Everything’s bigger in Texas.
Except business egos.
Dr. Tony Jacob figured this out the hard way after hundreds of investment deals and building a multi-million dollar healthcare network.
He’s now got a sixth sense about problematic temperaments, and they’re his number one red flag when sizing up potential partners.
Ego Alert Ahead
“The bigger the egos, the more nonsense usually,” Dr. Tony Jacob says. He’s seen countless smart entrepreneurs flame out simply because they were too stubborn to take advice, couldn’t collaborate, or dug in their heels when the market shifted.
Confidence absolutely matters in Texas business. But there’s a world of difference between confidence and egotism. Tony points out that even technically brilliant founders hit a ceiling fast when they lack self-awareness. They develop blind spots by shutting out feedback, eventually sabotaging their own success.
The EQ Edge
You know those super-smart people who somehow can’t keep a team together? Dr. Tony Jacob gets it. “I had zero emotional intelligence until I got married,” he admits. That personal wake-up call completely changed how he evaluates business potential.
High-EQ leaders actually listen rather than just waiting for their turn to talk, admit mistakes, and fix them without drama. They also build teams with different strengths instead of hiring mini-mes, keep their cool during crises, and know when to take charge and when to back off.
“Ambition and drive are important, but without the ability to listen, adapt, and grow, you’ll be doing it all alone,” Tony says.
The lone wolf genius might make for good TV, but real growth means bringing talented people along with you.
The Beer Factor
Here’s Dr. Tony Jacob’s deceptively simple investment filter: “If I like the person, their idea, and I can explain it in a sentence, I would probably invest.” There’s more wisdom packed into this casual approach than most 100-page investment theses.
His “beer test” cuts through the fluff that formal evaluations miss. Would you actually enjoy hanging out with this person? Can they explain things clearly without resorting to jargon? Do they seem genuinely passionate beyond just making money?
Years of experience taught him something crucial: people skills almost always trump raw intelligence in business. “People need room to own their work,” he notes. “If you set them up with the right tools and give them the trust they deserve, you’ll get results that far exceed what you’d achieve by constantly monitoring their every move.”
When he’s checking out a potential investment, he pays close attention to how entrepreneurs treat their team. Do they share credit? Can they explain complex stuff without talking down to people? Do they own up when things go sideways? These everyday interactions tell him more than any business plan.
True Power Comes From Humility
The most successful Texas entrepreneurs Tony meets share something unexpected: genuine humility despite crushing it in business. Far from holding them back, this humility helps them push further. They’re always learning, they’re great at collaboration, and they build the kind of teams most companies only dream about.
“When I trust my team to take charge, I can turn my attention to the bigger picture without constantly looking over my shoulder,” he explains. Relying on trust rather than micromanagement, he built an optometry network across multiple locations that maintained consistently excellent service.
Real humility looks different than most people think. These successful entrepreneurs still ask for advice even after they’ve “made it,” surround themselves with people who bring different skills to the table, and set up their businesses to run smoothly even when they’re away for two weeks. They let their employees call the shots in their areas of expertise. And when they suck at something? They admit it and either learn or hire someone who’s better at it than they are.
Proven Strategies Behind a Texas Million-Dollar Practice
Discover how Dr. Tony Jacob scaled from one Texas clinic to 11 thriving locations statewide.
