John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

Friendship plays a vital role in our lives, yet our capacity for social connections is surprisingly finite—studies estimate a typical person's network ranges from approximately 250 to 5,500 individuals, though real close friends are far fewer—around 10 to 20 trusted confidants. Interestingly, this circle is

How do you stand out from the thundering herd of competitors? Put another way, how can you create a clear competitive advantage that makes choosing your product or service the easy and obvious decision? Harvard strategist Michael Porter defines competitive advantage as the qualities that make a product or service

We’ve all heard the phrase “stranger danger.” It’s been repeated so often that it feels like truth: strangers are risky, and the people we already know are safe. But life isn’t that simple. The message to kids is clear—don’t talk to people you don’t

In the workplace, clarity is a gift. Too often, messages get buried under jargon, half-truths, or politics. People hedge their words to protect themselves or please others, but that rarely serves the team or the mission. Honesty, delivered with straightforward language, is more powerful than any carefully polished statement. It

If you’ve ever bought IKEA furniture, you know the phrase: “some assembly required.” The box arrives flat, the instructions are cryptic, and halfway through you wonder if you’re missing a screw—or your sanity. Startups are much the same. They don’t arrive fully assembled. They show up

Launching a startup is exciting—but also full of challenges. As an experienced advisor, I provide founders with the guidance, connections, and expertise they need to build stronger companies and accelerate growth. What I Offer: * Strategic Guidance – Helping founders define their vision, target market, and business model. * Operational Expertise – Advising

Recently, PitchBook reported that "15.9% of venture-backed deals (Initial Public Offerings or IPOs) in 2025 have been “down rounds” (i.e. is when the company’s public offering price than the private valuation). This statistic is the highest in a decade. Moreover, almost every major IPO listing in

"Only the wisest and the stupidest of men never change." This quote is attributed to Confucius. I guess there are two ends of the spectrum: the wise and the stupid. The wise don't necessarily avoid change, but rather are so attuned to the world and its

Rumi* said, “When you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” Plans are tidy. Strategies look smart on paper. But here’s the problem. Both are built on what we already know, and life isn’t that predictable. In my experience, life is mostly improvisation. You can’t