Meet Jake Shannon | Author & Business Development Wizard

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jake Shannon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jake, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Which one? I started one of my first ventures, ScientificWrestling.com, in 2003 as a vehicle to write-off expenses from my passion for grappling and martial arts. One day I was looking at how much I was spending on seminars, books, instructionals, classes, gear, etc. that I figured I should try. Little did I know then it would grow into a full-fledged leader in its field for 2 decades!

Another, RMInsight.net, was born in 2007 while I was working as the Modeling Manager in the Metrics department at the largest (at the time) reverse mortgage originator in the country. My boss had tasked me with gathering market share data and, short of engaging in corporate espionage, I couldn’t figure out how to get the info since most companies in the space were privately held, hence there was very little public data available.

One day the idea came to me so my boss was initially thrilled when I told him I figured out the solution. He was less excited when I told him to make it work he’d have to quit his job and start a new business with me that served as a ‘blind database’ for the reverse mortgage market that would allow competitors in the space to share information in a positive manner. He eventually bought the pitch and RMI is thriving to this day!

Around the same time my wife had been working for a small software company serving the Attraction industry called Gatemaster.com She was technical support at the time and worked hard traveling to help with installations. I worked with her to help grow the company, which she is now the CEO and I am Chief Business Development Officer, into an award winning industry leader today.

My most recent venture, ThalesCoaching.com, was originally started in 2011 to coach people in leadership mindset, bootstrap entrepreneurship, and financial literacy. For years Thales was somewhat dormant since I was quite busy with my other ventures, including being a dedicated family man (my wife and I have three children under 14, plus my elderly mother lives with us too), but when lockdowns happened I knew that people needed to learn how to be financially independent so I actively started marketing my services again.

I’ve just partnered with my mentor, and the #1 sales and marketing trainer in the world, Grant Cardone to help Colorado small businesses & the self-employed thrive during these unprecedented times! I’m confident that there are going to be many people eager to work for themselves instead of for companies with 100 employees or more, and I am very grateful to be able to help them!

What should our readers know about your business?
I think everyone has individual talents or “super powers” specific to them. I am grateful to reliably bring creative problem solving, massive action, and persistence to every endeavor I commit to.

With my ScientificWrestling.com project, calculated risk-taking and communication acumen allowed me to apprentice with, codify, and systematize the knowledge from legendary grapplers and revivify the sport of catch-as-catch-can grappling.

My wife and my efforts with Gatemaster Technology has helped solidify and expand a 28 year old tech brand (which is like dog years in the technology space) to serve hundreds of clients in 16 different countries through two separate financial crises (2008 and 2020)!

I am also particularly proud that Thales Coaching has given new entrepreneurs the keys to personal liberation and financial independence.

It certainly has not been easy at times but I wouldn’t change a thing! It was a huge epiphany for me to understand that a deliberate willingness to fail, and to learn from those personal failures and shortcomings, is crucial for success.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Colorado and there is no shortage of cool places to visit here. If I were to set up a tour I would certainly set up a Taste of Denver food tour of downtown first, then swing up to Boulder to hike some trails at Chautauqua & shop Pearl Street. Later in the week I’d be sure to hit the Garden of the Gods near Manitou Springs and the drive to the top of Pike’s Peak.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that helped me along the way including mentors like Joe Fuhrig (rest in peace) who encouraged me to get my Master of Science in Financial Engineering at Golden Gate University, my parents that helped me get my undergraduate degree in English, the Presidents Leadership scholarship program that also helped fund my undergraduate education and taught me essential leadership skills, my old college roommate Michael Burnett who taught me to pursue my passions seriously, all the friends and clients that have supported my work, and most importantly my wife Sondra who has been the greatest partner I have ever known!

Website: ThalesCoaching.com

Instagram: @anomalist

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-shannon

Twitter: @jakeshannon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jake.shannon

Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/JakeShannon

Other: ScientificWrestling.com Gatemaster.com