VezaTalks: 021 Jason Todd Spotif

1. Let’s Meet Jason

Jason Todd is an award-winning business strategist and a seasoned executive with extensive experience as CTO, CIO, and advisory board member and author.

Jason has an impressive track record of founding, growing, and exiting four businesses. He is also a skilled software developer, having written over 1 million lines of code. 

Jason's exceptional negotiation skills have led him to successfully manage deals with billion-dollar companies, and his talent for branding has helped businesses reach up to $300 million in value.

2. From Misfit to Money Maker

Jason was a misfit from an early age, spending his time programming at home while his peers played outside. 

However, growing up in an entrepreneurial family, he was inspired to pursue his passions and make his mark in the professional world. 

Starting in sales and marketing, he quickly transitioned into the technology field, launching numerous technology-related ventures.

His first major success was an e-commerce company that disrupted the closed supply chain of residential and light commercial heating and air conditioning products, allowing consumers to purchase directly and save money on installation costs. 

Over eight years, he grew the company's network to over 30,000 contractors and expanded its distribution centers both nationally and internationally. 

Despite facing challenges and tension with his business partner, Jason ultimately sold the company and took a brief retirement.

Reflecting on his journey, Jason recognizes the impact of his upbringing and natural inclination to forge his path, coupled with a strong entrepreneurial spirit. 

He acknowledges that, while his experiences have taught him valuable lessons, there is always room for growth and improvement.

As someone who has been in e-commerce for over 20 years, I can say that the industry has gone through a massive evolution in terms of marketing and overall competitiveness.

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. As entrepreneurs and creators, Jason explained how often we feel the need to constantly create and solve problems, even if they don't exist. 

However, this can lead to heartache and wasted resources, as we may end up creating something that nobody wants or needs.

To avoid this, it's important to develop principles for our lives and ensure that everything we do aligns with those principles. 

Whether it's our business or relationships, we must take a step back and ask ourselves what we should no longer be doing. Simplification comes from cutting out what's unnecessary and focusing on what truly matters.

3. A New Chapter

Jason is the author of "What Could Be: Creating a Life of Meaning and Purpose," which he wrote during a dark time in his life when he lost a lot and felt lost. 

The book is a reflection of what he needed to hear during that time and encapsulates 170 pages of advice that helped him come out the other side with strength and authority in his life. 

He believes that identifying and living by certain principles is key to creating a life of meaning and purpose and that it's essential to approach problems and resolutions from a root cause perspective rather than simply addressing symptoms. 

The book has already made an impact on readers, with one woman from Alaska saying that she was thinking more clearly after just seven pages. Jason emphasizes the importance of humility and being open to the universe's guidance in finding the right people and principles to surround oneself with.

“As we strive for success and growth, we must also take care of ourselves and our relationships. By slowing down and taking one step back, we can move forward with greater clarity and purpose”-Jason

Jason explained that as humans, we have a responsibility to create a positive impact on the world, and sometimes that involves making difficult decisions and accepting losses. 

We must name a future reality that we desire, and then take the necessary steps to bring that reality into existence, even if it means destroying things that no longer serve us.

Loss played a significant role in Jason, however, loss is not always easy to accept. It may involve mourning things that were once important to us, but no longer fit into our lives. 

Jason believes this can be especially true when it comes to our own sense of ego and pride. While it's important to take pride in ourselves, an out-of-control ego can lead to hubris and poor decision-making. 

Final Thoughts

Jason is a man with many talents, skills, and successes, but his passion for humanity and the complexities of life resonates throughout the podcast.

Jason left us off with this final thought.  

Ultimately, loss is a complex and multifaceted concept, but one that can lead to growth and greater self-awareness. By embracing the inevitability of loss, we can navigate life's challenges with greater clarity and purpose.

VezaTalks aims to offer valuable insights and inspiration to help you navigate both the challenges and opportunities of entrepreneurship. Watch the Podcast now!