109. Building Beyond Survival: How John Karpov Turned Scarcity into Scalable Success
In Part 2 of The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast with John Karpov, founder and CEO of Action Home Services, Dwayne and John go even deeper into the mindset and systems behind Action Home Services(AHS), a leading landscaping and exterior construction company serving Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area.
From almost losing his residency to scaling an $8M business while facing deportation, John shares how he built structure, leadership, and culture around his immigrant grit. He opens up about redefining fulfillment, transitioning from survival mode to leadership, and how relentless personal growth became the cornerstone of his company’s 50% year-over-year growth.
John reveals his leadership playbook — from reading 2 books a month to building over 1,000 SOPs and investing $1.5M in professional development for his team — and how staying humble, hungry, and human is what keeps him grounded through every phase of growth.
If Part 1 was about survival, this episode is about scaling — with purpose, structure, and soul.
Listen to Part 1 HERE
Watch Part 1 HERE
Timestamps
[00:00:00] — Dwayne opens with: “You can only run a business so long by running the fastest.”
[00:01:00] — John’s incredible story of his wife’s visa approval and their shared “never give up” destiny.
[00:05:00] — The immigration battle: how they nearly lost everything waiting for permanent residency.
[00:07:30] — The miracle timing that let them stay in Canada and the lessons learned living on the edge.
[00:10:00] — Reinvesting every dollar into the business while facing uncertainty.
[00:13:00] — Scaling to $10M+ before age 25 — and not feeling like it’s an accomplishment.
[00:17:00] — Dwayne and John explore scarcity versus hunger — and how the immigrant mindset fuels drive.
[00:19:00] — John on never feeling “done” and why fulfillment comes from helping others succeed.
[00:22:30] — The breakthrough realization: happiness is in the journey, not the destination.
[00:26:00] — Daily fulfillment rituals: reading, training, and prioritizing sleep.
[00:29:00] — Building structure and delegation into the company’s DNA — leadership by design.
[00:31:00] — Creating organizational charts, head of departments, and scaling through people.
[00:35:30] — Learning to lead through education: 100+ conferences and a book club culture.
[00:38:00] — Investing $1.5M in personal and professional development and $40K in books.
[00:41:00] — Company reading list and rewards program: from “Unreasonable Hospitality” to “Good to Great.”
[00:45:00] — John’s transparent leadership: open-book finances, KPI education, and growth accountability.
[00:49:00] — Over 1,000 SOPs: how structure scales culture.
[00:53:00] — Turning every mistake into a process and every error into a lesson.
[00:56:00] — The ROI of structure: new managers finally saying, “I love that it’s organized.”
[00:58:00] — Why immigrants often make exceptional employees — grit meets gratitude.
[01:00:30] — Dwayne’s reflection on the power of sacrifice and the immigrant spirit.
[01:02:00] — John’s final advice: “If you need my help with your business, I’ll be there for you.”
Key Takeaways
- Fulfillment is built, not found. True happiness comes from impact and presence, not milestones.
- Structure creates freedom. You can’t scale chaos — systems and SOPs build sustainability.
- Growth requires humility. John and his team read, learn, and attend conferences relentlessly.
- Teach what you learn. John trains his team to think like business owners — not just employees.
- Leadership is service. Real fulfillment comes from helping others grow beyond their limits.
Resources Mentioned
Books:
- Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
- How to Win with Accountability by Mike Evans
- Good to Great by Jim Collins
- The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
- The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack
Referenced Concepts:
- The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber (on entrepreneurial seizure)
- Kaizen Methodology — continuous improvement
- Open-Book Management — teaching employees to understand financials
Quotes:
“You can only run a business for so long by running it through the mechanism of running the fastest. That usually ends up being the small entrepreneur way, and then you can't grow beyond that.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“I think sometimes the worst thing that we could rely on is this need for certainty where everything fits in a box and everything is going to be great, and we have this absolute certainty and that just doesn't exist in life.” - Dwayne Kerrigan
“The amount of change and breakthroughs I go through every year is remarkable. My mindset shifts every single year.” — John Karpov
“Fulfillment comes from impacting other people’s lives. When my team buys homes and grows, that’s when I feel truly successful.” — John Karpov
“The real destination is the journey. Happiness isn’t five years from now — it’s today.” — John Karpov
“Every mistake creates an SOP. Every error becomes a lesson. That’s how we grow.” — John Karpov
Links:
- Website: actionhomeservices.ca
- Facebook: facebook.com/ActionHomeServicesToronto
- Instagram: instagram.com/actionhomeservices
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/action-home-services-gta
Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed by guests during The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Dwayne Kerrigan and his affiliates. Dwayne Kerrigan or The Dwayne Kerrigan Podcast is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of any of the information contained in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. Listeners are advised to consult with a qualified professional or specialist before making any decisions based on the content of this podcast.