Inside the Empire

Ken Smith's journey from sorting beer bottles at a young age to building a business empire epitomizes the American entrepreneurial spirit. Growing up as the son of a schoolteacher in Chicago's suburbs, Ken learned early that work wasn't just an obligation, it was opportunity. While neighborhood kids received allowances, he created his own income stream through paper routes, restaurant jobs, and even selling plasma in college despite his full wrestling scholarship. This hustler's mentality le...

Johnny Leon's path from paperboy to winery owner reveals how life's harshest moments often lead to our most authentic callings. As the current owner of Oak Mountain Winery, Johnny shares the remarkable story of resilience that brought him to Temecula Valley's wine country. Growing up in a three-bedroom house with six siblings in Chula Vista, Johnny developed a strong work ethic early. His entrepreneurial journey began at 12 as a paper boy, waking at 3:30 AM to deliver newspapers up steep hil...