You must be driven to build a business. It’s an all-consuming, all-encompassing endeavor. The hours are long, the demands constant, and the concept of work-life balance can sometimes feel like a distant, abstract ideal.
Eventually, there comes a moment when the hustle slows down, the foundations are solid, and the question arises: What comes next? How do you shift from growing and running a business to designing a life that brings meaning, balance, and enjoyment?
Dr. Tony Jacob has found answers to these questions through experience, deliberate action, and a steady commitment to growth — not just professionally, but personally.
“I wanted to be in control of my time,” he shared on “The Lifestyle Investor” podcast. “I really wanted to have a fairly empty calendar and pursue my projects and passions that really drove me.”And that he did.
Taking the Leap
Dr. Tony Jacob poured enormous amounts of time and energy into building and scaling his business, and like most entrepreneurs, the initial years were marked by long days and an even longer to-do list.
Success, as it often does, came with a price: time spent away from family, missed opportunities for personal growth, and a lingering sense that even as the business thrived, other aspects of life were being sacrificed.
Eventually, Tony began to redefine what success looked like for him. The mindset shift wasn’t immediate; rather, it was a gradual realization that building a meaningful life required just as much thought and intention as scaling a company.
He started asking the questions that all business owners should eventually confront: “What am I working so hard for?” and “If I had more time, how would I spend it?”
The answers didn’t lead to retirement — far from it. They led to the realization that the skills and principles that had made him successful in business could be applied to designing a better life.
Tony discovered that by delegating more responsibility, trusting others to lead, and intentionally focusing on his personal goals, stepping back from the daily operations of his company actually enhanced, rather than diminished, his role.
Mastering Time and Living Intentionally
Dr. Tony Jacob discovered that buying back time was one of the most powerful benefits of transitioning out of daily business management. Even though the phrase “buying back time” can feel cliche, it’s a very real strategy for those who have spent decades tethered to a business. Time, after all, is the most finite resource we have.
His decision to step away from the operational side of his business didn’t come without its challenges. He had built his company from the ground up and felt a deep connection to its success. The thought of letting go of control, of entrusting the day-to-day operations to a leadership team, took time to process.
Ultimately, it came down to recognizing the value of freedom—not freedom from work entirely, but freedom to explore, pursue other passions, and show up for the people and experiences that mattered most to him.
Diversifying Purpose Beyond Work
A business becomes part of its owner’s identity. It’s often the first thing they think about in the morning and the last thing they reflect on at night. So, when the day comes to step back or sell, it’s both a financial and emotional transition. The question of “What do I do now?” can feel both exhilarating and daunting.
Dr. Tony Jacob approached this shift with the same entrepreneurial curiosity that had served him in business, reframing the transition not as an end but as an opportunity to diversify his purpose by investing in new ventures, exploring emerging technologies, and diving into fields like cryptocurrency, which intrigued him for its long-term potential, finding new ways to challenge himself.
But purpose wasn’t limited to financial endeavors. Tony recognized the importance of showing up for others and sharing what he had learned along the way. He became more intentional about connecting with people through formal networks or chance conversations — as a way to offer guidance and learn from others.
Building a Life, Not Just a Lifestyle
When business success begins to translate into financial freedom, it can be easy to fall into the trap of building a “lifestyle” instead of a life. Luxuries, possessions, and financial milestones have their place, but they rarely provide the deeper satisfaction that comes from connection, growth, and genuine experiences.
Dr. Tony Jacob’s approach focuses on meaningful investments in business, assets, himself, and his relationships, with his journey beyond the business world reflecting a pursuit of a more deliberate and sustainable life rhythm that incorporates travel, enjoyment, reflection, learning, and the exploration of what comes next.
It’s a process that continues to evolve. When he talks about life after stepping back, it’s clear he’s not done building — he’s just building differently. And just when he was coming to this conclusion, COVID-19 arrived to hammer the lesson home.
“After the pandemic had occurred, you start contemplating life,” he mused. “You’re thinking about, ‘I’m spending time at home again.’ and, ‘Gosh, I do want to spend more time at home with my family. I really love my business, but it’s becoming challenging to run a business.’”
Much of Dr. Tony Jacob’s life philosophy comes back to the power of connection. Long before stepping away from his business, he learned the value of conversations — even the seemingly insignificant ones. Some of the most important opportunities in his life began with simple interactions, the kind that can often be overlooked or dismissed.
“I make a point to never say no to a conversation, no matter who it’s with,” he said. “So many doors have opened for me just by being open to meeting new people and having those conversations, even if I didn’t know where they would lead. It’s not about networking for the sake of it — it’s about genuinely getting to know people. I wish I had been better at this when I was younger.”
This belief — that every conversation holds the potential to create value — has guided Tony through his entrepreneurial journey and into his life beyond it, where he has found that whether meeting someone by chance, asking questions, or simply being present, connection often leads to the most rewarding experiences, both personally and professionally.
In many ways, this mindset has shaped his transition from a business-focused life to one that’s centered on presence, openness, and the relationships that matter most. It’s a reminder that enjoying life beyond your business doesn’t always require grand gestures or complex plans. Sometimes, it starts with showing up and being willing to see where the conversation leads.
