Darren Tompkins on Smart Growth, AI, Hiring and Knowing When Enough Is Enough

Are you building a business that supports the life you want, or creating another job that consumes it?

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Darren Tompkins, founder and CEO of Vader Ray Companies, to discuss what it really takes to build a business that grows without sacrificing your freedom.

After serving in the U.S. Army and spending years in the oil and gas industry, Darren made the leap into entrepreneurship. Today, his company provides recruiting, engineering and virtual professional services to businesses across multiple industries.

But Darren isn't interested in growing simply for the sake of getting bigger.

He's focused on building a company that operates efficiently, embraces new technology, develops strong teams and allows him to enjoy life outside the office.

In this conversation, John and Darren explore:

• Smart growth: Why bigger isn't always better and how to avoid unnecessary overhead.
• AI and efficiency: How Darren uses artificial intelligence to streamline recruiting, identify opportunities and improve productivity.
• Hiring and leadership: Why putting the right people in the right roles is essential to building a sustainable business.
• Entrepreneurial challenges: What happens when you leave the corporate world and suddenly find yourself without its support systems.
• Work-life balance: How to design a business around your personal priorities instead of sacrificing everything for growth.
• Taking the leap: Why waiting for the perfect moment to start your business might mean never starting at all.

Darren also shares lessons from his military experience, the challenges of bootstrapping a company and his approach to building a team that can grow without creating unnecessary complexity.

Whether you're considering entrepreneurship, building your first company or leading an established business, this conversation offers practical insights into growing smarter while maintaining control over what matters most.

Because building a successful business should help you create a better life.

Listen to this episode of Simply Business, subscribe for more conversations with business owners and leaders, and share your biggest takeaway.

How Kris Dehnert Built a $60 Million Business Without Losing Sight of What Matters

What good is building a multimillion-dollar business if it costs you your health, happiness and time with the people who matter most?

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Kris Dehnert, CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, to explore what it really means to build a successful business.

Kris helped transform a simple idea—turning baseball bats into drinking mugs—into a company that has generated more than $60 million in sales. But his journey hasn't been without challenges, and his definition of success has changed dramatically along the way.

After surviving a life-threatening medical emergency, Kris made a decision: his business would support the life he wanted to live, not the other way around.

In this candid conversation, Kris shares the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey, including:

• Why building for future growth is essential to maintaining momentum.
• How rapid expansion can undermine profitability and personal freedom.
• The importance of protecting equity and choosing the right business partners.
• Why fewer, deeper relationships often create greater opportunities.
• How clarity about your values makes difficult business decisions easier.

Above all, Kris challenges entrepreneurs to reconsider the true cost of success.

Whether you're launching your first company, scaling an established business or questioning whether your current path is worth the sacrifice, this conversation offers practical business lessons and a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship.

Because the goal isn't simply to build a bigger business. It's to build a better life.

Listen to this episode of Simply Business, subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders, and share your biggest takeaway.

What happens when you finally reach the goal you've been chasing—and immediately start chasing the next one?

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Jeff Swartz, CEO and Founder of Qujam, a hyper-local advertising platform helping businesses access geofencing and location-based marketing.

Jeff has spent more than 20 years in marketing and advertising and more than a decade as an entrepreneur. He built and sold his own advertising agency before making the leap from a service business into technology. He's also an adjunct professor at Duquesne University and the author of The Intentional Leap: Lessons and Learnings for Newer Entrepreneurs.

Jeff and John talk about preparing financially for entrepreneurship, building with intention, solving real customer problems, and learning to lead a business when you're no longer the expert at everything.

But one of the biggest lessons is more personal: there is no finish line.

Entrepreneurs are constantly setting new goals, reaching new milestones, and moving the target. Jeff shares why he's learned to focus more on the journey—and to stop long enough to “pop little champagne bottles” and recognize how far the business has already come.

They also explore why owners need to get out of the weeds, how to build a long-term vision without becoming trapped by it, and why your best mentor may actually be many different people rather than one person whose playbook you try to copy.

If you're building something and constantly asking, “What's next?”, this conversation is a reminder that growth matters—but so does appreciating what you've already built.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Simply Business, and share it with another entrepreneur who needs to hear it.

What happens when you've already built a successful company, sold it for $20 million—and decide to start all over again?

For Nellie Akalp, the second time was much harder than the first.

