Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jonathan Waks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jonathan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

How to Reluctantly Start Working for yourself:

I was fired when I went on my honeymoon by a group of business people who referred to employees as their family. I had a feeling it was coming but you always felt that way inside of a heartless company. I spent a day bitching and moaning to whomever wanted to hear the sob story and then I started working. I am impatient and felt every second mattered, and the only way I would find something else was to get into it as soon as possible. Resume written, web site developed LinkedIn conversations started. But once you have broken up with someone there is a cooling off period where you should not just get into a long term relationship right away. It is best to explore what works for you and where you want to be.

It was apparent on every interview that I was too qualified so I stopped interviewing. I took some short term jobs to make a little money and meet people, then I did some more. Which each new thing I got my mojo back, and eventually started a company with a few freelancers I met along the way. I am two companies further down the road and have tried to make the workplace I’m responsible for a tool for growth, and an opportunity for everyone who works for me to become their own company. I have no illusions that business is not a family, but it can be loyal, and friendly and a place that teaches you what you need to be.

When you start a company you have to determine who owns it and subsequently what happens when you break up. I took this for granted the first time, I assumed there would be no assets and everyone would act like reasonable adults. Anyone divorced will tell you that just doesn’t happen much. So you need to get a good lawyer and figure out the worst case scenarios. Then you have to remember to sign and file the documents. That is what business is all about.

The actual launch should come with the promise of more work so that any start up capital you put in can come back to you in time. People say you should not use your own money in business, but that does not really work in a smaller scale. If someone lends you capital they are going to need interest or equity, both of which you really don’t want to give up. So invest in yourself and make sure you make it back. Launching may be dedicating the time to make lots of sales inquiries, that is work, and it counts.

You have to learn the ins and out of accounting software like QuickBooks. Anyone who has handled a spreadsheet can handle this kind of software. There are plenty of tutorials. There have been several times when I asked Intuit for advice on how to do a thing inside the software and they said I could not, then I figured it out. They want it to be more complicated than it is. But learn it, and get a good tax accountant to handle the complicated things.

Finally you have to learn why your business is unique, you have to be able to sell your skills and your aptitude for success. Everyone you meet should know what you do, as you never know where work could come by.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My job is to produce ideas. Everything is theoretical until you bring it into existence. But life is much more complicated than theories. So my role is to keep the idea intact the way a sculptor chips at a block of marble. You map it out and then chip away at the parts until they resemble that idea, then you polish it and put it somewhere for everyone to see. To make matters more interesting everything I do is on an expedited time schedule, so if our sculptor had 25 minutes to create a classical Greek statue out of a box of mystery parts that may or may not contain some kind of stone- I’m the guy he calls to figure out what to do next.

I thought I wanted to work in Hollywood, but an early experience working for a producer made me realize that movies were just a business wrapped up in veil of art. So instead I created the opportunity to make art wrapped up the disguise of business. I got started in the exhibit world the old fashioned way. Nepotism. At first it was like having to do chores and then with more responsibility it became a vocation.

I like the action, the adventure of planning something. It can be like a heist, or like landing planes while you build them in the air. There is a fragility that is tactile in live events. You have to be Matrix level flexible to survive the constant onslaught of danger and problems that are thrown at you. You have to be quick witted and come up with creative solutions on the fly. You have to see trouble and keep your head on a swivel for more. And at the end of the day when the planes are in the tarmac and there is no more drama to be had, you can rest with the knowledge that the thing you worked on would not have existed in the same way without you. Then you throw it away and start again.

I have worked for all sorts of companies and people, and have had to make go no go decisions with everything on the line. I have made some mistakes, but it is important to learn to fall forward and make more corrections to make up for them. The things I am most proud of happened in small moments when no one was looking.

My brand is called High Contrast.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

“Never fear another challenger, no matter how large; Never despise another challenger, no matter how small.

Large does not always defeat little. Little can become large by constant building; large can become little by falling apart.”
― Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace

Practicing martial arts is a simple segue into business. Patience, resilience and the notion that all work is the practice. The practice can always be honed and developed, optimized and maximized in its exploration. You can practice wherever you are and apply to all facets of life. And along with it should be a healthy integration for meditation. Meditation allows a business owner to walk down the potential outcomes, negotiate before getting to the table and keep a calm when things could be spiraling. The martial arts come into play during all confrontations.

This quote by the founder of Aikido is critical in understanding that business is fluid and changes daily. We have to practice adapting to its new form as we go about our regular business. We must grow internally and not be reticent to change, all life is change. We should not fear the larger corporations who dominate the fields we are in, but rather understand their limitations and create ways to show how nimble and flexible we can be. Ueshiba was 5’2″ tall and weighed about 120lbs but could throw a man twice his size across the room. He did this by flowing with the energies coming after him, and adding to it, not stopping or fearing but rather moving along size what was approaching him.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first learned about billing clients the theory was that if you made the invoices too transparent they would question your profit centers. It seemed like a game where we wanted clients to just give up on the puzzle. Later I learned how this frustration lead to mistrust at every step and fear. Now when I bill clients we show what the profit is and know that this is the honest way. Everyone in business has to make a profit, including our clients and vendors. This mutual understanding creates a symbiotic relationship where we can all succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.experiencehighcontrast.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highcontrastexp/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanwaks/