Today, we are delighted to sit down with Andy Jacob. Mr. Jacob is one of America’s leading business consultants, specializing in the customer sales cycle and startup strategy. Andy, thank you so much for joining us today.
-You clearly have a passion for entrepreneurship and helping others. This is evident from your work with The Friendship Circle and the Scottsdale Angels. Please tell us how your journey as a businessman started? Well, I didn’t go to Harvard, so I decided early on that I needed outwork and out hustle my contemporaries. I still remember walking around my neighborhood in third grade at Stevenson elementary school asking for donations with a Unicef box. Those were the days that a kid could go door to door. I remember filling the box up with coins very quickly and bringing them to school. I didn’t really understand the concept of giving back then, but remember collecting the most coins in the class. From that point on, I was hooked on competing, and that lesson has served me well throughout the years.
-Please tell us a little about your book “Why Not- How Two Words Can Change Your Life"? My friends call me the “why not” guy. I like trying things, and more often than not say “Why Not?” Being open to new things has been a great boost to my life, so I wanted to share that idea with others. I believe being open to new things, new ideas, and new experiences, begins at a young age. Therefore, I wrote a simple, easy to read book for teenagers that gets that point across. The interesting thing is that adults read this simplistic book, and tell me they love the message.
-Your trajectory is quite impressive. Ranging from being a founding supporter of The Friendship Circle, executive board member, author, and entrepreneur. How do you manage your time?
That’s a great question. I believe in what I call the “one touch principle”. I believe in touching something once, and getting it done right then and there. I’ve seen people throughout my career push paper around their desk, and never get anything done. If it’s on your desk, and you touch it, finish it. I am also a big believer in Siri, and making memos and reminders. I talk to my phone more than most people.
-As an author, what would you say were the three biggest struggles you faced while writing your book and how did you overcome them?
Just starting. Getting the first paragraph down on paper. For anyone thinking about writing, I believe that that first chapter is the hardest. Once you write a chapter, it should get you in the mind frame for the rest of the book. Also, write fast. Slow writing makes you think about it too much, and thinking too much can cause writer’s paralysis. I would also recommend telling people you are writing a book. It places pressure on you to finish as people will keep asking you about the book.
-What’s the most surprising thing you learned about yourself as a person while you were thinking about writing your book?
I was surprised that more people don’t write. Each and everyone of us has a story. Each and everyone of us has something important to share with others. Why keep that inside? I don’t care if you are a mother, a social worker, a doctor, or an entrepreneur. Everyone has a story that another person can benefit from.
-Do you have any advice for aspiring authors who may be reading this?
Yes, stop reading and write your first paragraph. Now. I mean it. Stop reading this, and jump on your computer. Write a title, write a paragraph, write a chapter right now. Why not?
-What’s next for you? What are you working on now?
I am working on a book with a working title called Elevate. It is a business book for entrepreneurs that takes a different path. It will discuss a different “why” than most business books have looked at. In this new approach, I will ask entrepreneurs to think about a spiritual connection between themselves and their business, and how to connect the two. It is a different way to think about business. The book is still capitalistic in its approach, but asks entrepreneurs to also consider what their business means to the world, and how it empowers their customers . It’s different, and I hope that it will be ground-breaking.
About The Author
Andy Jacob is Founder and CEO of The Jacob Group, bringing more than 20 years of executive experience founding and leading startups and high growth companies. Jacob is a pioneer in the fields of consumer finance, online customer acquisition, and consumer monetization. Jacob has been seen as a guest financial expert on CBS, ABC, NBC, Time Warner, and Bloomberg. Jacob’s companies have also been covered by The Wall Street Journal. Jacob is turning the billion dollar consultation industry upside down with his “one-hour” coaching and consulting practice, focused on startup entrepreneurs and visionaries who are creating innovative companies. Leveraging his experience and strategic abilities, Andy is known for breaking down business problems quickly and efficiently. Jacob’s mission is to provide entrepreneurs easy solutions for complex problems. Jacob is the author of “The Beautiful Start-Up Quiz”, and an active investor, business owner and entrepreneur,
While Jacob is best known for his business savvy, his favorite accomplishment is being a founding supporter and executive board member of The Friendship Circle, an organization that provides individuals with special needs the support, friendship, and inclusion they deserve. Jacob and his wife, Kristin, are also supporters of numerous animal charities.