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Grit and Growth Business

Welcome to the Podcast

Recent Episodes

Aug. 12, 2025

Grit and Growth: My Story, My Strategy

Today, we're talking about the real and life-changing journey of being an entrepreneur. I’ll be sharing personal stories from my own experience—what it’s really like to build a business. We’ll talk about the tough stuff, like...
Aug. 5, 2025

Sales Isn't a Dirty Word—Here's How to Do It Right

Sales, a term often shrouded in discomfort and aversion among skilled artisans and service providers, emerges as a pivotal theme in our discussion today. Many talented professionals, despite their exceptional abilities in cre...
July 29, 2025

Hiring Without the Headache

In this episode, we’re talking about the stress that comes with hiring—especially for small business owners who are already juggling too much. Many entrepreneurs feel stuck, worried they'll make a bad hire, and that fear can ...
July 22, 2025

From Chaos to Clarity: Systems That Save You

This podcast episode tackles the common struggle many entrepreneurs face—feeling overwhelmed and stuck in constant chaos. We talk about how endless to-do lists and the pressure to stay busy can actually hurt productivity and ...
July 15, 2025

Real Revenue vs. Feel-Good Followers

In this episode, we’re tackling a tough truth: looking popular online doesn’t always mean you’re making money. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of likes, comments, and growing your follower count—but what happens w...
July 8, 2025

Burned Out? Let's Rebuild

Running a business is demanding, but sometimes that constant push crosses a dangerous line. In this episode of Grit and Growth Business , Ralph shares how burnout goes far beyond ordinary tiredness, creeping into every corner...

Recent Blog Posts

Aug. 12, 2025

In the world of entrepreneurship, grit and growth are two critical components that define success. As someone who's traversed the rocky path of building and sustaining businesses for over three decades, I want to take you on a journey through my per…

Read the Blog Post
Aug. 5, 2025

Introduction You're a builder, creator, and problem solver, exceptional at what you do. But when it comes to sales, does it make you cringe? You're not alone. Many professionals view sales as pushy and manipulative, which can hinder your business g…

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About the Host

Ralph Estep Jr. Profile Photo

Ralph Estep Jr.

Author, Father, Husband, Rancher

Ralph V. Estep, Jr. is a highly accomplished professional with a diverse background in finance, accounting, technology, and entrepreneurship. As the principal at Saggio Management Group, Inc., he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in various roles throughout his career.

Ralph's educational journey began at St. Mark's High School in Newark, Delaware before attending the University of Nebraska where he was an esteemed member of the Cornhusker Marching Band and had the privilege of performing at the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando.

Continuing his pursuit of knowledge and excellence, Ralph earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Delaware. He further expanded his academic achievements by obtaining a Master's in Business Administration from Wilmington University.

Throughout his professional journey, Ralph has been recognized for his outstanding accomplishments and commitment to excellence. He is a member of prestigious organizations such as the Golden Key National Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society.

With an extensive range of professional designations including Licensed Public Accountant (LPA), Accredited Business Accountant (ABA), Accredited Tax Advisor (ATA), Accredited Tax Preparer (ATP), and Internal Revenue Service Registered Tax Preparer (RTRP), Ralph possesses comprehensive expertise in tax preparation and financial management.

Beyond his impressive qualifications, Ralph has actively engaged with various community programs as both a mentor for Junior Achievement and through participation in the Dale Carnegie Leadership Training Program.

Throughout his career journey thus far, Ralph has held significant positions that have showcased both his financial acumen and leadership abilities. Notably, he served as Chief Financial Officer at Westminster Presbyterian Church where he streamlined financial operations through implementing electronic reporting mechanisms resulting in improved accuracy and efficiency.

Additionally, Ralph made significant contributions during his tenure at American Spirit Federal Credit Union where he rose to Executive Vice President after being promoted from staff accountant to Vice President of Financial & Lending Operations. His involvement in the credit union's community charter and collaboration with Fiserv to develop an in-house financial management system demonstrated his commitment to innovation and growth.
Ralph's expertise extended further as he joined Morris, James, Hitchens and Williams, a prominent law firm in Wilmington, Delaware. As the firm controller, he played a pivotal role in enhancing technology utilization, internal controls, communication systems through the development of a comprehensive intranet platform.

Recognized for his exceptional performance at Aftech (a Fiserv resource), Ralph redesigned their client communications system while also improving management performance across the organization. His efforts were acknowledged by Fiserv for his superior contributions.

In 2005, Ralph established The Estep Group as a public accounting firm based in Townsend, Delaware. With an emphasis on leveraging cutting-edge cloud technology and adopting paperless office practices, he built a world-class technology accounting practice that catered to hundreds of business and individual clients. Later rebranded as Saggio Management Group and Saggio Accounting+PLUS when relocated to Smyrna, Delaware. The business is now located in Middletown, Delaware.

Driven by his passion for technological advancements within the industry, Ralph founded Virtuale Success Inc., offering clients access to state-of-the-art cloud services through turn-key virtual computer desktops. In partnership with another Silicon Valley pioneer, in 2013, he launched Capital Cloud Solutions which provides comprehensive cloud technology solutions nationwide.

Outside of his professional pursuits, Ralph is happily married to Jennifer Estep, and together they have two sons. His dedication extends beyond work, fostering strong family bonds alongside career accomplishments.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Ralph co-founded Estep Farm LLC in 2014 where they raise black angus cows. He also created the Ask Ralph podcast in 2017 where he shares valuable insights on finance, taxation, and entrepreneurship. Ralph has even hosted "Ask Ralph" show on radio platforms, enabling him to reach wider audiences with expert advice.

Ralph V. Estep Jr.'s remarkable journey exemplifies excellence, harnessing expertise across finance, taxation, technology, and entrepreneurship. He continues to make significant contributions within these fields while maintaining strong ties within both professional circles and personal life.

Reviews

Excellent podcast

"This is information that actually helps. Seriously, if I'd heard this information 25 years ago, I would've avoided years of unnecessary stress. I'm looking forward to every episode giving me anothe…"

Mark | June 4, 2025

Gave me chills - love it!

"Gave me chills, love it! It all hit home to me. Started with nothing, did it on my own, everyone doubted me including my parents asking why I don’t just get a 9-5 job. Good stuff!!"

Justin | April 27, 2025