Episode notes
How Kris Dehnert Built a $60 Million Business Without Losing Sight of What Matters
What good is building a multimillion-dollar business if it costs you your health, happiness and time with the people who matter most?
In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Kris Dehnert, CEO and co-founder of Dugout Mugs, to explore what it really means to build a successful business.
Kris helped transform a simple idea—turning baseball bats into drinking mugs—into a company that has generated more than $60 million in sales. But his journey hasn't been without challenges, and his definition of success has changed dramatically along the way.
After surviving a life-threatening medical emergency, Kris made a decision: his business would support the life he wanted to live, not the other way around.
In this candid conversation, Kris shares the lessons behind his entrepreneurial journey, including:
- Why building for future growth is essential to maintaining momentum.
- How rapid expansion can undermine profitability and personal freedom.
- The importance of protecting equity and choosing the right business partners.
- Why fewer, deeper relationships often create greater opportunities.
- How clarity about your values makes difficult business decisions easier.
Above all, Kris challenges entrepreneurs to reconsider the true cost of success.
Whether you're launching your first company, scaling an established business or questioning whether your current path is worth the sacrifice, this conversation offers practical business lessons and a refreshing perspective on entrepreneurship.
Because the goal isn't simply to build a bigger business. It's to build a better life.
Listen to this episode of Simply Business, subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs and business leaders, and share your biggest takeaway.