Real Business Owner Exposes “Business Influencer” Culture
episodePreviously titled “Multimillionaire Exposes “Business Influencer” Culture” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 3, 2026
Transcript
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
that there's no such thing as an overnight success. What looks like overnight is usually 10, 15, 20 years of hustling and grinding when no one was watching. My first year, I was trying to figure out how to make payroll, how to keep the lights on, and how to not lose my mind all at the same time. There was a whole lot of pressure and a whole lot of primitive, basic mistakes. Here's the truth about growing a business. It's slow, it's hard, and it will take more out of you than you expect. But if you keep showing up and keep doing the work, you persevere, it will pay off. And then you're going to look back and go, wow, that was a ride. And to show you what that really looks like, Entree Leadership's head coach, John Felkins, is sitting down with someone who spent the last 25 years building a business from a two-person operation to a multi-million dollar company.
They're going to walk through the highs and the lows and the lessons learned so you can keep growing your business even when it's hard.
You're the founder and CEO of Advantage Tech IT. Advantage Technologies. I've been called worse. Okay. How many folks do you have working there now? Just about 100.
How did Advantage Technologies start and what pushed the founder into business?
Okay. So big company. It feels that way when payroll comes around. I get that. That's a lot of people. That's a lot of people. That's a lot of payroll to make. Yeah. And it's IT. It's managed IT services mostly for... Healthcare is a big one.
Lots of dental practices, but law firms and CPA firms. So professional services.
And I know it's obvious that we're sitting here in front of a jet. We are. And it's your jet. And part of what kind of initiated this conversation was we were having breakfast the other day and I was, I think we both were, both like making fun of and annoyed with what I call the fast company culture where it's like a get rich quick mentality. And to the point where, You surprised me and said people have actually asked you to rent your plane to take pictures to look like they're successful.
Yeah, they can't afford to actually start it or pay for the gas, but they'll rent it. I have friends who actually rent their airplanes just for an influencer to get the picture of going up the steps, sitting inside, pretending they're going someplace, and then walking down the steps at a different part on the ramp.
It's a thing. It is a thing.
What were the day-to-day realities of the first years running a one-person IT shop?
And not only is it a thing that's ridiculous, it actually annoys me because I have known you for about 14 years and I know that it has taken a lot to get to where you are. And I would love to just have that conversation today and just talk about how you got into business and what it's been like and the challenges that you've overcome. And so I'd love for you to just kind of recount even the story of when you got in business and why that happened and what you were intending to do before that one fateful day that changed everything.
Well, I was working my way through community college. Didn't go to a major university. And I was working doing IT systems for a roofing company of all things. And I learned all the best things about business about how not to do it from this company. Like you name it, they screwed it up. But I learned so much working there. And it got to a point where they weren't able to make payroll. They were basically going bankrupt. And I knew I wasn't going to get my last two paychecks. And so I said, well, I guess I'll take my workstation and the server and maybe a printer. And I loaded it all up in my dad's truck and I started my company. And the owner was like, yeah, I can't pay you all. So I'm like, well, this looks like cool stuff.
I'll take it with me. And... That's how it all started. I was working my way through college and started doing IT for local businesses. And one of the electives when I was in school was ground school for flying. I was like, oh, that'd be a fun elective. I always had like an interest. I grew up by a small airport in the middle of nowhere. And I just fell in love with it. I'm like, oh, this is so much fun. And decided, oh, I'm going to do this as a career.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:05–1:15
2
How did Advantage Technologies start and what pushed the founder into business?
1:15–2:27
3
What were the day-to-day realities of the first years running a one-person IT shop?
2:27–4:36
4
How did 9/11 and early setbacks reshape the founder’s career plans?
4:36–7:29
5
What mistakes and learning cycles shaped early growth and hiring decisions?
7:29–17:51
6
How did the company overcome the Great Recession and a six-figure tax audit?
17:51–32:56
7
What systems and leadership changes enabled scaling beyond the founder?
32:56–47:45