Earning, Learning, and Self-Care: Lisa Jacobs on Navigating Entrepreneurial Ups and Downs

The First Buck

Nic interviews Lisa Jacobs, the CEO of Funding Circle. Lisa discusses her journey as an entrepreneur and offers insights into the world of small business lending. She shares her experiences of earning her first money through odd jobs and building websites, and how those early experiences shaped her interest in small businesses. She also talks about her time in management consulting and the valuable skills she gained, such as problem-solving and receiving feedback. Lisa emphasizes the importance of taking calculated risks and shares her own experience of leaving a secure job to join Funding Circle. She also discusses the changing landscape of small businesses over the past decade, highlighting the increase in resilience and the shift towards online businesses. Lisa provides advice on managing stress as an entrepreneur, including taking care of oneself and seeking support from mentors and advisors. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of agility, seeking feedback, and finding a balance between work and personal well-being.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• About the peaks and valleys of earning money while working in small businesses
• The value and importance of taking calculated risks and seeking feedback
• The role of self-care in the entrepreneurial journey
• How finding a mentor and other key figures to talk to for support can help you build resilience as an entrepreneur