Jonathan B. Smith: Build a Business That Serves Your Life Not Enslaves You
Release Date: 02/04/2026
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Build a business that serves your life, not enslaves you. Jonathan B. Smith (JBS), expert EOS implementer, shares how most entrepreneurs discover years later their business is choking them because they never stopped to figure out what they want from life. Scaling with purpose means building a business that helps you get what you want out of life, not making you a slave to your business. THE PROBLEM: Entrepreneurs start a business. Years later, they discover the business is choking them. They never stopped to figure out what they want out of the business and life. Very few know what they...
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info_outlineBuild a business that serves your life, not enslaves you.
Jonathan B. Smith (JBS), expert EOS implementer, shares how most entrepreneurs discover years later their business is choking them because they never stopped to figure out what they want from life.
Scaling with purpose means building a business that helps you get what you want out of life, not making you a slave to your business.
THE PROBLEM:
Entrepreneurs start a business.
Years later, they discover the business is choking them.
They never stopped to figure out what they want out of the business and life.
Very few know what they actually want.
SCALING WITH PURPOSE:
Building a business that helps you get what you want out of life, NOT building a business that makes you a slave.
How?
Right team
Right business
Right markets
Right capital structure
Proper conversations
Good life at home
Take care of health
At EOS we call it: The EOS Life.
COACH'S LIFE-CHANGING ADVICE:
“Decide what life you want and then build a business around that life”
VERSUS
“Having a business and letting that dictate your life”
THE REFLECTION:
If your business is not allowing you to live the life you want, reflect on what life you want.
Then figure out how to:
-
Hire people
-
Adjust your business
-
Sell your business
-
Buy a new business
-
Change your business
THE REALISATION:
Most people don’t realise they have a choice.
You are NOT trapped.
You ARE trapped by your own mind thinking there are no other opportunities.
FREEDOM SQUARED TOOL:
Jonathan built the Freedom Squared Tool with eight elements from Strategic Coach.
Freedom Squared means:
- Decide who you live with
- What you want to do
- When you want to do it
- Where you do it
- How it works
Sounds crazy to a lot of people, but you can intentionally build that life.
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
What life do you want?
How does your business fit that life?
Are you a slave to your business or does your business serve you?
KEY INSIGHT:
Your business should help you get what you want out of life.
If your business is not allowing you to live the life you want, reflect and make changes.
You have a choice:
hire, adjust, sell, buy new, or change.
Don’t be a slave to the business you built.
ABOUT Jonathan B. Smith:
Expert EOS implementer with 1500+ sessions across 150+ companies.
Author of Fight Less Win More: The Missing Manual for Never Split the Difference.
Trained by Chris Voss and the Black Swan Group in tactical empathy and negotiation.
CONNECT WITH Jonathan B. Smith:
Website: https://staycuriousjbs.com
Book: Fight Less Win More
SCALEX AND SIMPLE SCALING:
Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business
ScaleX Elevate: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate
ScaleX Accelerator: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme
Website: https://simplescaling.com
Email: hello@simplescaling.com
Podcast Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder, Simple Scaling