In this episode of All-In, host Daniel Giordano welcomes Jake Clopton, an entrepreneur who has found (or carved out for himself) a niche within the commercial real estate lending industry. Was the path to founding Clopton Capital Lending a straight one? As is usually the case with any successful startup enterprise, it was not quite that simple. There were stepping stones, challenges, surprises and a learning curve along the way.

A native of upstate New York now established in Chicago, where he is raising a family, Jake shares a combination of elements that have shaped his business story. The most important facet perhaps has been his ability to focus keenly and do his homework. Rather than scattering his attention among different disciplines and activities, Jake adheres to a philosophy of running one race at a time. Clearly that strategy has worked for him, since his firm is going strong after well more than a decade in business.

Jake works with CRE owners throughout the U.S. to provide finance solutions for commercial mortgages, bridge loans, home builder financing, construction, and joint venture equity. The market might be cyclical but its evolution is constant. Jake enjoys watching how various commercial properties reconfigure and reinvent themselves for future market opportunities.

Enjoy this fast-paced exchange between two entrepreneurs who have built their lives around having independence, choice and opportunity. Even if sometimes accompanied by risk, Jake says founding Clopton Capital afforded him the alternative he needed to traditional corporate structures that were never going to be the right fit. He leaves us with some advice from the trenches and wisdom about the importance of adhering to healthy, energy-enhancing daily rituals.