John Rampton

Here’s a profile of John Rampton — an American entrepreneur, writer, and business thinker — along with some of his notable quotes and lessons you can take from him.

John Rampton — Life & Career

Early Life & Background

John Rampton was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.
He graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Economics.
He has described a turning point in his life: while working to pay for college in 2006, he was run over by a skid-steer (a kind of construction vehicle). During recovery, he studied how money and business work.

Entrepreneurial & Professional Work

Rampton is founder and CEO of Due, an online payments / finance company.
He is also founder of Calendar, a productivity tool / company.
He contributes articles to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Inc., TechCrunch, etc.
He is recognized as a notable online influencer: for example, named among the Top 50 Online Influencers in the World by Entrepreneur magazine.
He also advises companies, gives talks, and works as a connector—bridging ideas, people, and resources.

Because he’s modern and active, much of his profile is derived from his own site and media mentions, rather than classic biographies.

Style, Themes & Focus

From his writing and public commentary, some recurring themes in John Rampton’s thinking include:

Customer-centered business: He often emphasizes the importance of understanding and serving customers well.
Financial discipline & personal finance: He writes on budgets, saving, and making money work rather than being a burden.
Productivity & tools: Given his involvement in Calendar and Due, productivity, time management, and structuring work are key interests.
Open communication & honesty: He stresses open doors, feedback loops, and transparency in leadership.
Failure, resilience, risk: He talks about failure not as final, but as a step in a journey.
Selective focus & saying “no”: He encourages doing fewer things but doing them well, rather than overcommitting.

Notable Quotes by John Rampton

Here are some of his more cited or compelling lines (compiled from quote sites):

“Your customers are the lifeblood of your business. Their needs and wants impact every aspect of your business, from product development to content marketing to sales to customer service.”

“Empowerment isn’t a buzzword among leadership gurus. It’s a proven technique where leaders give their teams the appropriate training, tools, resources, and guidance to succeed.”

“While it’s important to accept failure and not let it bog you down, it’s also perfectly acceptable to get upset about it as long as you remember that failure is a stepping stone in your journey that is getting you to where you need to be.”

“It’s OK to stay at a job that you don’t enjoy, because you’re scared.”

“When I first started doing influencer marketing for my company Due, I lost my shorts with literally no return on my investment.”

“Learning about and from your customers isn’t always easy and requires a commitment to continual observation.”

These span business, leadership, failure, and personal growth topics.

Lessons & Takeaways

From John Rampton’s life and work, here are some insights you might apply:

Customer-first thinking is foundational
Business decisions should flow from what customers actually want and need, not just what you assume.
Failure is not shameful—it's instructive
You can acknowledge disappointment and still use failure as a stepping stone.
Empower your team
Leadership is less about control and more about giving people what they need to do great work.
Be selective—say “no”
Overcommitment can dilute quality and energy. Choose fewer priorities and do them well.
Communicate openly & transparently
Encourage feedback, maintain an open door, and be honest about what’s working and not working.
Build resilience in business & finance
Financial discipline, awareness, and adaptability help survive volatility.
Bridge ideas and people
Being a connector—linking individuals, resources, or opportunities—can amplify impact, not just direct execution.