From Zero to HERO - How a First Time Entrepreneur Sold Everything to Transform an Industry with John Day: An EOFire Classic from 2022

From Panic to Platform: How One Entrepreneur Built an On-Demand AV Network

John Day's story begins with an unlikely conversion: from a struggling sales rep who nearly quit to the founder of AV Hero, the largest network of audio-visual experts in the United States. He and his wife sold their home, converted his 401(k) into startup capital, and launched a service marketplace in March 2020, right as the world locked down. That leap—rooted in a simple observation at a bar about what owners would do when technology stops working—became the seed for a platform that connects customers to vetted technicians with the push of a button.

A Breakthrough Moment That Changed Everything

Early in his sales career John discovered a surprising truth: being himself was his competitive advantage. After years of anxiety and underperformance in a corporate role, a single meeting where he relaxed, asked the right questions, and brought his natural strengths forward made him an effective enterprise salesperson. That confidence carried him into entrepreneurship, where he combined his industry knowledge with a product vision for a fast-response AV service platform.

Launching During a Crisis and Finding Opportunity

AV Hero was due to roll out in localized test markets in spring 2020. When shutdowns began, John made a decisive call: expand nationwide instead of pausing. The result was rapid platform adoption—thousands of audio-visual professionals signed up within weeks—turning a risky launch into an accelerated growth moment. The lesson here is practical: a constrained plan can be recast into broader reach when the market signal is clear and demand is urgent.

Daily Practices and Mindset Shifts for Founders

• Do the scariest thing first. John makes the hardest task the first item on his daily list to reduce the power of fear.
• Reframe fear as faith. Both are expectations about an unseen future; directing energy toward positive outcomes is a chosen discipline.
• Assess risk honestly. Ask "what's the worst that could happen?" and plan for recovery rather than paralysis.

Expanding the Idea: From AV Hero to the Hero Economy

John envisions AV Hero as the starting point for something larger: a "hero economy" where on-demand, skilled trades—from electricians to plumbers—are offered through one seamless platform. The ambition is to make the service discoverable and reliable, a go-to brand for urgent technical needs, and a marketplace that gives contractors schedule control and higher wages.

Practical Steps for Aspiring Founders and Freelancers

John’s path offers concrete steps: identify a recurring customer pain, validate with a simple solution, bootstrap if necessary by monetizing personal assets, and prioritize market access over perfect timing. For skilled workers, platforms that centralize demand can offer an alternative to traditional employment—providing autonomy, better pay, and direct client relationships.

John Day’s narrative is not just a startup origin story; it’s a guide to making bold choices under uncertainty. He demonstrates how a combination of personal authenticity, hard financial choices, and an everyday discipline of confronting fear can transform an idea into a national service. The future he imagines—an on-demand economy for tradespeople—reflects both a business opportunity and a social shift toward flexible work and direct access to expertise.