From BizLaunch: Jake Schweich Consulting

PROFILE: Jake Schweich, Entrepreneur

Jake Schweich is a dynamic business and personal coach and consultant. Jake has an extensive entrepreneurial background in many industries that has helped him develop a holistic approach to business. His unique coaching techniques allow Jake to help others learn how to balance the pursuit of relational, wellness, and financial goals to build a sustainable pattern of success. In January, Jake presented to BizLaunch on “The 10 things you need to know before you start your business” and gave some truly sage advice. We’ve asked him for more:

What ignited the spark in you to start your business?
I was struck by how segmented business seems to be. Most business owners I have met really care about people and are horrible at numbers or really care about the numbers and are horrible with people. My goal is to help business owners and executives become more balanced and complete in how they view and run their organizations.

What three pieces of advice would you give to college students who want to become entrepreneurs?
1. Learn to love reading. There is currently no better way to gather the experience and knowledge from so many people as reading. Some day we may be able to download information directly to our brain, but until then reading will be key to personal and professional growth.
2. Don’t take yourself too serious. Take your company serious, take those that work with you serious, but never get to the point that you can’t laugh at your own mistakes.
3. Learn to fail and recover fast. All learning requires a series of failures. If I avoid the next step because I am afraid I will fail, I never move past that step. Take the leap, learn from what you did wrong, and move on to the next challenge.

What motivates you?
I love seeing people win. I see so many people that seem to think that their present situation is as good as it will ever be. Fear and anxiety trap them in lives that are so much less than what they could have. I work to help people move past the fear and the anxiety and learn to own the change that happens around them. Once that happens, there are no limits to what can be done in their organization.
In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Curious; I am always asking questions. I believe that the mark of a true entrepreneur is the constant “What If?” Once you think you have all the answers and stop asking questions you have killed creativity, innovation, and invention in your life.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
I admire many companies, but right now I am spending some time studying TOMS Shoes. I am encouraged to see a company which strives to improve the lives of others be so financially successful. I believe we are moving toward an era in which corporate social responsibility will play an ever increasing role in the financial success of an organization.