Speaking with Cole Jacobs, you get the feeling that he doesn’t need to be anywhere in a hurry. Flanked by the colossal Bernedoodle, Rocky – Jacobs is right at home in any setting – whether he’s snowboarding in Hawaii or camping in Utah, he’s less focused on where he wants to go, and more on what he wants to achieve. I sat down with 26-year-old Jacobs – and Rocky, to discuss his seemingly effortless transition into entrepreneurship from a seven-year stint in sales.
Sarshar: Why the transition into the entrepreneurial world?
Cole: I have a passion for creating impact and influence in other people’s lives, and that’s something others would say about me as well. I’m currently running numerous businesses, one of them being a solar organization.
Sarshar: You also have a podcast called You Will Die. Aside from the obvious, what is it about?
Cole: It’s pretty poignant and provocative – that was on purpose. The goal of it is to help people live an intentional, meaningful life, and my goal is to create deep, meaningful relationships with it. And – while it can have negative connotations, the purpose behind that is for it to jump out at the listener.
Sarshar: What kind of guests do you have on, and what is the topic of discourse?
Cole: The individuals that I bring on discuss anything from business and entrepreneurship to health and wellness; fitness is also something that’s really important to me. I bring on individuals that are usually obsessive – which is something I love and find a way to live their life in alignment with their true purpose. I love having those deep conversations, it’s something that gives me a ton of energy.
Sarshar: How would you define if your podcast is successful or not?
Cole: It’s a dichotomy of if you want success, don’t look for it. If you want to be happy, you can’t search for it. It’ll find you. I think that really rang true in my life.
I have an organization with 800 to 1000 people inside of it that I lead or manage in one way or another. We’ve been really successful and done a ton of volume, but really I’d like to focus less on this aspect of my life and more on how to create a gateway to influence others.
What I’m transitioning into is, again, how can I be a thought leader, how can I create impact, and then – in the future, there’s going to be businesses that I start that will have philanthropic meaning just like utility in the marketplace. It’s a win-win. I believe that for something to be successful it has to win in all areas. I can’t be winning in business but losing my relationships. Everything has to be aligned, and that’s something really important to me.
Sarshar: How integral is that mantra – the inner belief, that when it comes to the success of your podcast, the direction of each episode is sharing that same message with your viewers?
Cole: It’s integral in the ability to facilitate not only conversations but every aspect of the broadcast. In fact, in all aspects of life.
I have an interesting perspective on money. I don’t believe it’s real. I believe that it’s identified as a form of projection and value. Instead what I believe to be more important is time. I don’t have unlimited time. So if I start making decisions based on finances, then all of my outcomes will be financial. But if I make decisions based on time, and how to do the right thing, then my life will be aligned around what my priorities are. So I don’t think I have time to mess around.
Sarshar: Have you always had this philanthropic background? If so, where did it originate?
Cole: I haven’t, no. I didn’t study philosophy. It’s really just how my brain feels. It’s not something that’s been adopted. And so I’ve had to accept that and say this is my gift. This is what needs to be shared. And how can I help impact it to the best that I know how.
Sarshar: When did you realize that you had that gift?
Cole: I think we all know what we’re good at and what our strengths are. Unfortunately, a stronger emotion than excitement, or anything positive, is fear. I think a lot of people aren’t able to sit with themselves and find out what it is they love and subsequently fear sets in.
And that fear is; if I come to the conclusion, I recognize it. Therefore, I’ve identified it. By Universal Law, I now have to act or I’m acting in dis-accordance with the truth. Truth to you might be different from truth to me. But when I know my truth – if I don’t act in accordance with that truth, I’m just aligned, and that will stop my progression.
I have to believe in myself. If I don’t, who will? Therefore, the way that I’ve been able to develop that is through small wins; for example, keeping commitments to myself and Rocky, making keeping count it’s myself, learning that I can trust myself and through learning, to trust myself. Others can then trust me.
Cole Jacobs can be found on Instagram living life to the fullest, alongside his trusty Rocky. Catch him on the You Will Die podcast.
