Why This Gen Z Built Digital Wealth Instead of Buying Property

At just 17, Jack Smart made a decision that would alter his life trajectory. Instead of following the traditional university path, he invested in learning how to build and flip digital assets. Ten years later, he’s a living testament to why Gen Z entrepreneurs are choosing online businesses over conventional property investment. In an era where AI is rapidly disrupting traditional career paths and property prices continue to soar beyond reach, Jack’s story offers a compelling blueprint for a generation facing unprecedented economic challenges.

Jack’s journey from a tech-interested teenager to successful digital entrepreneur demonstrates how today’s young professionals are carving alternative paths to financial independence. Watch the full interview to hear Jack’s story directly and discover why digital assets might be the smarter investment for Gen Z:

Choosing Real-World Experience Over Traditional Education

When Jack attended an E-Business Institute showcase event at 17, he was immediately drawn to the concept of buying, renovating, and selling online assets. His parents became the money partners, investing in the program while Jack committed to learning everything about digital entrepreneurship. This choice represented a significant fork in the road – university or industry mentorship.

“It was a big decision to look at the benefits that university had or doing what I could do with [Matt and Liz],” Jack explains. “That was more of like an industry mentorship. I just thought with the space that I want to go into, I want to make sure that I’m getting the most up-to-date information from people who’ve done it, who’ve been successful in the space and who can connect me with a whole network of other people who are passionate about this field.”

This decision wasn’t made lightly. Jack had been immersed in business concepts since age 12, reading Robert Kiyosaki’s books and developing a passion for entrepreneurship. What he lacked was a vehicle to transform that passion into practical business experience. The online asset strategy provided both the education and the immediate implementation opportunity that traditional university couldn’t match.

Developing Practical Skills Through Real Business Experience

Over the past decade, Jack has built websites for local businesses, implementing the strategies taught at E-Business Institute. This experience delivered far more than just technical skills – it developed the critical “soft skills” that no classroom could provide.

“I’m on camera today. I’m a very different person to how I used to be when I started this journey,” Jack reflects. “The idea of getting onto a podcast or even picking up the phone to call a business about talking about how their online marketing is going… used to scare the hell out of me. But these days, it’s just part of the journey. I’ve done it enough that it’s… you put in the reps and you feel confident doing it.”

This transformation highlights a crucial advantage of the entrepreneurial path – practical skill development happens in real-time while simultaneously generating income. Unlike university graduates who often face the “experience gap” when entering the job market, Jack was building his portfolio, client base, and income from day one. The websites he created for local businesses didn’t just provide technical practice; they required him to develop communication, sales, and project management skills that have proven invaluable.

The AI Revolution: Threat and Opportunity

The conversation turns to perhaps the most significant disruptor facing Gen Z careers – artificial intelligence. Jack and Matt discuss how AI tools have revolutionized their workflow, allowing them to accomplish in minutes what previously took weeks and required entire teams.

Jack compares the current AI boom to the dot-com era: “I wasn’t there for the dot com boom, but from hearing from people who’ve been in the dot com boom and now in the AI era, it sounds like it’s the same wave of opportunity passing through this space in that it is going to disrupt this industry and a lot of industries as much as, you know, the internet did.”

This disruption creates both challenges and opportunities. For Gen Z, the threat is clear – entry-level roles traditionally given to interns and new graduates are increasingly being automated. The jobs that once served as stepping stones into professional careers may disappear entirely, creating a difficult entry barrier for young professionals.

However, Jack sees opportunity in developing AI-related skills alongside traditional expertise: “While it might be very scary to be someone studying in the medical or the legal field at the moment, if you can also learn AI skills to leverage what you’re learning there and then bring that package to an employer, suddenly you’re worth three, four or five people at your level because of the leverage that you can get on your skills by knowing how to use AI.”

Digital Assets: The Alternative to Traditional Property Investment

Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Jack’s story is how his digital asset strategy has provided an alternative to traditional property investment. While previous generations built wealth through real estate, Gen Z faces a very different housing market, with major Australian cities requiring mortgages approaching or exceeding $1 million – a daunting prospect for young professionals.

