The Empire State of Mind | Why Building a Business Isn't Enough Anymore

What if I told you that trying to simply "build a business" is actually holding you back from the life you REALLY want to live?

From the cashflow, the wealth, the freedom, the home, the fulfilment.

Here's what I mean:

Most people wake up every day trying to juggle a million pieces:

• Their business

• Their family

• Their health

• Their relationships

• Their money

• Their future

And they're drowning because they're treating each piece as a separate battle & looking at each one in a silo. Each time they move from one to the next they take their eye off the other & drop the ball.

While admirable and way better than simply neglecting 90% of your life in the pursuit of one area…

I pose you a question this week:

What if we're looking at this all wrong?

What if deep in the history books exists a mindset paradigm to unite everything & make ‘balance’ not only achievable but a flourishing & harmonious reality?

Let me share a perspective shift that's completely changed how I view everything in business, life, health, family, my own mind & the world around me...

1. Stop Building a Business, Start Building an Empire

Picture this...

Your world, your reality, is like a medieval town. And you? You're the ruler.

Not just any ruler - you're the one responsible for EVERYTHING.

The finances, the safety, the food supply, the water supply, the protection of every single person in that village. It all falls on your shoulders.

And here's where it gets interesting...

As the ruler, you can't just focus on ONE thing. You can't pour all your energy into the town's finances while neglecting its defences. You can't obsess over security while letting the food supply run dry.

The moment you hyper-focus on one element, the others start to crumble.

Sound familiar?

It's exactly what happens when we pour everything into our business while letting our health slide... Or sacrifice all our family time chasing the next deal... Or neglect our mental wellbeing in pursuit of more revenue.

But here's the perspective shift that changed everything for me:

Instead of seeing all these pieces as separate battles to fight, what if we viewed them as different parts of the same empire?

Your business isn't separate from your life - it's a critical piece of your empire. Your family isn't competing with your work - they're a cornerstone of your empire. Your health isn't something you'll "get to later" - it's the foundation your empire stands on.

When I started viewing everything through this lens, something profound happened:

The weight of responsibility didn't feel heavy anymore - it felt like a privilege.

The chaos didn't feel overwhelming - it felt like an exciting challenge.

The complexity didn't feel draining - it felt like an opportunity to build something truly remarkable.

Because here's the truth:

You're not just building a business.

You're not just managing a family.

You're not just working on your health.

You're building a flourishing, one of a kind empire.

And once you embrace that reality?

Everything changes & you’ll feel it come with a rush.

2. The Single Focus Fallacy

Here's something I see almost every day in this game:

Someone hits their first $10k month, their first $50k month, maybe even their first $100k month...

And instead of this success creating more freedom, they end up trapped.

Why?

Because they poured EVERYTHING into the business.

They sacrificed sleep to send one more email.

They missed another family dinner to jump on another sales call.

They skipped the gym again because "I just need to finish this launch."

I get it. I've been there.

Back in my early days, I thought success meant grinding harder than everyone else. I was the guy working 80+ hour weeks in New York, managing billion-dollar deals, thinking I was "crushing it."

But I was actually crushing myself.

And I see this same pattern playing out in the online space every single day:

People neglect their physical health, thinking they'll "get back to the gym once I hit 7-figures."

They put their relationships on hold, promising their partner "things will calm down after this launch."

They ignore their mental wellbeing, believing stress and anxiety are just "part of being an entrepreneur."

But here's the reality check that hit me hard (and might hit you too):

If your business success comes at the cost of everything else, you're not actually succeeding - you're just moving the problem.

You might make more money, but you can't buy back your health. You might build a bigger business, but you can't rebuild terminally broken relationships. You might look successful on paper, but feel empty inside.

And the wildest part?

This single-minded focus on business actually LIMITS your business growth.

Because when you're running on empty, sleeping 4 hours a night, living on caffeine and adrenaline... you're not showing up as your best self. You're not making clear decisions. You're not seeing opportunities.

You're just surviving.

I learned this lesson the hard way, and it forced me to completely reimagine how I approach everything.

Because true empire building?

It's not about sacrificing everything for business success.

It's about creating a structure where every part of your life fuels every other part.

3. The Empire Mindset Shift

This is where everything changes.

When you start viewing your world as an empire rather than a collection of separate battles, something profound happens.

Let me paint you a picture of what this actually looks like...

Instead of waking up thinking "I need to grind out content, hit the gym, and somehow make time for family"...

You wake up thinking like an emperor or empress:

"How can I make decisions today that strengthen every part of my empire?"

This isn't some woo-woo mindset stuff. This is practical, real-world strategy that changes everything.

Here's what it looks like in practice:

That 5 AM gym session? It's not just about health anymore. It's building the strength & energy you need to lead your empire.

Quality time with your family? It's not competing with work - it's recharging the ruler of the empire so they can make better decisions.

That content you're creating? It's not just marketing - it's expanding your empire's influence & creating new opportunities.

Each piece reinforces the others. Nothing exists in isolation.

But here's where most people get stuck...

They view responsibility as a burden. More success = more weight on their shoulders.

