Scaling Success: Leadership, Acquisitions, and Culture with John Cerasuolo
Unlock the secrets of building an acquisition empire from someone who's done it well. In this exclusive interview, John Cerasuolo, CEO of Leap Partners, reveals the unconventional strategies and hard-won lessons that propelled his journey from the Naval Academy to leading a thriving home services network. If you're a parallel entrepreneur looking to scale or dreaming of launching your own network, this conversation is your blueprint for success.
Highlights include:
• His transformative journey from the Naval Academy to leading a multipreneur empire
• How Leap Partners was born out of a shared vision and 45+ acquisition successes
• Proven strategies for identifying quality businesses and integrating diverse cultures
• Lessons learned from early exits and the importance of “begin with the end in mind”
• The secret to balancing rapid growth, due diligence, and celebrating success
• Insights on building a people-first, family-centric company culture
• Rapid-fire insights on must-read books and what fuels his day-to-day drive
Whether you're running multiple businesses or planning your next big leap, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom for every ambitious entrepreneur.
Chapters List:
00:01:00 Introduction to John Cerasuolo and Leap Partners
00:02:06 Naval Academy: Forging a Leader
00:04:09 Leap Partners Genesis: From ADS Security to Home Services
00:08:31 Identifying Acquisition Opportunities
00:11:05 Integrating Cultures in Acquisitions
00:14:36 Exiting with Great M&A Advisors
00:18:17 Challenges in Due Diligence
00:20:07 Celebrating Success
00:23:03 Mindfulness and Daily Practices
00:24:18 Advice to His Younger Self
00:26:08 Learning from Each Other in Business
00:27:15 Navigating Talent Challenges in the Trades
00:29:21 Rapid Fire Insights
00:32:20 Recognition and Awards
00:33:03 Scaling a Culture of Happiness
00:34:20 Modeling Leadership Behavior
00:35:22 A Day in the Life of a CEO
00:36:48 Choosing the Right Financial Partners
00:38:09 Surrounding Yourself with Talent
00:39:22 Books that Inspire
00:40:21 Closing Thoughts on Life and Business
Show Notes:
Highlights include:
• His transformative journey from the Naval Academy to leading a multipreneur empire
• How Leap Partners was born out of a shared vision and 45+ acquisition successes
• Proven strategies for identifying quality businesses and integrating diverse cultures
• Lessons learned from early exits and the importance of “begin with the end in mind”
• The secret to balancing rapid growth, due diligence, and celebrating success
• Insights on building a people-first, family-centric company culture
• Rapid-fire insights on must-read books and what fuels his day-to-day drive
Whether you're running multiple businesses or planning your next big leap, this conversation is packed with actionable wisdom for every ambitious entrepreneur.
Chapters List:
00:01:00 Introduction to John Cerasuolo and Leap Partners
00:02:06 Naval Academy: Forging a Leader
00:04:09 Leap Partners Genesis: From ADS Security to Home Services
00:08:31 Identifying Acquisition Opportunities
00:11:05 Integrating Cultures in Acquisitions
00:14:36 Exiting with Great M&A Advisors
00:18:17 Challenges in Due Diligence
00:20:07 Celebrating Success
00:23:03 Mindfulness and Daily Practices
00:24:18 Advice to His Younger Self
00:26:08 Learning from Each Other in Business
00:27:15 Navigating Talent Challenges in the Trades
00:29:21 Rapid Fire Insights
00:32:20 Recognition and Awards
00:33:03 Scaling a Culture of Happiness
00:34:20 Modeling Leadership Behavior
00:35:22 A Day in the Life of a CEO
00:36:48 Choosing the Right Financial Partners
00:38:09 Surrounding Yourself with Talent
00:39:22 Books that Inspire
00:40:21 Closing Thoughts on Life and Business
Show Notes:
- Share and engage with this interview on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3HUWntG
- Leap Partners, a Family of Service Companies - https://www.theleappartners.com/
- Fossil Future by Alex Epstein - https://www.forbes.com/sites/johntamny/2022/09/29/book-review-alex-epsteins-excellent-and-essential-fossil-future/
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand - https://aynrand.org/novels/atlas-shrugged/
- Joe Scarlett, former President and Chairman of Tractor Supply Company - https://joescarlett.com/
