Joshua Lybolt, president of JMXE Capital is always working. He has been working hard as an investor and entrepreneur since he was in grade school. Since then, he has been working hard on behalf of others as a life hacker, author and inspirational speaker, and working on his own personal growth along the way.
Joshua has had the entrepreneurial spirit from a very young age. While other children wanted to become astronauts and ballerinas, Joshua first vocalized his dream of becoming a stockbroker at just five years of age. In first grade, he would double his lunch money by selling candy bars at school. As he got older, he sold bigger toys like bikes to his friends, then at around age sixteen he sold many motorcycles, wave runners and even vehicles. At seventeen, Joshua started his first real company and has started up and has run over ten companies since then.
Joshua did realize his dream of becoming a high performing stockbroker. The world of trading investments has a tendency to emit more than its fair share of negative energy though and Joshua would soon find that it did not quite fit with his overall vision for his future. Setting his sights on a broader scope of success, Joshua has been an incredibly successful entrepreneur in many other ventures.
As an inspirational speaker, Joshua understands how to captivate an audience. He offers services that include speaking at companies and organizations to raise their collective standards or speaking to a team to boost morale and push them to achieve more. Joshua has studied the art and science behind personal growth for decades. He has also personally been personally trained by leaders like Tony Robbins, John Assaraf, Vishen Lakhiani, Marrisa Peer and Robin Sharma. Through his extensive knowledge and skill in this area, Joshua engages with his audience, he is invested in wanting them to better themselves which, in turn, motivates them to want it for themselves.
As a forthcoming author and seasoned life-hacker, Joshua is bringing his art to his followers in the form of a new life-hacking book. The book is a culmination of 25 years of experience, study and research into the greatest minds, personal growth experts, neuroscientists, and biohackers. It will help its readers to understand the science behind life hacking and also call its readers to action. After all, life hacking cannot work for the reader, without the reader’s effort.
The work Joshua is doing with his company, JMXE, is where he feels the most comfortable. Fund management is something that he is particularly passionate about. Working in a privately run family office, allows him to lead the company with intention and passion. Joshua is constantly searching for undervalued companies within his wheelhouse of expertise. He is able to breathe life into these companies that need funding and guidance in order to maximize operations. Joshua assumes a minority interest and long-term position with these companies, so taking on the right investments is key in his business. He achieves this through due diligence, making sure the direction and passions of the company align with his own.
Joshua Lybolt has proven himself to be a prosperous entrepreneur that understands how to motivate individuals and how to make sound investment decisions. Passion and growth are what drive him as he moves his company forward and brings success to numerous other business owners.
How did you get started in your industry?
When I was in kindergarten, a stockbroker came in to tell the class about his career. Not only was I fascinated by the job itself but as he showed off his shiny, yellow Lamborghini, five-year-old me was absolutely enamored although the Lambo would have looked much better in white! I knew then that I would one day become a stockbroker, and I did. But the job just didn’t suit my overall life goals. It is important for a person’s overall health, well-being, and personal growth that they keep their career goals in line with their life goals. So, I left trading and kept moving forward with my other business ventures which allowed me to begin my business in fund management. I have always had a passion for finance and along with that passion I am bringing my hard-earned experience to my company, JMXE.
How do you make money in your field?
I discover undervalued, private companies and invest in them so they can continue their operations and improve efficiency and take advantage of opportunities. In return, I take a minority equity stake in their company. It varies depending on the company and the position is negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
While we are a new company, the positions we take in our investments are long-term. We are in these for the long-haul.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
Working in finance requires the need to take bold initiatives knowing that they may not always pan out. So, I would say there really is no room for doubts. However, you must always do your due diligence and trust your intuition. It is a wise thing to be risk averse. There is a lot of research you can do to prepare and protect yourself before going into a deal or taking on an investment. Other times, it’s a shot in the sky. You can end up getting burned just because the market can be unpredictable. That’s the world of finance.
Do you remember how you got your first client?
Through research and relationships. I spend a lot of time searching for companies that look like they will meet my criteria for a great and long-lasting working relationship. I am a go-getter; it can be like finding a diamond in the rough sometimes, but it is worth all of the hard work that I put in because the return for both my company and theirs is phenomenally rewarding. Some industries require self-starters, you need to develop a strong motivation for constant learning, research, education, and anything that will keep you in the know. Otherwise, you may never find your first client or even get your feet off the ground.
What is one marketing strategy that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
Getting the company name out there and doing it early is one of the smartest business moves a company can make when they are in the startup phase especially, but really it is a great marketing tool to use at any time as well. You can accomplish this through many means such as doing interviews about your business, promoting through social media, and other avenues online that help get your business name in front of as many eyes as possible.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in your professional life?
When I had to terminate a person that didn’t really deserve it. That was a tough decision. He was an incredibly talented individual and a great guy; he just couldn’t meet the expectations after being given many chances. He tried but he just wasn’t cut out for the job. So, I guess when you look at the facts, he technically did deserve the termination, but the decision was still hard because on a personal level, it felt undeserved. I wished him well and gave him a great recommendation and honestly, he was probably better off finding a role that suited him better.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I have been successful due to my resilience. This quote from Rocky has always resonated with me “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place, and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Especially that last line about moving forward after being hit hard. I have had some monumentally hard hits in life, but I have never allowed them to keep me down, and that resilience continues to be the key to my success.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
I have two that have been especially satisfying. The first was when I was around 26 years old and teaching as a professor at the time. The state was scouting for a very prestigious role that other tenured, seasoned individuals that were over 50 were also up for when I was personally tapped by the Governor to fill the role. I can’t even begin to explain what an honor that was! The second satisfying moment was about a year later, at around 27. It was my first solo operation to raise money for a project. As three different people handed me checks I realized I was doing a great job bringing in some funds on my own, then as I noticed each check was written for over a million each, it was almost surreal.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future with JMXE is full of unlimited possibilities. I am excited about opening us up for new investment opportunities and expansion. I am also excited for my new life hacking book I will be publishing soon. As an entrepreneur, I am always looking for new opportunities and ways to expand my brand to new heights and new areas. The future is always an exciting thing for me!
What business books have inspired you?
48 Laws of power by Robert Greene is my favorite book, it tells fascinating stories about how past leaders have used each of these 48 laws to ultimately get what they were after; however the book is VERY well written in that it also tells a polarizing story of each law where it backfired. And A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckert Tolle which is a must read for anyone searching for an awakened state of consciousness. A New Earth taught me to lose my ego and be free from society’s ideals.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Thinking back to my favorite Rocky quote again, I think I would say something like “Get prepared for the hard hits in life, but don’t worry, you are stronger than you think”.