The empire mindset flips this completely:

More responsibility isn't a burden - it's a privilege. It's an opportunity to build something truly remarkable. More challenges aren't exhausting - they're chances to prove what you're capable of to yourself & to your people.

I remember the moment this clicked for me.

I was stressing about juggling my business, being there for Hendrick & Liana, maintaining my health, having time each day to think clearly, helping look after my grand-dad, maintaining friendships, managing investments... when suddenly I realized:

I GET to do this. I GET to build something meaningful. I GET to create something truly epic that impacts my life, my families lives & everyone who comes in contact with my empire in some way, shape or form.

This wasn't weight on my shoulders - it was a crown on my head.

And the moment I embraced this perspective, everything felt lighter & this rush of excitable energy came with it. Not because the work changed, but because my relationship with it changed.

Not because I had less to do, but because how I viewed the world fundamentally changed.

I stopped trying to "balance" different areas of life and started integrating them into one cohesive empire.

And that's when the real magic started happening...

4. The Practical Reality

Let me show you how this actually works in the real world...

Because it's one thing to talk about "building an empire" - it's another to make it work day to day.

Here's how this plays out in my world:

When I'm looking at my calendar, I'm not just blocking time for "work" and "life." I'm strategically deploying the empire's resources (my time & energy) where they'll create the most value.

This means:

• Mondays & Fridays are completely blocked from calls. No exceptions. This is my building time.

• Mornings are sacred for my physical health (gym or a brisk walk along the beach), my mental health (putting good content in my ears) & then family time with Hendrick & Liana over breakfast.

• Client work is concentrated in focused blocks Tuesday through Thursday.

• Social & family activities are in the calendar right alongside work, the gym & any investment meetings.

It all exists on an equal playing field & gets a fair share of my energy, attention & care.

Let’s take this one step deeper than time management:

Take content creation for example.

Instead of seeing it as another task to tick off, it becomes a way to document the empire's journey.

When I share what I'm learning & building, it serves multiple purposes:

• Helps others on their path

• Builds my relationship with people in my world

• Attracts new people to my world online

• Creates valuable assets for the business that run 24/7 & yield cashflow

• Builds the brand's legacy for years to come

• Turns followers into customers & customers into clients

Another example, how I structure my offers:

I used to stress about having different programs at different price points. What’s the right blend, the right sequence, the right number etc

But through the empire lens, it's not about having more offers, there’s no binary right or wrong - it's about creating the right pathways for people to enter & move through my world.

The Academy, Inner Circle, and VIP programs aren't just revenue streams - they're different districts in my empire, each serving a specific purpose & population.

Even my investments follow this pattern:

• Some for immediate cash flow

• Others for long-term growth

• Each playing its role in the empire's expansion & long term growth

Here's what most people miss:

It's not about doing MORE. It's about making everything you do serve multiple purposes in your empire.

That business trip? Also a chance to explore a new city with family.

That morning walk? Both exercise and nourishing the mind.

That networking event? Building business relationships while expanding your social circle.

The empire mindset isn't about perfection - it's about integration.

And when you get this right? That's when you build something truly sustainable & meaningful.

When you get this right ‘balance’ is a natural outcome & you’ll see not one, but all areas of your life flourish like never before.

5. Final Thoughts, Action Items & Next Steps

Look, I get it.

This might feel like a big shift from how you've been thinking about your business & life.

It may even feel a bit fanciful or removed from reality.

But rare & amazing things aren’t created via normal thinking, more perspectives & normal life paradigms.

We have to do things different to the masses if we want it all.

With all that said, here’s what I want you to do right now:

Step 1 - Take The Empire Audit

Grab a piece of paper & map out the key territories in your empire:

• Business & Money

• Health & Energy

• Family & Relationships

• Growth & Learning

• Living Environment

Step 2 - Identify The Gaps

Be ruthlessly honest - which areas are thriving & which are barely surviving?

Where are you pouring all your energy into one area at the expense of others?

What parts of your empire need immediate attention?

Which areas have you been avoiding?

Step 3 - Make One Integration Move

Look for ONE way you can serve multiple areas of your empire at once:

• Could you turn your morning walk into content creation time?

• Could you eliminate parts of your business that aren’t yielding?

• Could you involve family in parts of your business?

Step 4 - Start Running It Like An Empire

Bring it to life:

• Set clear priorities for each area

• Make decisions based on the whole, not just parts

• Treat your energy as your empire's most valuable resource

Remember:

You're not trying to balance everything perfectly.

You're building something bigger than a business. You're creating something more meaningful than just money. You're developing something that will last beyond just you.

That's what empire building is all about.

The only question is: Are you ready to step up & claim your crown?

If you want help building your empire, click here to apply to work with me.

After I receive your application we’ll have a quick chat to work out the best path based on your individual situation, goals etc

Until next time,

Jacob

P.S If you enjoyed this content & want to go deeper on topics like this, I also have a podcast where I drop new episodes every weekday. They’re short 3 - 7 minute hits of strategy, story, mindset paradigms (like the above) to help you build your online empire & a life that you truly love. Check it out here.