John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

Overthinking

I come from the land of overthinking. After 23 years at a university, I had a front-row seat to analysis. Faculty members, researchers, students, and administrators all shared a common trait: the desire to think deeply. Thinking is valuable. It helps us understand complex situations, solve difficult problems, and make

Send In the Clowns

When things go sideways, you can always send in the clowns. There is an old public relations tactic that surfaces whenever institutions get into trouble. When the real story becomes too damaging, too embarrassing, or too expensive to explain away, they “send in the clowns.” Not literal clowns of course.

Schedule Nothing

Modern culture worships busyness. Packed calendars. Back to back Zoom calls. You have heard the silly brag of “I’m slammed.” Yet, I increasingly wonder if over-scheduling is actually a form of self sabotage. Nothing can be something. At work, the mythical 40-hour fully work week may be overly ambitious.

Go Fast Alone. Go Far Together.

There is an old African proverb often quoted in startup circles: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” (Disclosure: I just read this quote and had not heard it before. I am always learning. Back to the blog.) Like most famous

The Hokey Pokey: Is This What It Is All About?

For much of my life I have avoided the Hokey Pokey, which is a silly dance best suited for children and seriously inebriated adults. You know what I mean. It is for kindergartners who are innocent and carefree; for them the Hokey Pokey is just natural. For those in mid-life

Close But No Cigar

In the late 19th century, carnival games were built for adults, not kids. No giant stuffed animals. No plush giraffes. If you won, you might walk away with a cigar. If you didn’t quite get there, you got nothing. That is where the phrase close but no cigar comes

We Need Close Friends

In my last post, I talked about the four types of friends. Acquaintances. Casual friends. Close friends. Lifelong friends. Now I want to zero in on one category that matters more than most people realize.Close friends. Not lifelong friends. Not casual connections. Close friends. And here is the point.

All My Friends Started Out as Strangers

Six months ago, I closed one chapter and opened another. After more than 30 years in Southern California, I retired and moved to Washington state. The update? It’s stunning up here. The trees, the water, the quiet. And best of all, my kids and grandkids are close. I am

My Give-a-Damn Is Broken: What Experience Teaches You

Inspired by “My Give-a-Damn Is Broken” by Delta Blues Brother* “My give-a-damn is broken… And it finally set me free.” Six months into retirement and a move to Washington state, I’ve noticed something subtle but powerful. My tolerance for nonsense dropped. Not a little. A lot. Zero tolerance. Call

Founder Reality vs Startup Mythology: Passion Is Overrated

I have worked with hundreds of startup founders over the years. Almost all of them were passionate. That’s the good news. The bad news is that passion is not rare. It’s common. Very common. And it’s often misplaced. The mythology kind of goes like this. Follow your

Excellence in Entrepreneurship

I was honored to be nominated again for the 2026 Excellence in Entrepreneurship Awards by the Orange County Business Journal. Recognition like this is appreciated, but it also makes me reflect. Entrepreneurship is not theory. It is messy, uncertain, and often uncomfortable. It is about seeing something others do not,

Beware of Shiny Objects

“Shiny object syndrome” is a behavioral and psychological tendency to chase new, exciting, or trendy ideas at the expense of current priorities. It reflects a loss of focus that leads to abandoned projects, wasted time, and a failure to execute on long-term goals.* It is true that startups must be

Stay in Your Lane Bro*

“Stay in your lane.” We’ve all heard it. Usually as a warning to don’t overreach, don’t meddle, don’t pretend to be something you’re not. Be real. In business, there’s a lot of truth in that. The best companies I’ve seen including startups, growth-stage,

More Cowbell: Be Remembered

In one of Saturday Night Live’s most quoted sketches, Christopher Walken demands, “I’ve got a fever. The only prescription is more cowbell.” It’s funny because it’s absurd and memorable because it’s bold. That’s the lesson. In today’s crowded marketplace, most offerings are fine.

Startup Founders Must Pivot Early and Often

James Joyce once wrote, “There is no past, no future; everything flows in an eternal present.” While he was speaking philosophically, the idea applies surprisingly well to startups. (Okay, I had to read Joyce's books in college). Many founders begin with what they believe is a brilliant solution.

Now Is the Time

There is no perfect time. Whether to start a company, to pivot, to call an old friend, or to launch the idea sitting in your notes app, now is best time. Someday or later may be the most expensive words in business or your personal life. Years ago, I worked

Fight, Flight or Pause?

We’ve all felt it. The tight chest. The quickened pulse. A colleague challenges you publicly. A partner crosses a line. A client acts unfairly. You get a disturbing email. In personal life, someone disappoints you deeply. Adrenaline and cortisol flood your system. Heart rate rises. Muscles tense. Fight? Run

Righty Tighty, Lefty Loosey

“Righty tighty, lefty loosey.” You may have not said it recently but the moment you grab a screwdriver, it’s there. No analysis. No hesitation. Just turn right to tighten, left to loosen. That little rhyme is doing the heavy lifting. It’s saving you brain cells. We like to

Trust No One

In the early 90s, The X-Files made paranoia fashionable. You may recall the protagonist Fox Mulder’s password was “TrustNo1”. I think it perfectly captured the mood of the show. Today, it feels less like television and more like a personal cybersecurity policy. For example, today wire fraud is common.

2026: The Year of the Fire Horse

February 17 , 2026 begins the Year of the Fire Horse. It only shows up once every sixty years or so I am told. In Chinese astrology the "Horse" represents independence, movement, and forward momentum. Add "Fire" and everything accelerates. Passion rises. Change speeds up. Stability gives

Who Can We Trust?

A common definition of trust is when you rely on the integrity, strength, or ability of another person. It’s an expression of confidence in others. At times, we just trust others; many other times, trust has to be earned. Trust is a choice. Why are we so stingy with

Some Assembly Required

Every once in a while, you walk into a job or a business where everything works. The systems are solid. The people know their roles. The culture more or less supports the mission. Those situations exist, but they’re rare. Most of the time, a new leader or owner steps

Only the Paranoid Survive*

“Only the paranoid survive” is one of those business clichés that gets quoted a lot and understood a little less. It came from Andy Grove, the former CEO of Intel, and it was never meant to be about fear or anxiety. It was about staying awake when everyone else starts

Splitting the Difference Can Leave Money on the Table

Many of us have heard the classic orange negotiation story, but it is worth revisiting because it captures one of the most important lessons in negotiation. The difference between what people say they want and why they want it. The story usually goes like this. Two sisters are in the

Aggressive* Offers in Negotiation

Most people are uncomfortable being aggressive in a negotiation. They worry about offending someone or killing the deal. So, they open politely, soften their numbers, and hope to meet in the middle. That usually costs them money. An aggressive offer is not about being rude or unfair. It is about