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We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful John Compton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with John below.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Taking a risk—it sounds bold and a little reckless, doesn’t it? That’s often the mindset before making a decision, when you’re relying on instinct, gut feelings, and perhaps some frustration. “Why not take a chance?” we think. But when viewed in hindsight, a risk is often reinterpreted as an investment—and I’m a big fan of investments.
To build something meaningful, you usually have to invest significantly, whether it’s time, money, or both. As Warren Buffett has famously said, imagine you were given a punch card with only 20 investment opportunities for your entire life. You’d invest wisely and only when you were absolutely sure. Abraham Lincoln once remarked, “Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most.” This same discipline applies to risk-taking.
At my last corporate job, I was offered a “mutual separation agreement”—essentially a deal where, if I quit, I’d receive a severance package. It wasn’t a huge amount, but enough to support me for over six months. I didn’t hesitate. I signed the agreement and walked out of the corporate headquarters feeling liberated. It was an exhilarating moment, leaving behind a job I didn’t enjoy.
Six months passed quickly, and I found myself at a crossroads: pursue another traditional job or venture out on my own again. I consulted my closest confidants, including my girlfriend (now my wife). They both advised me to choose security and find a stable job.
Fortunately, I chose to take another gamble and go solo. This time, it paid off.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My professional career has always revolved around media. From a young age, I was an avid reader and a talented artist, spending countless hours drawing and writing short stories. In college, I decided to focus on writing, earning a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature with a minor in Art History. Although my passion was in music, writing, and art, I saw Marketing and Advertising as the more practical path.
After two years working as the Director of Public Relations and later as Web Manager for an international musical instrument manufacturer, I made a big change and moved to San Diego, California. There, my media journey expanded. I took on roles as a recording studio engineer, jingle producer, PA, sound technician, and ultimately, co-founder of a digital advertising agency. Alongside a few close friends, I founded Suntouch Design, a startup with great potential, though after three challenging years, we decided to close our doors.
I continued to evolve, becoming a designer for DiscoverSD, then Creative Director of the Union-Tribune’s Marketing and Circulation department. Eventually, I returned to running a one-man show, focusing on brand development for small businesses.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Word of mouth.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Brand growth, recognition, and ultimately sales all come down to attribution. Attribution refers to how and how often your potential customers engage with your brand. While having a strong brand identity—such as a great logo and cohesive color scheme—is important, it’s equally, if not more, essential to have a well-rounded marketing strategy. This includes not only the visual elements like a logo, website, business cards, and brochures but also consistent efforts across social media, web content updates, email campaigns, and paid advertising. A great resource that illustrates this approach is The 1-Page Marketing Plan: Get New Customers, Make More Money, And Stand Out From The Crowd by Allan Dib.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://johnwolfecompton.com/
- Instagram: https://johnwolfecompton.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwolfecompton/
- Twitter: https://x.com/johnwcompton
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCne7y_o0ewhqpDkGw9Fovvg/videos
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/johncomptonmusic
- Other: Clutch: https://clutch.co/profile/john-wolfe-compton?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=2&utm_campaign=widget&utm_content=logo&utm_term=johnwolfecompton.com
