Too much work, not enough travel would be one way to sum up Jason Smith‘s life.

Jason, the 153rd person I’ve met on my quest to have lunch with 500 strangers, has worked like a demon since leaving school at 15.

He’s sold encyclopedias, insurance, property and more. He’s founded and exited two businesses – a real estate agency and a factoring firm.

Finally, in 2017, after 30 years in the workforce, Jason took a one-year sabbatical. He drove his kids to school. He did lots of cycling. He trekked to Everest Base Camp.

In other words, Jason had a good, long holiday. Then, in 2018, he set up a new business – Capital Plus Finance, an asset finance firm, which has been growing steadily since day one. So Jason has once again thrown himself into the long hours and relentless grind that come with running a business.

Jason’s number one asset is his personality. He loves people, he exudes warmth and he’s genuinely interested in others – which is perfect if your main role is to win clients and keep them coming back for more.

At some point, when Jason leaves the workforce, he wants to do a lot more travelling. In the meantime, he’s got a business to build.