John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

The Quiet Season of Change

Ever hit a stretch in life when nothing excites you anymore? You’re not lazy. You’re not sick. You’re changing. At first, it feels like you’re losing interest in everything: work, friends, even the things that used to make you happy. It’s confusing and uncomfortable. People

Accepting Change (Planned or Otherwise)

Change is universal. Sometimes we see it coming; sometimes it knocks us flat. Either way, it shows up for everyone. The past is prologue (a line from William Shakespeare's play The Tempest) but it’s gone. The only real option is to let go, greet what’s here,

Bucket List Reduction: Finding Joy by Wanting Less

Most of us have heard of the “bucket list” which is that grand inventory of things we want to do before we die. Climb Kilimanjaro. Write a novel. See the Northern Lights. It’s fun to dream big. But lately, I’ve been thinking about something that flips that idea

AI and the New Job Market: What College Grads Need to Know

Today’s college graduates are entering a world completely different from the one their parents or even their professors knew. Artificial intelligence is reshaping the rules of work, redefining what employers value, how careers develop, and what it means to be truly “qualified.” For new college graduates, this can feel

Hold My Beer

That little phrase, whether half joke or half dare, has become shorthand for the moment someone decides to act first and think later. It’s the prelude to a stunt, a bet, a shortcut, or an improvisation that looks brilliant for five seconds and disastrous in the next minute. In

Believe Nothing on the Web

“Believe nothing on the web” may sound cynical, but it’s really a reminder to think critically before accepting anything you read online as fact. The internet is vast, unregulated, and filled with everything from brilliant insight to outright fabrication. Opinions are often presented as truth (news sites in particular)

Leadership Lessons from a Band of Brothers

The phrase “Band of Brothers” has always stuck with me. It’s about a team so tight that trust runs deep, egos fade, and everyone’s got each other’s back. It comes from Shakespeare’s Henry V, when King Henry tells his outnumbered troops: “We few, we happy few,

Silent Leadership: The Power of Leading Without Words

Not all great leaders are loud. Some of the most effective leaders I’ve known rarely raise their voices—or even their profiles. They don’t lead with speeches or slogans; they lead through quiet integrity, steady presence, and consistent action. This is called silent leadership which is a style

Angel Investment Criteria

As some of you know, I am one of the founders of Titan Angels* (www.titanangels.com) which is an early stage angel (i.e. seed) fund. I am frequently asked about the typical angel investor criteria for early stage startup investing. My experience is that individual investors may have

Why Do You Exist?

Now that is a heavy question. Is it not? Yet, there must be some reason that you are here on this planet at this time. This type of question can motivate some to study philosophy and others to enter the seminary. Or, you could consider good old fashioned denial and

The Good Old Days Myth

I once looked back on my youth in the 1960s and 1970s and thought: “People then had fewer distractions, more community, and a stronger sense of possibility.” It felt like a golden age. But now, after decades of observing change and after watching a powerful video titled “Bigger Homes, Better

Groupthink: The Easy Way Out

Groupthink happens when a group’s desire for harmony and agreement outweighs its ability to make sound decisions. In these situations, people tend to suppress dissenting opinions and overlook alternatives just to maintain a sense of unanimity. The result? Often you get poor decisions made in the name of consensus.

Jane Goodall Remembered

Jane Goodall’s passing gives me pause to reflect on the impact of her work and on our brief encounter years ago. About fifteen years ago, my daughter invited me to an event at UC San Diego celebrating the local chapter of Roots and Shoots, the youth program founded by

Doing or Being?

Much of my life, professionally and personally, has been dedicated to achievement. I’m a goal-oriented person, and yes, an avid list maker. In fact, I keep lists of lists: to-do lists, bucket lists, Christmas lists. You get the picture. Busy has always felt best. Every now and

Understanding Startup Exits: What Novice Angel Investors Need to Know

When you write your first check as an angel investor, the excitement is real. You’re backing a founder, an idea, and maybe even the next big thing. But here’s the question that matters most: how do you get your money back, hopefully with a return? When? That’s

Generation Jones: The Forgotten Middle Child

You’ve heard of Baby Boomers. You’ve heard of Gen X. But tucked right between them is a group you may not know: Generation Jones.* Born roughly between 1954 and 1965, they missed Woodstock but were too old for grunge. That is so me. I was witness but not

All Is Lost

We’ve all been there. Job loss, a startup collapse, the end of a relationship. In those moments, it’s easy to feel like everything is broken beyond repair. The voice in your head whispers: all is lost. I know that voice well. Back in the early 2000s, when the

Ethics: Other People Matter

Ethics is about more than personal gain or what you can get away with. It’s about recognizing that there is such a thing as right and wrong. And our choices affect others. When we talk about “others,” it’s easy to think of family, friends, and colleagues. But ethics

“Dumb” Angel Investors

“Dumb” angels aren’t careless. They’re just too narrow. In this case, they only invest in industries they already know by concentrating risk and missing out on bigger opportunities. The risks of staying in one lane: * All your bets rise and fall with one market. * They overlook disruptive startups

The Silver Tsunami: Opportunities in an Aging America

America is getting older and that’s not a problem, it’s an opportunity. By 2030, the number of people aged 65 and older will double, creating one of the biggest demographic shifts in history. These aren’t the frail retirees of the past. Today’s seniors are healthier, wealthier,

What Do Startup Investors Really Want?

I am often asked what do startup investors (seed, angel or venture) really want beside a ten to twenty times return on investment in five to seven years? I know that sounds greedy but most of their investments will not succeed. Thus, they need a few of their investments to

Love Stories Written by Broken People

"The most beautiful love stories are written by broken people, because they know the cost of love and the weight of loss." - Unknown When someone has been broken by grief, by betrayal, or by dreams that never came true, they carry scars that never fully fade. And yet,

Tough Choices

To Whom it May Concern I have been thinking a lot about you since we last met. You are truly a wonderful person and I am honored to know you. I know that you have some tough choices to make. Some choices are black and white, but many are just

College Students Lean In to Startups

Forget the old script: “Go to college and get a job.” That’s yesterday’s plan. Today the numbers now tell a very different story: * Nearly 19% of adults in America are currently launching or running new businesses. Babson Thought & Action * Among 18- to 24-year-olds: about 24%

Extroverts vs. Introverts at Work

“Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me?” – Walt Whitman Extroverts and introverts bring different strengths to the table, but in business, extroverts often have the edge. Outgoing, talkative people naturally attract attention, build networks, and earn promotions because