We were lucky to catch up with John Jackson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi John, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents always taught me never to lose hope. They also taught me to never lose faith since life is a sacred and divine gift. Thankfully, my parents taught me to always express gratitude; to develop a positive and proactive attitude in life; to turn challenges into opportunities; to be respectful of people and to practice humility, perseverance and patience; to be compassionate; to practice forgiveness and self-forgiveness; and to nurture self-care and self-compassion. I admire both and I am grateful for all they did to get me started in life. I acknowledge their foibles and mistakes and forgive them in kind. All in all, I count myself lucky to have had them as my parents.
My parents encouraged me to make my own decisions. One of my strengths has always been an ability to see patterns that others often miss. Whether in business, teaching, investing, or everyday life, I can usually connect scattered pieces of information and form a picture of where things are headed. What looks like intuition to others is often the result of years of experience stored away somewhere in the back of my mind. This skill allowed me to make decisions quickly and with confidence. It was not always perfect. I could occasionally see a pattern that wasn’t really there, but more often than not, it helped me recognize opportunities and avoid mistakes before they became obvious to everyone else.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a retired professor, entrepreneur, author, startup advisor, and angel investor who has spent more than two decades helping founders turn ideas into viable businesses. Before academia, I built a career in sales and marketing, giving me a practical perspective that complements my teaching and mentoring. Through my books, consulting, startup incubators, and investment funds, I help entrepreneurs navigate growth, fundraising, and the challenges of building sustainable companies. What sets me apart is a combination of real-world business experience, pattern recognition, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. I am most proud of the thousands of students, founders, and business owners whose journeys I have been privileged to support.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I believe my reputation was built one relationship at a time. Throughout my career, I made a conscious effort to help people without immediately looking for something in return. Whether working with students, entrepreneurs, startup founders, or colleagues, I focused on creating value first. My blog and books allowed me to share lessons learned from both successes and failures, extending that reach beyond the classroom and boardroom. Perhaps the most rewarding part is seeing former students and mentees achieve success and then pay it forward by helping others. Their accomplishments have become a reflection of the community, generosity, and entrepreneurial spirit that I have tried to promote throughout my career.
Have you ever had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life came after spending a decade in the technology industry and another decade in the capital markets. Like many others, I was impacted by the dot-com collapse, which forced me to rethink my career and reinvent myself. Rather than viewing it as a setback, I treated it as an opportunity. I launched a consulting practice, became a professional speaker, wrote books, began mentoring entrepreneurs, and eventually became a college professor and angel investor. What initially felt like a disruption became the foundation for the most meaningful chapter of my professional life. Looking back, that pivot changed everything. I never looked back.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johnbradleyjackson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnbradleyjackson/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnbradleyjackson
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbradleyjackson/
