#270: John Carey sold books.

John Carey didn't plan on becoming an expert in grid security and renewable energy infrastructure—he started with a random call to his dorm at NC State, which landed him in door-to-door book sales with Southwestern Advantage. Today, he's CEO of Ovanova, a company creating portable microgrids and secure energy solutions. In this three-hour conversation, John covers how knocking on doors in rural America prepared him for leadership, resilience, and high-stakes problem-solving. He shares detailed experiences like the night his own home power system was disabled by a firmware update from overseas, highlighting hidden vulnerabilities in our energy grid. John explains Ovanova’s Portable Energy Trailer (PET)—a robust, mobile microgrid that significantly outperforms standard units, capable of powering communities during natural disasters and supporting emergency response operations. He dives into critical issues facing America's energy grid, from rural utilities struggling with peak-hour demand to car dealerships facing millions in grid infrastructure costs. Along the way, John shares his reflections on leadership strategies he's carried forward from his early door-to-door days, why emotional intelligence still matters deeply in tech-driven fields, and the books he recommends most often (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Deep Work, and the Bhagavad Gita). If you're curious about energy security, microgrids, or simply how the skills learned from door-to-door sales translate into leading an innovative tech company, this episode offers unmatched insights directly from John's experience. Stream the full episode, share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Pony Tales Podcast for weekly stories from alumni doing remarkable things.