Who We Are

Our Story

My name is John Waddy. I’ve been an entrepreneur helping other entrepreneurs for over 20 years. What I’ve learned after starting several companies and helping hundreds of business owners is that we all need help solving problems, busting roadblocks, finding resources, making connections, and discovering new ideas. Business is a complex game that requires many different skills, and sometimes all we need is a trusted advisor to help us see what we can’t see, teach us what we don’t know, and encourage us to keep fighting when things get tough.

When I was young I read a book by Zig Ziglar that opened with the quote: “You can have anything you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” This has been my North Star ever since. I created Business CoPilots with a team of highly skilled partners to serve as trusted advisors for business owners that want to take things to a higher level.

The Event That Changed Everything

In my own quest to build a better company and become a better leader, I went to Tony Robbins’ Business Mastery a couple of years ago with my CEO group and it absolutely transformed how I think and lead. Some of Tony’s most impactful ideas for me were:

• All change begins with a decision and a commitment.
• Complexity is the enemy of execution.
• The leader is the bottleneck to growth.
• The people we spend the most time with define much of who we are.
• Our standards equal our identity (so raise your standards).
• We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we decide to respond.
• Our resourcefulness is more important than our resources.

My Experience

As the owner of a digital marketing agency, I have been fortunate enough to look under the hood of some amazing businesses. I have learned what separates great companies from good ones, and here is what I know for sure:

• A product or service that solves a customer’s problem in a unique and compelling way trumps any marketing campaign you can create.
• A great strategy is useless without execution, and execution requires changing human behavior, which can be very difficult.
• People stay in their comfort zones and do what they have always done, unless you can lead and inspire them to do more.
• All great companies are led by high-energy, positive, organized leaders that create a culture of high standards and accountability.
• You have to be curious and continuously improve to get better at anything you do.

As a result of my obsession with these drivers of entrepreneurial success, I created Business CoPilots to help business owners create more profitable, competitive, self-managing companies that thrive. Our Business Transformation Framework™ and leadership coaching services are different than anything you have ever done, so if you are committed to getting to the next level, we would like to help.

Pilot in Command

John Waddy

As CEO of Business CoPilots, John serves as the Pilot in Command for all client engagements and he is the primary facilitator for all team retreats. John began his career working for big companies like IBM and MSL Group where he gained expertise in technology, marketing, and finance. After several years in these big corporations, John grew frustrated with the internal politics and slow decision making of big companies so he left for the adventure of entrepreneurship. Since then, John has gained a variety of business experience:

Current Companies

• TwentySix2 Marketing (digital marketing agency)
• Business CoPilots (business growth advisors)
• Commercial Real Estate Investment Partnerships

Companies Started / Sold

• Atlanta INtown Paper (local newspaper)
• Island Getaway (vacation home rental business)

Board Service

• Entrepreneurs’ Organization
• Atlanta Interactive Marketing Association
• Druid Hills Golf Club

Training

• Business Mastery – Tony Robbins 
• E-myth Mastery Program
• Entrepreneurs Organization Moderator Training
• Speakeasy Communications Speaker Training

Education

• B.A. in Marketing, Georgia State University, Summa Cum Laude
• M.S. in Technology Management, Mercer University, Magna Cum Laude

An Army of A Players

We have assembled a team of successful entrepreneurs that know what it’s like to create something from nothing. Each co-pilot on our team brings specialized knowledge and skills to the table, so you can trust that we will help you reach your goals, add value and insight, and positively impact your bottom line. Our team includes experts from:

How We See the World