Jonathan Foltz

Serial Entrepreneur Jonathan Foltz has created four separate million-dollar brands in the past four years. One of them, Aphrodite’s, a global jewelry e-tailer known for its experiential gifts, made $31 million in sales in the past 3.5 years. During the pandemic alone, they made $10 million, catching the eye of Bergio International, a leading jewelry designer, and manufacturer. The premier brand acquired the fast-growing online retailer for $5 million.

Where did the idea for Aphrodite’s come from?

I had previously invested in various businesses, mainly in the retail space. When I was deciding what products to include in our first Aphrodite’s collection, I discovered a heart-shaped tree of life design that caught my eye. It did okay but not as great as I felt it should be doing. It wasn’t until I tweaked our offer, our pricing, and doubled down on the exposure that the magic began to happen. It went viral, and that is when Aphrodite’s began to scale and get us to where we are today.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

The first thing I like to do upon waking is my daily affirmations. After I jump into personal development, listening to an audiobook or reading a couple of chapters from a regular book. But I never read just to read. I’ll pick a chapter that speaks to me or watch something that inspires me, and often it doesn’t necessarily have to be about business. If I am centered with my inner self, I will perform better in all areas of my life, including business. From there, I like to map out and plan my day with a cup of coffee. I intermittent fast and don’t usually have my first meal until two or three in the afternoon. It keeps both my body and mind fit. I also work in sprints, meaning I will dive deep into something for three to four hours and then take a break, repeating the cycle until I get everything done. It is a little unorthodox, but this type of schedule has helped me become successful.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I love to plan, but I also believe my meditations and daily affirmations help me get inspired. When I meditate, I try to silence my thoughts and calm my mind. I have realized that sometimes I get inspired when my mind is in this state. When I plan out my day, I always set aside time to meditate and clear my mind to open up room for more ideas and inspiration.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that excites me is the exponential growth of society and technology. I like to call it the Law of Accelerating Returns. The Law of Accelerating Returns states that you know technology is doubling up, so paradigm shifts are happening at an exponential rate. And we’re currently experiencing a five-and-a-half-year exponential curve. Sooner or later, huge monolithic things will start happening faster and faster. It’s fascinating to see how fast technology is evolving and how humanity will keep up with it. I believe that most people are not prepared or have any idea how fast this is moving. I think governments, corporations, and society will not be able to keep up with this curve of technology. I believe this drastic amount of innovation is going to blow all of our minds.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I plan and schedule everything. It helps me organize and track everything I need to do. I use Trello, which is a planning and organization software. I have used it for a while now, and I recommend it to everyone! You can organize anything and everything from planning individual projects to planning my investments and business meetings. It’s a fantastic program and helps me stay on track.

What advice would you give your younger self?

A piece of advice that I would give myself is to know that things will work out precisely how they’re intended to. You have to get out of your head, continue to work hard, and know exactly where you want to go. Don’t ever feel bad about saying no and always refuse to do the things in business you don’t want to do. This is healthy for your mental state, and it helps set boundaries. Saying all the time yes is exhausting.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

No one believes how fast society is moving and how we will see results in the future. There’s going to be a shift in humanity and the world in the next five to 10 years.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I would highly recommend that everyone works on their inner self. I have taken so many courses and listened to many seminars, mainly from the DeMartini Institute. Meditation and daily affirmations are a significant part of my schedule. It helps me focus on what my body and mind need to thrive. It has helped me grow tremendously as a person and as a leader.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

It’s essential to have a clear vision of exactly where you want to go and inspire those around you. When you are highly inspired, living by your values, and have a tunnel vision on precisely what it is that you’re trying to create – great things can happen. That is the best strategy that anyone can have for success. If you live by your values, you’re going to get whatever you want, plain and simple. Having a plan can help you figure out where and how you want to expand from businesses to your network.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Something that I struggled with in the beginning was planning. I soon discovered how critical it is and have been able to plan out my life successfully now. There are helpful tools such as Trello that have been a lifesaver. I now have my life planned out weeks, months, even years in advance. I am so glad I have started planning because now I have been able to attack every problem that comes my way, and I have prepared for any future struggles.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Malls are dying, and they need to have experiential elements to draw in more customers. Most people don’t recognize the number of bacteria and dirt that live on their phones and shoes. One great idea would be a place in the mall where you can get your phone or a pair of shoes cleaned and sanitized while you shop. I think it’s something that will take off very quickly, and it’s something that everybody needs.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I went to a restaurant called Monkitail. The food was crazy excellent, and I had a fantastic experience.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

I use an organizational program called Trello. This software is fantastic and fundamental in everything that I do.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

For a book, I’d recommend Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It’s a great book that discusses how to handle your wealth, becomes financially independent, and other essential details when investing and managing your money and other assets.

What is your favorite quote?

“Listen to everyone, read everything; believe absolutely nothing unless you can prove it in your own right!” -Milton William Cooper.

Key Learnings:

• If I am centered with my inner self, I will perform better in all areas of my life, including business.
• I plan and schedule everything. It helps me organize and track everything I need to do.
• It’s essential to have a clear vision of exactly where you want to go and inspire those around you.