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John Washcovick: Payroll Innovation and Entrepreneurial Grit
John Washcovick spent 23 years in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, and operations with companies ranging in size from 30 employees to over 12,000. He was in sales and later served as Assistant Director of Operations, but in 2010, he left the corporate safety net behind to launch a payroll services business providing payroll and HR technology to small and mid-sized companies. With two business partners, John grew the company to over 900 clients between Milwaukee and Phoenix. In 2022, they sold the business to isolved, the same platform they had used for payroll and HR technology. All 25 employees were hired by isolved, which then named John their Human Capital Management Business Consultant for Wisconsin. Since June 2022, he has been selling isolved’s People Cloud Technology.
In this episode, Brad and John discuss:
- How John moved from 23 years in pharmaceutical sales to building a payroll company
- The financial risks and realities of leaving a stable, high-paying career
- Approaches to finding and keeping the right people when resources are tight
- Challenges faced, from vendor failures to ongoing cash flow pressures
- Lessons gained from navigating 12 years of business and a successful exit
Key Takeaways:
- Having financial resources isn’t optional—it’s essential. Planning for more than you think you’ll need can be the difference between surviving the early years and shutting down too soon.
- Success rarely happens alone. Surrounding yourself with supportive partners, mentors, and family provides the strength to endure risk and uncertainty.
- The ability to hire and keep the right people early on can completely change a company’s trajectory. Retention is often more powerful than constant recruiting.
- Vendors and partners won’t always deliver as expected. That’s why having backup options in place is a safeguard every entrepreneur should prioritize.
- Gratitude, persistence, and a positive attitude go a long way. They not only help navigate tough times but also create the mindset needed for long-term success.
“It is a journey, try to enjoy it as much as you can and be grateful for all the people you meet along the way, the things you learn along the way, and just the fun things you get to do as well in the process.” - John Washcovick
Connect with John Washcovick:
Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwashcovick/
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Brad Foley:
Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/
Email: [email protected]
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
View all episodes
By Brad FoleyJohn Washcovick spent 23 years in pharmaceutical sales, marketing, and operations with companies ranging in size from 30 employees to over 12,000. He was in sales and later served as Assistant Director of Operations, but in 2010, he left the corporate safety net behind to launch a payroll services business providing payroll and HR technology to small and mid-sized companies. With two business partners, John grew the company to over 900 clients between Milwaukee and Phoenix. In 2022, they sold the business to isolved, the same platform they had used for payroll and HR technology. All 25 employees were hired by isolved, which then named John their Human Capital Management Business Consultant for Wisconsin. Since June 2022, he has been selling isolved’s People Cloud Technology.
In this episode, Brad and John discuss:
- How John moved from 23 years in pharmaceutical sales to building a payroll company
- The financial risks and realities of leaving a stable, high-paying career
- Approaches to finding and keeping the right people when resources are tight
- Challenges faced, from vendor failures to ongoing cash flow pressures
- Lessons gained from navigating 12 years of business and a successful exit
Key Takeaways:
- Having financial resources isn’t optional—it’s essential. Planning for more than you think you’ll need can be the difference between surviving the early years and shutting down too soon.
- Success rarely happens alone. Surrounding yourself with supportive partners, mentors, and family provides the strength to endure risk and uncertainty.
- The ability to hire and keep the right people early on can completely change a company’s trajectory. Retention is often more powerful than constant recruiting.
- Vendors and partners won’t always deliver as expected. That’s why having backup options in place is a safeguard every entrepreneur should prioritize.
- Gratitude, persistence, and a positive attitude go a long way. They not only help navigate tough times but also create the mindset needed for long-term success.
“It is a journey, try to enjoy it as much as you can and be grateful for all the people you meet along the way, the things you learn along the way, and just the fun things you get to do as well in the process.” - John Washcovick
Connect with John Washcovick:
Website: https://www.isolvedhcm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwashcovick/
Email: [email protected]
Connect with Brad Foley:
Website: https://www.hrvaluepartners.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradfoley/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hrvaluepartners/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hrvaluepartners/
Email: [email protected]
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelo Paul Tagama
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.