Johnny Q: How I Built a Business Overnight With NO Experience

Send us Fan MailJohnny Q is one of Trinidad & Tobago’s most iconic entrepreneurs — but his journey didn’t start in business. It started with DJing, sound systems, and figuring things out in real time.In this episode of The Corie Sheppard Podcast, we sit down with Johnny Q to unpack how he built multiple businesses across events, hardware, auto parts, and entertainment — often with zero experience.He shares the story of opening a hardware business overnight during COVID, the thinking behind his viral marketing campaigns like the “Tarzan” ad, and the mindset required to take risks and execute at scale.We also dive into:The evolution of Trinidad’s entertainment industryThe real economics behind Carnival and eventsWhy customer experience matters more than being rightMissed opportunities in tourism and local businessAnd what young entrepreneurs need to understand about startingThis is a masterclass in entrepreneurship, adaptability, and building a household name in the Caribbean.00:00 Introduction00:22 Meet Johnny Q01:02 Opening a hardware business overnight02:52 Learning business with zero experience03:40 The viral “Tarzan” ad strategy06:26 Early days as a DJ08:59 Breaking into radio and changing the culture12:20 How DJs transformed radio in Trinidad14:20 The evolution of parties and live entertainment20:19 Building stages and solving problems25:43 From DJ to entrepreneur27:10 Expanding into events, tents, and rentals32:04 Starting in business with no formal training33:45 The turning point: building a sound system business38:47 The business of entertainment and networking42:09 Scaling the rental and events business45:58 Expanding into security and other ventures48:05 Getting into the bar business51:25 Entering hardware and auto parts53:44 Building the Q Power brand54:23 Customer service philosophy57:08 Being hands-on in business01:02:59 Why the events business isn’t as profitable as it seems01:06:20 The reality of running events01:09:23 Creating Monday Madness01:12:42 The truth about Soca Monarch and performance01:15:14 The rise of new artists01:16:51 Giving back with the Evolution band01:19:49 Developing young talent01:22:25 Why Trinidad is missing opportunities in tourism01:32:20 Supporting artists and the Carnival economy01:34:56 The venue crisis and its impact01:36:52 Why consultation matters in decision-making01:41:17 Challenges faced during Carnival01:45:27 The business reality behind Carnival bands01:45:59 Fixing the road and parade experience01:47:01 Final thoughts