In this episode of the Founders Journey podcast, we sit down with Lane Campbell to explore the role that persistence, hands-on learning, and unconventional thinking have played in his entrepreneurial journey. Lane shares personal stories that highlight the mindset and experiences that helped him evolve from a curious kid dismantling electronics to a founder launching complex software and services companies across different industries.
We begin with Lane’s childhood and the influence of his family. Growing up in a household that encouraged curiosity, Lane was exposed to both engineering and entrepreneurship early. His grandfather worked in nuclear power and started an HVAC business, while another grandfather built a successful apparel company. These dual influences sparked Lane’s early interest in taking things apart and understanding how they work.
By the age of 11, Lane was already tearing down and reassembling computers with no formal guidance, driven by nothing more than persistence and raw curiosity. He explains how that habit of self-learning extended into his professional life and became a key trait in how he approached business challenges. Lane’s tolerance for risk and ability to stay calm in high-pressure situations turned out to be pivotal assets, especially in environments that lacked structure.
He reflects on his school years, where traditional education systems failed to engage him. Structured authority didn’t appeal to Lane, who preferred learning by doing and needed to deeply understand things before accepting them. In contrast, his sister thrived in academic environments. That contrast helps frame how Lane carved out his own path by leaning into what worked best for him instead of following expectations.
Lane recounts how he started fixing computers and setting up networks in high school, eventually turning that into a tech services business. By college, he was customizing networks, building hardware, and finding ways around university IT limitations. These weren’t just side projects but early signs of a mindset oriented toward solving problems in real time with limited resources.
After college, Lane dove fully into entrepreneurship. He moved to Chicago during the Great Recession and co-founded a business in the midst of economic uncertainty. That decision was driven by necessity and instinct, and he learned quickly the importance of choosing partners wisely. Lane shares what he’s learned about building partnerships, dealing with disappointment, and the difference between value creators and value extractors in business.
Throughout the conversation, Lane emphasizes transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making. He explains how unmet expectations in partnerships are often the root of conflict and offers clear strategies to avoid those pitfalls. He also gives a candid look at working in challenging environments, including dealing with unethical partners and helping uncover fraud in past ventures.
The episode closes with a look at Lane’s current projects, including building software for DMV systems, launching private equity support platforms, and helping small businesses secure government contracts through AI-powered tools. He also shares insights on the skills every entrepreneur should have, from understanding sales and cash flow to solving real problems people are willing to pay to fix.
Whether you’re early in your entrepreneurial journey or deep into running a business, this episode offers a grounded perspective on what it actually takes to build something sustainable. Lane doesn’t glamorize entrepreneurship. He lays it out plainly: it’s messy, it’s hard, and most people won’t make it. But if you’re the kind of person who thrives when everything is uncertain and the pressure is high, you might be wired for it.
For more from Lane Campbell visit www.lanecampbell.com
