We were lucky to catch up with Alexander Smith recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alexander, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
This is a difficult question to answer because my resilience isn’t tied to just one thing; it’s something I’ve been developing throughout my life and continue to build today. However, a couple key experiences stand out as having a significant impact.
The first is my father. My siblings and I had a tough childhood, and my father, in particular, was extremely hard on us. He raised us in a way that I don’t believe was common for our generation or those that followed. At the time, his approach often felt harsh, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. He instilled in me the values of hard work, perseverance, and integrity, which have shaped who I am today.
Another pivotal experience has been the challenge of coming to terms with the world as it truly is. My father taught me that hard work and integrity would take me far, and while those principles remain central to who I am, I quickly realized that navigating the corporate world isn’t always that simple. Early in my finance career, I encountered unethical behavior from people in leadership roles. Believing I could make a difference, I stood up against it. However, this came at a cost. At 25, newly married and with a mortgage, I lost my job after challenging senior executives who were siphoning money from the company. They found a way to push me out and made my life difficult in the process.
In moments like these, you’re left with no choice but to pick yourself up and figure things out. Resilience, for me, comes from confronting hard truths, standing by my principles, and finding a way forward, even when the odds are stacked against me.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
For me, a career has always been a way to gain new skills and earn the resources to pursue the things that truly matter to me. I’m a strong advocate for stepping away from traditional career paths because I believe the system isn’t designed with our best interests at heart. Early on, I jumped roles frequently, which allowed me to learn a variety of skills, better understand myself, and figure out what I truly wanted—all while earning as much as I could to set myself up for long-term freedom.
Since leaving college, I’ve launched several small side businesses to explore my creativity and test what could generate a sustainable income. Now that I’ve stepped away from corporate life, I’ve started a fractional financial analysis company to leverage the skills that once made me successful working for businesses I didn’t own. What excites me is being involved in every aspect of my small business, and connecting with so many interesting people along the way.
Even more exciting is the control and freedom that comes with owning something—being able to execute on my own vision and work from where I want to so I can surf and hike like I never had time to in corporate. That’s why I know I’ll continue to start more businesses in the future. Learning how to successfully run one has opened the door to many possibilities, and I’m confident that my current venture will continue to evolve and grow.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are: the ability to solve problems with the resources available, developing emotional intelligence to connect with people (even when it requires stepping outside my comfort zone), and building a strong financial skillset.
Offering advice broadly is challenging because everyone’s path is different, but I believe these three qualities can benefit anyone. Let me expand on that:
Problem-solving: Whether in entrepreneurship or life, success often comes down to problem-solving. Being a good partner, parent, employee, or business leader all involves finding creative solutions with what you have at hand. Circumstances are rarely ideal, and perfect timing or resources seldom present themselves when needed. The ability to think critically and act resourcefully is crucial for overcoming obstacles and making progress.
Emotional intelligence: Building genuine connections through emotional intelligence has opened more doors for me than my technical skills or resume ever could. Understanding people, creating rapport, and forming strong relationships have led to countless opportunities. While it may come more naturally to some, emotional intelligence is a skill anyone can develop. Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone to connect with others can create opportunities that may not arise otherwise.
Financial literacy: No matter what industry you’re in, every business revolves around financial success. Understanding financial data and how your work impacts the bottom line will always be an asset. Even if you’re not in a financial role, being financially literate gives you insight into how to drive value within your organization, and for me, it provided the confidence to go out on my own and start my own business.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Absolutely! Like I spoke about in my last answer, developing relationships is one of the most valuable things an entrepreneur can do. I’m always looking for mentors, potential business partners, individuals I can learn from or teach, potential clients, potential future employers, and potential future investors. To reach me just shoot me a personal email at alexvsmith85@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.getspreadjoy.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-smith-b51294113/
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