BIO: Jeff Nischwitz is known as a Snow Globe Shaker who’s on a mission to help people shift how they lead and thereby shift their leadership impact.
STORY: Jeff’s parents sold their business and gave the money to their grandchildren for a college education. Jeff decided to invest his kids’ money as advised by a financial advisor who knew his dad. This was during the Dotcom boom, and at first, the investment grew from $10,000 to $75,000 per kid’s share. But within six months, the market crashed. The worst part was that his advisor never talked to him as the market started shifting. Being a thrill-seeker, Jeff decided to try another venture. This time around, he invested in a franchise that failed from the get-go. Jeff continued pumping money into the business even though things never improved. Jeff never quit until he was so deep into the mess.
LEARNING: Don’t let your ego drive you to poor decisions. Focus on the long-term instead of big hits that only last a short time—work with an experienced financial advisor.
“When things are chaotic around you, when you’re being shaken up externally, it’s even more important to shake internally.”
Jeff Nischwitz
Jeff Nischwitz is known as a Snow Globe Shaker who’s on a mission to help people shift how they lead and thereby shift their leadership impact. He’s an international speaker and personal transformation coach known for his unique perspectives, challenging traditional thinking, and delivering tangible shifts for leaders to grow their people, build their businesses and enhance their relationships.
Jeff’s the Founder of The Nischwitz Group, a speaking, consulting, and coaching company, and the Co-Founder of Cardivera, a leadership development ecosystem that grows leaders and their impact. He also co-hosts the Leadership Junkies Podcast. Jeff has published four leadership and business books, including his most recent–Just One Step: Walking Backwards to the Present on the Camino Trail.
Back in the mid-90s, Jeff’s parents sold their business and gave the company stock to their grandchildren. This money was intended for their college education when they came of age.
Jeff was the administrator for his kids’ share. He went to a guy that he did not know well but who knew Jeff’s father. He suggested a stock for Jeff, and he put in all the money into that stock. The stock was going crazy. Jeff started with $10,000 a child, and the money went up to like $75,000.
The Dotcom boom hit in 2000, and now there was all this speculation on tech stocks. Jeff started thinking whether it was time to sell the stock as it was still on a high. He, however, waited on his guy to advise him. But he wasn’t getting any communication from him.
As he was waiting for advice, the market started to tumble and ultimately crashed. Jeff lost most of the money. All this while, Jeff never heard from the financial advisor.
The same year, Jeff started a business that involved buying a franchise. The company started poorly right from the beginning. Jeff’s gambler’s mindset set in, and instead...