can make a huge difference in the success of their businesses.

Personally, I find work/life balance a journey of discovery. Taking time to reflect, renew, and refresh opens the door to explore new ideas, spark creativity, and push myself further to grow personally and professionally. This has definitely evolved over time and has become a dedicated practice. Like any other commitment, it takes scheduling time to put yourself on the list. The result is being more present for the demands of a day and others I work with. The result is a more balanced approach to life.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

From my continued work at NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties (NAMI ADCO) supporting those who are affected by chronic or persistent mental illness, I recognized a gap in the traditional mental health system. The gap fails to meet those who are affected by normal life transition issues (loss of a job, loved one, relationship failure, illness, etc.). During challenging times, those who struggle are left with no clear direction of where to seek support.

From that understanding, I founded Connection Project (realpeoplereallife.org) whose mission is simply to strengthen connection to ourselves and others. Our approach of serving vulnerable or marginalized communities with vetted support resources allows us to make the path to getting help more clear. We believe in the value of helping others recognize they are not alone.

This approach of meeting communities and individuals where they are has served us well. We offer support for the most challenged communities, including Emergency Responders, youth, moms, men, and others. We inspire thought provoking conversation through podcasts with community leaders, advocates, and way-makers who are passionate about evolving the current narrative. We believe Everyone Struggles and it’s ok to talk about your struggle. If and when someone chooses to reach out for support, we also believe there should be resources to meet you there.

Currently, we are taking this straightforward approach and building a scaleable platform to better connect communities. Our primary goal is to deepen and strengthen connection, offer valuable support resources, and inspire conversations to thread our individual humanness into this beautiful tapestry we are collectively weaving.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite thing about living in Denver is the quick accessibility to get into nature. Personally, I would hit the road and see where it takes me. There is so much to explore, to learn, and to connect with all of Colorado’s beauty. Some personal faves are a quick drive up to Mt. Evans, or a lunch break in Breck. On nice summer days, a longer loop to Aspen and back over Independence Pass is always good for the soul. My advice…get out and explore. Do what feels responsive for you. There is no wrong path.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My unique path has included many interesting humans and opportunities. The last decade of my career is built from overcoming earlier painful setbacks. Those challenges had a considerable impact on my mental health, which illuminated the value of health and mental health, mainly its importance in everything that follows.

At my lowest point, I sought support to deal with my own struggles. A dedication to commitment and consistency to help myself allowed me, in time, to show up for others. My work has continued to build upon that approach. Early on, I sought support from NAMI ADCO. Their education, support, and outreach programs instilled confidence for me do my part to help others along the way.

Website: www.realpeoplereallife.org

Instagram: @jasonhopcus

Linkedin: Jason C Hopcus

Facebook: Jason C Hopcus

Youtube: Real People Real Life

Image Credits
Eric Abbott Photography