"We exist to help people preserve their legacy through our technology and make a positive impact on their lives."
Jonathan Fishbeck Tweet
Jonathan Fishbeck is the Founder and CEO of EstateSpace, a platform to simplify estate management. EstateSpace helps our clients simplify how they manage operation, communicate and share information. With families, family offices, and network of service providers on our platform, and a commitment to transparency and equality in estate management – we are breaking the mold on how estates operate.
Before devoting his work fulltime to EstateSpace, Jonathan served as the Founder and CEO at a design-build firm whose focus was advising, developing and operationalizing sizable estate properties for Ultra-High Net Worth families and family offices. It’s this experience and expertise, combined with a background in technology that was the genesis for EstateSpace.
In addition, Jonathan serves a number of philanthropic organizations where his passion for helping veterans, children and blood cancer research shines through. These positions and organizations include Chairman, Fisher House Foundation, Board Member, Children’s Voice International and Board Member, There Goes My Hero, respectively.
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Table of Contents
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Jonathan Fishbeck: I am the Founder and CEO of EstateSpace, a platform to simplify estate management. EstateSpace helps our clients simplify how they manage operation, communicate and share information. With families, family offices, and network of service providers on our platform, and a commitment to transparency and equality in estate management – we are breaking the mold on how estates operate. It is a secure online platform that helps simplify the management of physical assets, streamline communication and standardize information.
I am an entrepreneur and a three time startup founder. Prior to EstateSpace I served as the Founder and CEO at a design-build firm whose focus was advising, developing and operationalizing sizable estate properties for Ultra-High Net Worth families and family offices. It’s this experience and expertise, combined with a background in technology that was the genesis for EstateSpace.
2020 and 2021 threw a lot of curve balls into business on a global scale. Based on the experience gleaned in the past couple years, how can businesses thrive in 2022? What lessons have you learned?
Jonathan Fishbeck: We’ve learned that today’s global economy is resilient and that marketplaces, and most important consumers, have become adaptive. Companies across all industries have had opportunities to succeed. Businesses need to make sure that they understand the market, the buyer and use technology to become adaptive. Lesson learned, if you can’t pivot you die.
The pandemic seems to keep on disrupting the economy, what should businesses focus on in 2022? What advice would you share?
Jonathan Fishbeck: The disruption is an opportunity, so that’s the focus. What will the impact be and how can you leverage it? This should be the question that you are asking yourself and your business.
How has the pandemic changed your industry and how have you adapted?
Jonathan Fishbeck: The pandemic was something we were able to thrive in versus survive, taking advantage of SBA funding programs and boosting our industries with respect to technology and real-estate. We knew how to pivot and adapt before it hit, so we used the push for remote workforces in our messaging and added features to make our technology more valuable.
What advice do you wish you received when the pandemic started and what do you intend on improving in 2022?
Jonathan Fishbeck: I was getting good advice entering the pandemic, so we leveraged everything we could to help the business grow. In 2022, our focus is becoming better at taking an idea to requirements and developing what clients want. This has led to an even better culture at EstateSpace too.
Online business surged higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for 2022?
Jonathan Fishbeck: We expect things to continue when it comes to virtual interactions and some of the efficiency gains are here to stay. Although virtual interactions are still booming, we hope to see some things go back to in-person. Teams and people in general, we are created to interact and nothing will ever replace a direct connection. It will be a balance, as is life, and employers will need to manage that for their people.
How many hours a day do you spend in front of a screen?
Jonathan Fishbeck: Six to eight hours a day.
The majority of executives use stories to persuade and communicate in the workplace. Can you share with our readers examples of how you implement that in your business to communicate effectively with your team?
Jonathan Fishbeck: We exist to help people preserve their legacy through our technology and make a positive impact on their lives. We have shared stories that lead to this mission so that an emotional connection can be made, so we care about that in everything we do.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as the real challenge right now?
Jonathan Fishbeck: The greatest challenge is getting to a simple, friction-free environment where it’s easy for your buyer to navigate, transact and enjoy the experience. Getting too simple is hard and it always will be.
In 2022, what are you most interested in learning about? Crypto, NFTs, online marketing, or any other skill sets? Please share your motivations.
Jonathan Fishbeck: I’m most interested in learning about scaling sales through an inbound lead funnel, where marketing campaigns lead to sales without a salesperson involved. This is something we’re starting to have success with at EstateSpace, so we’re learning how to make that work across different verticals and that has been very motivating.
A record 4.4 million Americans left their jobs in September in 2021, accelerating a trend that has become known as the Great Resignation. 47% of people plan to leave their job during 2022. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued and misunderstood in the workplace. Do you think leaders see the data and think “that’s not me – I’m not that boss they don’t want to work for? What changes do you think need to happen?
Jonathan Fishbeck: It depends on the leader; I feel most leaders are aware and actively trying to get better. A great leader should always look within before looking at others.
Talk to your people, ask them for feedback and ways to improve, it’s those improvements that make the team feel heard and nine out of 10 times that improves the business. Course correction can be a combination of new people, process and technology to help foster a healthy workplace. Or it could be as simple as holding yourself accountable and listening.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Jonathan Fishbeck: To become softer… in my breath, my tone, and most importantly my response. I don’t have this superpower, but I am practicing. This helps me to slow down, become a better listener and make better choices.
What does “success” in 2022 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision.
Jonathan Fishbeck: My greatest journey is personal, becoming a better husband, father and son. Becoming softer and helping to soften those around me. Success is always trying my best and staying focused.
Jed Morley, VIP Contributor to ValiantCEO and the host of this interview would like to thank Jonathan Fishbeck for taking the time to do this interview and share his knowledge and experience with our readers.
If you would like to get in touch with Jonathan Fishbeckor his company, you can do it through his – Linkedin Page
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