Ep.50 Beyond the Game: Jesse Simpson on Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Generosity

In this episode, host Stuart Gilly sits down with Jesse Simpson, founder of Simpson Sports Engineering, to dive into the journey from professional athlete to entrepreneur. Raised in Zachary, Louisiana and having played baseball at the highest levels—including several years as a pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals organization—Jesse Simpson shares how lessons learned on the field have shaped his approach to business, leadership, and community impact.1/ Jesse Simpson: former professional athlete turned founder of Simpson Sports Engineering. From throwing heat for the St. Louis Cardinals to building sports fields for schools & municipalities, his journey is one you need to hear 2/ Every morning, Jesse Simpson starts EARLY – organizing, reading, and prepping for projects that could be anywhere from Louisiana to Illinois. No two weeks are ever the same. The grind never stops.3/ Simpson Sports Engineering was a side hustle until 2017, taking off after years of balancing other careers. “We both had other professions… then about three years ago it really started taking off.” Full send into the athletic space! 4/ Influences matter. For Jesse Simpson, lessons in consistency and hard work came through coaches. BIG shoutout to Dennis Martinez, “El Presidente,” who taught him: Respect everyone, fear no one. That mindset fuels his leadership style today.5/ “Don’t put these people on a pedestal...know that you can compete with them.” – Jesse Simpson turned pro insight into entrepreneurial courage. If you’re starting over, remember: even the biggest names began somewhere.6/ Leadership isn't micromanagement. Jesse Simpson empowers his team with clear vision, tools, and SPACE to make (and fix) mistakes. Why? “You don’t learn as much from the success as the failure.” Let people grow, let them own it.7/ But here’s the real talk: Entrepreneurship is MESSY. “Whereas in sports, the game doesn’t change...in entrepreneurship, it feels like there’s 50 million different ways to make a buck.” There’s no playbook. You’re building the game as you play it.8/ If you’re struggling with delegation, listen up! Jesse Simpson learned the hard way—racing six hours to Shreveport when “the house was on fire” because he had no one to send. The lesson? Hire before you’re desperate. Don’t rush. The right team changes EVERYTHING.9/ Sage advice to his younger self: “Stick it out. Be consistent. Do things today that pay you later.” Not just money—health, relationships, habits. Delayed gratification is powerful.10/ Generosity is a core value. For Jesse Simpson, business should be a conduit for giving back. Imagine if every local business owner gave just 1% more—financially, with time, with heart. The impact for Baton Rouge would be exponential.11/ Legacy? It’s about generosity and community impact. “If there was a need and we could help, we did.” In business, in life, that’s how Jesse Simpson wants to be remembered. 12/ From pro sports to building something lasting—Jesse Simpson is living proof: Great leaders delegate, keep learning, and always give back. Hit “Follow” for more inspiring journeys from the Muddy Waters, Clear Vision podcast #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #Delegation #SportsToBusiness #BatonRouge #Generosity #PodcastThreads