Meet Joshua (Jyoti) Jacobs | Artist and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joshua (Jyoti) Jacobs and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joshua (Jyoti), what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
It basically boils down to following your highest excitement. Life is so much more rewarding when your hard work each day is directed towards something you have passion for, then it doesn’t matter if you work 70-80 hour weeks because every moment of it brings you joy somehow. My journey has always included some form of art, and the style of art has changed many times, but I find a lot of pleasure in creating beauty for people to see or hear. My love for music brought me to play many different instruments and my love for art brought me to use many different mediums, but the theme has always been the same – expressing my inner joy. When enough people started asking for my art, I figured it was time to devote more time to it, so I set aside my other jobs and jumped in head first. There are times when sales drop, and you find yourself wondering if it’s really going to work, but the more I focus on creating from my heart regardless of the outcome, the more life supports me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As an artist I’m constantly recreating myself, slowly I’ve found a style that makes me unique, but it’s always going to be a work in progress. From painting murals in India, to wedding photography, from being soccer coach, to making eco-friendly materials for composite manufacturing…my passion for helping the world become a more beautiful place will never end. Some may say the steps I’ve taken to get here look hard, but the challenges I’ve faced have always been learning experiences that help me grow and make it easier to take the next steps. There have been many pivots and not all of my entrepreneurial endeavors have ended in success, but growth isn’t always linear, so I’ve learned to except life when things don’t go the way I planned them to.

Creating unique ways to be in service to others is a huge part of my life. Bringing joy, planting curiosity, finding more peaceful ways of living, and being the change I wish to see in the world. These things are what drive me each morning. You can find my art under the brand name Thirdeye Visionaries which hints at the fact that we can’t always look outside of us for the answers, but if we search within and share what we find, then some might call us visionaries.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
In my college days I was a raft guide on the Colorado River, I loved being a tour guide for people, showing them all the natural beauty that Colorado has to offer. Most of the time when friends or family come to visit, they come from a city, or flat land, so my wife and I get a kick out of taking them to places that blow them away and leave a lasting memory. Normally we pick them up at DIA, we take them to a concert at Red Rocks, and then take I-70 up into the mountains and over the Continental Divide. We live in a small town on the western slope of Colorado called Ridgway, surrounded by 14,000 foot peaks, tons of wildlife, alpine lakes, and thousands of miles of hiking trails. Ridgway is known for being the only place in four counties that has a stop light. It’s a foodie junction with lots of good places to eat, and people from around the world come here to enjoy Orvis Hot Springs. Then a drive up to Telluride always gets a lot of ‘Ooohhs and Aaahhs’. There are so many secret gems out here in the mountains to explore that a week long vacation usually isn’t enough, not to mention the beauty of each season out here. From the spring flowers, to the fall colors, hiking in the wilderness all summer, and world famous ski resorts in the winter. Even if you’ve lived here for years there’s so many things to see, it’s hard to get tired of this area of Colorado.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I’d like to thank my parents for never telling me what to be, rather letting me find my own path. They’re the first people to support me in my attempts at being an artist.

Throughout my journey there have been many friends that kept me on track, when life gets rough and motivation or self confidence is dwindling, it’s friends that give me the simple reminder to ‘Just keep painting!’ and somehow convince me to stick with what I love. Thank you, you all know who you are…

At some point I was lucky enough to find a better half. She has accepted me for who I am, understanding that sometimes the statement ‘starving artist’ is true, and we will get through whatever life brings us with faith and determination to follow our highest excitements. She is my muse, my wings, my partner, and my best friend. For that I will always be eternally grateful.

Website: thirdeyevisionaries.com

Instagram: @jyotijiarts

Linkedin: Joshua Jacobs

Facebook: Thirdeye Visionaries