Jadon is the founder and CEO of Noble Capital, a private equity firm based in Austin, Texas. With more than 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, Jadon specializes in private investment, wealth management and real estate.
Looking back to when you started your first business – how did you know when you had the right idea?
I knew I was on to something good when I could see that the business venture was creating the opportunity for my partners, employees and clients to be successful also. The measure of a successful business isn’t only defined by how much money you make, but for how much opportunity for growth you’re able to create. I’ve learned that if I can help others achieve their goals, we’ll all be successful.
What wbas the best (and worst) piece of advice you ever received?
The best piece of advice I’ve received is that “pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered”. You can’t be too greedy in business because it can be detrimental to your business, your clients and your colleagues in the long run. The worst piece of advice I’ve received is that “more is more”. Throughout my career, I’ve come to believe that less is more. While we all want to grow and be the best in our industry, you should avoid spreading yourself too thin. Focus on mastering your business, not being a jack of all trades. Double down on your expertise if you want to be the best.
What was one of your greatest failures, and what did it teach you?
Part of leading a growing enterprise is that you have to pass the baton and delegate responsibility to those whom you trust and who are capable of achieving the goals you’ve set for your business. They need autonomy and authority to do their jobs, but one of my failures early on was not maintaining a level of transparency and accountability from those people. You need to hand off the baton while maintaining visibility It’s a delicate balance.
What habits and/or mindsets have helped you succeed as a business owner?
It’s crucial to maintain the mindset that we’re on a mission, and that we have a common goal. It’s the leader’s responsibility to define the mission, and the tactical objectives should get passed down to the leadership to execute their part of that mission. If you can define the mission for your organization, an ordinary group can accomplish and extraordinary goal. You need to be able to articulate that mission and sell it to the group.
What advice would you offer someone who is starting their first business?
When you start a business, you have a rare opportunity to approach the venture from the starting line. Your mentality should be “work to live, instead of living to work”. You are the architect, and you should build your business around your goals and your dreams, so you can maintain that passion for what you are doing. Don’t create a monster that will consume you down the road. You’ll only have the chance to start at the beginning once. Life is short. We don’t get too many shots at this, so think about what is important to you at the outset.