When asked if his friends are concerned about property affordability, Jack confirms: “I know a lot of people these days who just feel like they don’t have a chance… starting side hustles, getting second jobs, working their butts off to even be able to consider it. And a lot of people, you know, just renting until an opportunity comes up. And who knows when that’s going to be.”

Instead of pursuing property investment, Jack has focused on building and acquiring online assets. These digital investments offer several advantages: lower entry costs, faster returns, greater flexibility, and location independence. Unlike property investments that might take decades to pay off, Jack notes that online assets can often pay for themselves within two to three years – even without improvements.

“We can look at buying online businesses that are way more leveraged… It’s a whole different asset class. It’s a much easier buying point. And these days, there’s awesome deals out there. We can buy these online assets that are making… We might buy them for 20 to 30 times their monthly profit now. So they’re assets that pay themselves off in two to three years if we don’t make any improvements.”

This approach also provides lifestyle benefits that traditional career and investment paths often can’t match. Jack values the freedom his digital business provides: “I’ve got a pretty unique situation where I can work anywhere, anytime. And the freedom of being able to pack up and move and go wherever as part of that takes a lot of stress off my shoulders.”

The Value of Community and Mentorship

Throughout the interview, Jack repeatedly emphasizes how crucial community and mentorship have been to his success. While the internet provides access to vast amounts of information, Jack credits his growth to having access to experienced mentors and a network of like-minded entrepreneurs.

“All the knowledge is already out there. There’s so much that you can learn about this space, any space, really, to get the skills you need to be able to deliver a really good service to create something awesome,” Jack explains. “But what I think helps a lot on top of that is the accountability and support of having a network of like-minded people. That has been the number one difference for me along the way, is having a support group that I can go to when I’m feeling stuck or have a question and be able to get real-world advice from people who’ve done it.”

This perspective offers valuable insight for other Gen Z entrepreneurs. While self-directed learning can provide technical skills, the accountability, emotional support, and real-world guidance that comes from mentorship and community can dramatically accelerate growth and help navigate the inevitable challenges of business building.

Key Takeaways for Gen Z Entrepreneurs

Jack’s 10-year journey from a 17-year-old beginner to successful digital entrepreneur offers several valuable lessons for Gen Z individuals considering their career and investment options:

1. Consider alternatives to traditional education. While university remains valuable for certain careers, industry mentorship and practical experience can provide more relevant, up-to-date training in rapidly evolving fields like digital business.

2. Develop AI-related skills regardless of your field. The AI revolution is disrupting industries across the board. Learning to leverage these tools can make you significantly more valuable in any profession.

3. Explore digital assets as alternatives to property investment. Online businesses can provide faster returns, lower entry costs, and greater lifestyle flexibility than traditional real estate.

4. Don’t underestimate the value of “soft skills”. Jack’s ability to communicate with clients and sell his services has been just as important as his technical knowledge.

5. Seek out community and mentorship. Having access to experienced guides and like-minded peers can dramatically accelerate your growth and provide support during inevitable challenges.

Your Next Steps Toward Digital Entrepreneurship

Jack’s journey began with a simple decision to explore an alternative path – learning to build and manage digital assets instead of following the traditional university-to-career pipeline. For Gen Z individuals facing uncertain career prospects and seemingly impossible property markets, this approach offers a compelling alternative.

If Jack’s story resonates with you, our Web Dev Accelerator program provides the perfect starting point. It’s designed specifically for beginners who want to build their first money-making website in 10 days or less. You’ll join thousands of students who’ve earned their web design certificate through our fast and easy guided program, gaining the fundamental skills needed to start creating valuable digital assets.

Like Jack, you could be at the beginning of a transformative journey that leads to financial independence, location freedom, and the satisfaction of building something valuable. The digital economy continues to expand, and there’s never been a better time to develop the skills needed to participate in this growing opportunity.