295 - John Carbone (Carbone's Pizzeria)

John Carbone, the son of an insurance salesman, watched his father and (at the time, stay-at-home) mother take a leap of faith in the early 1980s and open a donut shop. After some family advice, he decided to take the venture and change it to pizza and in 1984, opened what has become an iconic west side pizzeria in Rochester, NY. John is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, knowing his numbers and focusing only on his core competencies. That consistency has brought he and his family the success they enjoy today through their 4 shops.