John Bradley "JJ" Jackson

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 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” 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

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,

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

"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

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

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% are already

“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

Each generation is shaped by the events, culture, and technology of its time. You’ve probably heard the term “Generation X” used to describe the young rebels of the late 20th century. Then came Millennials, a label once new and sometimes controversial, but now widely accepted. Millennials, born roughly between

“As seen on TV” is a marketing label originally tied to products advertised through direct-response television commercials and infomercials in the United States. These ads, often two-minute spots or 30-minute programs, promoted gadgets, household tools, exercise equipment, health and beauty items, toys, and more, with ordering via toll-free phone numbers.

Most of us played rock, paper, scissors as kids. It’s a simple hand game where two players count to three and then reveal either a fist (rock), a flat hand (paper), or two fingers (scissors). The winner is decided by the rules: rock crushes scissors, scissors cut paper, and

Life transitions, such as graduation, breakups, career changes, moving, or growing older, are often like "cakes left out in the rain"*. A cake represents something we’ve poured time, effort, and love into: relationships, careers, dreams, or identities. When the rain comes, it dissolves the structure, blurs the

“Past is prologue” is a shortened version of William Shakespeare’s line from The Tempest: “What’s past is prologue.” The phrase reminds us that the past is not irrelevant—it sets the stage for the present and the future. History shapes what comes next, often providing clues about the

Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, are now between their late 20s and early 40s and make up a large share of today’s workforce. Once labeled “young and demanding,” they now set the tone for modern work culture. Millennials value flexibility, purpose, and balance. They prefer hybrid schedules, casual

Once upon a time it was typical for a college graduate to secure a high-paying job, find your life partner, buy a home, and begin a family all by the time you were in your mid to late twenties. This expectation expired decades ago.  While difficult, this doesn’t mean

When it comes to risk, accountants and entrepreneurs see the world through very different lenses. Accountants are trained to be cautious. Their focus is on stability, compliance, and minimizing potential losses. They safeguard a business’s financial health by identifying vulnerabilities and putting systems in place such as internal controls,

An unfortunate reality of our current society is the proliferation of baloney and outright lies. It permeates social media, politics, literature, and our news-feeds. Sadly, the lies are propagated by many, if not most people. We are awash in bullshit (BS). Carl Sagan, the legendary astronomer and science communicator, believed

In business development, whether with with new prospects or existing customers, the smartest move is to keep the conversation alive. Even if today’s answer is “not now,” tomorrow may bring a new opportunity. That’s why one of the best questions to close a call or meeting with is,

Customers don’t buy products or services simply for their features—they buy solutions. They want something that eases pain, solves a problem, or brings joy. A good offering does exactly that. But in a crowded marketplace, it’s not enough to deliver. You must also be remembered. That’s

“Did you ever get the feeling that the world is a tuxedo and you're a pair of brown shoes?” This line, credited to humorist George Gobel, captures the timeless feeling of being out of place. Gobel’s gentle humor highlights a truth many of us know well: sometimes

In business, the line between a gift and a bribe can be surprisingly thin. A gift, at its core, is given with no expectation of return as an expression of goodwill, gratitude, or relationship-building. A bribe, on the other hand, carries intent. It seeks reciprocity: a decision swayed, a favor