When One Murder Creates a Generation of Entrepreneurs with Stephen Woessner

What if an entire family's trajectory changed in a single moment of tragedy?

In this episode, Stephen Woessner, founder of Predictive ROI, shares the remarkable story of his grandfather Peter Marus, who arrived in America in 1920 with just $10 and couldn't speak English. After his father was murdered on the streets of Istanbul for being Greek, eight-year-old Peter became the family breadwinner, dropping out of third grade to support his mother and siblings. That singular tragedy transformed his family's DNA, creating a lineage of entrepreneurs that spans four generations.

Stephen reveals how his grandfather's business philosophy during the Great Depression, giving away more soup than he sold because "Jesus might look like anyone," shaped his own approach to business and giving. Now running an agency that serves other agencies, Stephen and his wife have quietly paid thousands in tuition for struggling families, honoring his grandfather's sacrifice while pursuing an audacious vision: building 100 churches and funding college educations for as many kids as possible.

Stephen explains why education is the great equalizer, how one moment of violence created an entire family of business owners, and what it means to honor the risks your ancestors took by working late into the night when you'd rather sleep.

 

[00:03:00] The Corey Morris Connection

• Kevin and Stephen connected through Corey Morris and felt like they'd known each other for years

• Stephen: "When Corey introduces me to somebody, there's the transference of trust and credibility"

• The power of context in introductions versus generic "you're both great guys" connections

• Trust transfers through quality, contextual connections

[00:06:40] Family First, Business Second

• Married 32 years to Christine, daughter Caitlyn is freshman in college

• Stephen and Christine were married 14 years before having Caitlyn

• On "empty nesting": "I think we're gonna be okay" spending time together again

[00:07:00] Building Predictive ROI

• Started Predictive ROI in 2009 with team of 26 who genuinely care about each other

• Uses the "forbidden love word" inside the business

• Agency supports other agencies with business development and sales operations

• Team travels together, hangs out together, laughs and cries together

[00:09:20] The Unlikely Path to Agency Life

• Grew up in Canton, Ohio surrounded by family restaurant businesses

• Graduated 272 out of 300 in high school ("I don't think you got your percentiles right, Mom")

• Joined Air Force in junior year, spent four years in nuclear missile silos in South Dakota

• Learned power of troubleshooting and system design

[00:11:00] Breaking Into Advertising

• Working at Red Lobster, needed marketing experience to become manager

• Called agencies in Rapid City offering to work for free, most said he was "greener than green"

• Robert Sharp and Associates said yes to three-month unpaid internship

• Competed against two other interns: "There's no way I'm not winning this"

[00:16:00] What Inspires the Work

• Changing trajectory from famine to feast in business development

• Replacing desperation with hope, confidence, and structure

• Creating dependable sales pipelines that open new possibilities for agencies

[00:17:40] The Everest Mission

• Business goals mapped on office wall, but real "why" is building 100 churches

• Put as many kids through college as possible

• Stephen: "Education is a great equalizer"

• Business profits fund impact, not the other way around

[00:20:40] Peter Marus: The Man Who Changed Everything

• Born 1902 in Istanbul, Turkey

• Father murdered on streets when Peter was eight for being Greek

• Dropped out of third grade to become breadwinner for mom and two younger siblings

• At 18 (1920), came to United States with $10 and no English

[00:22:20] Building The Ideal Restaurant

• Came to Canton, Ohio, started washing dishes and cutting vegetables

• Traded skills for money, saved everything

• Six years later, opened The Ideal restaurant in downtown Canton

• Got married, had four kids

[00:23:20] The Depression Philosophy

• Gave away more soup than he sold during the Great Depression

• Peter's response when asked why: "I know Jesus is coming back someday. I don't know what he's gonna look like, so I'm just gonna be kind to everybody"

• Entire business plan: "If you take care of your customer, they will take care of you"

• And he was right

[00:24:20] Papu: 14 Years of Living Proof

• Stephen called him "Papu" (Greek for grandfather), passed away when Stephen was 14

• For 14 years, showed Stephen what it meant to be good person, take care of people, sacrifice for family

• Stephen: "I didn't hear somebody just talk about it. I saw somebody live it"

[00:25:40] When DNA Changes in a Moment

• Stephen believes when great-grandfather was murdered, family DNA changed to entrepreneurs

• Peter's four kids all became restaurateurs

• All 10 grandkids became business owners

• 100% of family downstream became entrepreneurs

[00:28:00] From Poor Student to Education Advocate

• Peter had only third grade education but was incredibly intelligent

• Never stopped reading and consuming knowledge with fervor for education

• Stephen got four college degrees through Air Force

• Now wants to put as many kids through college as possible in Peter's honor

[00:29:20] Becoming a Partner in Three Years

• Told agency president: "I want to be an owner in this business"

• Set five-year goal, worked hard, badgered the president

• Accomplished it in three years instead

[00:30:00] The Late Night Work Ethic

• Peter's photo framed on Stephen's office wall as daily reminder

• At night when tired: "I think I can send one more email"

• Has privilege to do what he does because Peter took all those risks

• Grandmother's struggle from Crete to America was horrendous too

[00:32:00] The $5,186 Check That Changed Lives

• First time Stephen has shared this story publicly

• 15 years ago at back-to-school night, wondered if families were struggling with tuition

• Principal Bob said family's business failing, owed $5,186, had to pull kids out

• Stephen brought check that day, one condition: complete anonymity

• Received anonymous thank you letter, Stephen and Christine crying in kitchen: "We need to do more of that"

[00:36:00] The Gift of Receiving

• Kevin's realization 13 years ago: not receiving deprives others of joy of giving

• Family foundation gives kids debit card at Christmas to find struggling families

• Kids shop for gifts/food, deliver everything themselves

• Oldest daughter: "Dad, I wish I could just do that all the time"

[00:38:40] Blossom Garden Orphanage

• Kevin's family supports Jamaica orphanage for years, takes trips to spend time with kids

• Kids call it "white people day" when they visit

• First trip son Brock was 3, only white kid in photo, completely oblivious

• Now take kids' school friends, parents amazed when they return with new perspective

 

KEY QUOTES

"You know, I know that Jesus is coming back someday. I don't know what he's gonna look like, so I'm just gonna be kind to everybody." - Peter Marus (Stephen's grandfather)

"If you take care of your customer, they will take care of you." - Peter Marus

"In that moment that my great-grandfather was murdered in Istanbul, everything downstream changed. We became entrepreneurs." - Stephen Woessner

"Education is a great equalizer. If you want to change somebody's trajectory, give them education." - Stephen Woessner

CONNECT WITH STEPHEN WOESSNER 

🌐 Website: https://www.predictiveroi.com 

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwoessner

 

Thanks for tuning in!

If you liked my show, please LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW, like, and subscribe!

Find me on:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify |  iHeart Radio | Stitcher