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.

Watch Part 1: https://youtu.be/0tUY65ozKro

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Introduction
01:24 - Shahira's Immigration Journey
06:24 - Staying in the Country
19:10 - What's Next After Admin
24:30 - Finding Fulfillment
28:41 - Changes in the Last 6 Months
33:01 - Overfilling Your Plate
37:02 - Current Organizational Chart
45:50 - Book Club Discussion
49:29 - Book Recommendations
52:30 - Open Book Management Explained
54:29 - How to Get a Job at Olena
58:56 - Do SOPs Create Robots?
1:03:44 - ROI of SOPs
1:05:53 - Hiring Immigrants
1:07:20 - Immigrant Success Story
1:09:49 - How to Find John
1:11:14 - Outro

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

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

Links:
• Website: actionhomeservices.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/ActionHomeServicesToronto
• Instagram: instagram.com/actionhomeservices
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/action-home-services-gta

Connect with Dwayne Kerrigan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedwaynekerriganpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dwaynekerriganpodcast/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwayne-kerrigan-998113281/
Website: http://www.dwaynekerrigan.com

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.