Unscripted Small Business: An Interview with John Cousins

Introduction

[00:00:01] Speaker A: Welcome back to Unscripted Small Business, where we connect with business owners, founders, and creators from across the United States to explore the challenges, successes, and insights that define the world of small business.

I'm excited for you to hear from today’s guest, John Cousins. With an electronics degree from MIT and an MBA from the prestigious Wharton School, John has forged an impressive career both inside and outside the corporate world. He has served as CEO of an innovative cancer diagnostics company and CFO for several public companies. In addition to his corporate success, John is the author of bestselling books like Patent It Yourself and has built an online platform called MBA ASAP, which provides accessible business education to people worldwide.

In today’s conversation, we’ll dive into his insights on navigating the rapidly changing business landscape and the lessons he has learned in entrepreneurship, finance, and innovation. From embracing AI to the importance of pivoting, we’ll cover it all.

John, welcome to the show. We’re so happy to have you.

[00:01:17] Speaker B: Abby, a pleasure to be here. Thank you very much.

Early Journey into Entrepreneurship

[00:01:20] Speaker A: I am super excited to talk about your business and everything within the financial sphere. But before we dive into all of that, just give us a little background on how you got into business, entrepreneurship, and academia.

[00:01:36] Speaker B: Oh, okay. Well, it all started back when I was a small boy and I started collecting stamps...

(John shares his journey from mechanical engineering to English literature, his time working in the rock and roll industry, and his transition to working at ABC Television.)

The Decision to Pursue an MBA

[00:19:06] Speaker B: After years of working in technical fields, I realized I wanted more control over my career. I saw my colleagues in their 40s and 50s stuck in high-stress, travel-heavy roles, and I knew that wasn’t what I wanted long-term. That’s when I decided to go to business school at Wharton.

I left my job, took on massive student debt, and went all-in. At 32, I was one of the older students in my MBA program, but I knew it was the right move.

Transition to Entrepreneurship

[00:29:20] Speaker B: After Wharton, I realized that I didn’t want to be bound by the constraints of corporate life. I wanted to be my own boss. I wanted to build something.

I went on to start over a dozen companies. Some were massive failures, and others were great successes—including two that I took public. But along the way, I learned that being your own boss isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Managing partners, investors, and employees all come with their own set of challenges.

That’s when I discovered the solopreneur model—working with automation, hiring consultants as needed, and eliminating unnecessary overhead. With today's technology, I can run an entire business with just me and the robots.

The Role of AI in Business

[00:21:56] Speaker A: Since AI is becoming so prevalent, do you think business owners should be afraid of it? How can we use AI without it taking all the jobs away?

[00:22:20] Speaker B: AI is a powerful tool, but it’s just that—a tool. The best way to leverage it is as a co-creator.

A great example is chess. In the 1990s, IBM’s Deep Blue defeated grandmaster Garry Kasparov. But today, the best chess player isn’t a human or a computer—it’s a human and a computer working together. That’s the power of AI.

We need to adapt and use AI to enhance our capabilities, not replace them. If you’re not integrating AI into your workflow, you risk being left behind.

The Importance of Pivoting

[00:45:09] Speaker A: One word that comes up a lot in entrepreneurship is pivot. What advice do you have for people facing industry changes or disruption?

[00:45:37] Speaker B: The key is knowing when to persevere and when to pivot. Some people keep pushing forward, waiting for success, when in reality, they need to change direction.

For example, Netflix pivoted from mailing DVDs to streaming, which ultimately made them the industry leader. Meanwhile, Blockbuster refused to pivot, and we know how that ended.

Building MBA ASAP

[00:51:32] Speaker A: I want to talk about something you’ve created—MBA ASAP—where you provide financial literacy and business education. Tell us more about that.

[00:51:49] Speaker B: I started MBA ASAP because I saw that traditional business education was overly complicated. Textbooks were too long, expensive, and often outdated. I realized I could boil down the essentials of finance, marketing, and management into a format that was more practical and accessible.

Now, I have students in 165 countries. My courses are designed so that anyone—regardless of their math skills or business background—can understand and apply the concepts immediately.

Overcoming Fear in Business

[01:07:56] Speaker A: You’ve reinvented yourself multiple times. Do you have any advice for people struggling with fear?

[01:08:13] Speaker B: Fear is natural, but the key is to act despite fear. Failure isn’t a bad thing—it’s data.

Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” The sooner you reframe failure as experimentation, the sooner you’ll stop fearing it.

Final Thoughts

[01:19:51] Speaker A: I like to ask every guest this question: You have to ___ to ___ well.

[01:19:56] Speaker B: You have to fail to succeed.

Failure is an integral part of success. It’s not about avoiding mistakes—it’s about learning from them. Every setback is an opportunity to refine your approach.

Closing Remarks

[01:21:08] Speaker A: John, thank you so much for sharing your insights. This has been an incredible conversation.

[01:21:20] Speaker B: Thank you, Abby! This was a blast.

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