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Nellie, CEO of CorpNet, to talk about entrepreneurship, resilience, purpose, and what it really takes to build a business that lasts.

Nellie and her husband started their first company with just $100 from their Southern California apartment and eventually sold it to Intuit for $20 million. But retirement wasn't for her. She needed purpose, so they returned to entrepreneurship and built CorpNet.

This time, success didn't come easily.

Nellie shares what she learned from nearly a decade of struggle, why entrepreneurs have to become comfortable hearing "no," and why failure is very different from giving up. She also explains how CorpNet turned changing market conditions into opportunity, how the company is embracing AI without eliminating the human touch, and why great talent and culture remain critical as a business grows.

Perhaps the biggest lesson is also the simplest: you may not know what you're capable of until you're actually in it.

If you're building a business, struggling through a difficult season, or sitting on an idea you've been afraid to launch, this conversation is a reminder to keep testing, keep adapting, and keep knocking on doors.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Simply Business, and share it with an entrepreneur who needs to hear this message.

What happens when you leave the security of a large firm and decide to bet on yourself?

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Steve Wallace, Managing Attorney and Founder of Wallace Law, a multi-state law firm serving clients across Florida, Texas, and New York. With more than 26 years of experience in bankruptcy, real estate, distressed assets, and business law, Steve brings both a legal perspective and the firsthand experience of a longtime small business owner.

Steve shares why he chose entrepreneurship over the traditional big-firm path, what it means to operate without a safety net, and why adaptability is essential to building a sustainable business. He and John also explore financial discipline, scaling responsibly, the challenges facing small businesses today, and the importance of knowing when to say no to the wrong client.

At the center of the conversation is one simple idea: believe in yourself enough to bet on yourself.

Steve also shares why he sees himself as a problem solver and deal-maker—not a deal breaker—and why serving the client's real goal matters more than simply generating billable hours.

If you're building a business, considering making the leap into entrepreneurship, or navigating uncertainty in your company, this conversation offers practical perspective from someone who has spent decades doing exactly that.

Listen to the full episode, subscribe to Simply Business, and share it with another business owner who needs the reminder that sometimes the best investment you can make is in yourself.

Is entrepreneurship the right next step—or is there a better path?

In this episode of the Simply Business Podcast, John Jennings welcomes Patrice Miles, Career Ownership Coach with The Entrepreneur's Source and host of the Journey to Business Ownership – Freedom Friday Podcast.

Patrice helps professionals navigate one of life's biggest career decisions by evaluating whether business ownership truly aligns with their goals, personality, financial objectives, and desired lifestyle. Whether someone wants to start a business, buy an existing company, or explore franchise ownership, her process is centered on education, clarity, and confidence.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

• How to know if business ownership is right for you
• The differences between starting, buying, and franchising a business
• Why due diligence matters more than excitement
• Common misconceptions about entrepreneurship
• How to build a career that creates freedom and purpose

If you're thinking about your next chapter—or simply want a realistic conversation about entrepreneurship—this episode offers practical wisdom that can help you make a better decision.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who's considering becoming a business owner.

What does it really take to build a business from scratch?

In this episode of the Simply Business Podcast, John Jennings sits down with Ben Engel, owner of JBT Cleanout, to discuss the realities of entrepreneurship, building momentum, and creating opportunities through action.

Ben shares how he launched his company, the lessons he's learned along the way, and why networking, continuous learning, and surrounding yourself with the right people have become the foundation of his success.

They also discuss:

• Starting a business without waiting for perfect timing
• Building confidence through experience
• Marketing through relationships and social media
• Growing multiple businesses
• Leading people while continuing to learn yourself
• Developing the mindset to overcome criticism and setbacks

Whether you're launching your first company or looking to grow the one you already have, this conversation offers practical advice and genuine encouragement from someone building it in real time.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another business owner who would benefit from the conversation.

In this episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Jesse Bray, CEO of Quantum Enterprises, to talk about what it really looks like to step into ownership of an existing business.

This isn’t a startup story — it’s something different.

Jesse shares his experience of acquiring a company he was already familiar with — and how quickly things change when the responsibility becomes yours.

We dive into the shift from employee to owner, the pressure of making decisions without a fallback, and the challenge of leading a business with its own history, team, and expectations.

This is a candid conversation about ownership — not in theory, but in practice — and what it demands from you as a leader.

👉 If you’re considering buying a business or stepping into a larger leadership role, this episode gives you a real-world perspective on what that transition requires.