Sometimes your environment tells you false narratives. You see the same things every day, embark upon the same routines, and unconsciously get caught up in the same cycles. Life loses its whimsy, and society starts feeling like one big assimilation.

In the quiet moments, you question how you got here — here, being a place of mundane stagnation. Endless possibilities invade your consciousness with visions of how life could be. So, to challenge the status quo, you decide to do something about it. But who should you share your ventures with? Everyone in your community is living a life very similar to yours. It's going to be difficult to elevate beyond your surroundings.

Strangely enough, when you take inventory of your deep desires for more, you realize you haven't stretched your options. In fact, you haven't even scratched the surface. What if you focused your efforts on another market instead of relying on the community you already know? After all, growth requires expansion.

My suggestion is this: identify what you want in this life. Grab a notebook and write down the one thing you'd do if no one around you could see you do it — that's usually the truest signal of what you actually want. Then determine your value and who needs it the most. Showcase your ability to serve them — one honest post, one conversation, one small proof of what you can do, shared where they'll actually see it. And develop a system that repeats these steps, even something as simple as doing one of them every Monday. You'll realize, throughout the process, that the market is much larger than your current location. People in various zip codes need to receive what you've kept so close to your chest. Finally, it's time to release it into the world.

Let’s get reacquainted

By: Jarod O’Brian

July 15, 2026

It’s been a while (roughly a year) since I connected with you guys. And to be quite honest, life has been lifing! Somewhere between inflation, the cost of groceries, and economic challenges, my creativity has taken a back burner to surviving. However, I had a recent “aha moment” that made me realize that daily happenings can be just as much a distraction as anything else. They’re just not always as abrupt or obvious.

The thing about distractions is that they come in different forms. Whether it’s an automated bill withdrawal, an inconvenience, or an unexpected call from an ex or family member, these distractions steer us away from our goals. The crazy part is that by the time you notice how far from your goals you are, there is so much ground to make up.

Here is where the mental switch comes on! You recognize your progress, or lack thereof, and make a decision. The decision to continue down the path you’ve been on or make a pivot. Whichever of the two you choose, one principle will remain true. Everyone is born with different cards, but not everyone plays their hand correctly. And for those who don’t play Spades, just sit this one out or phone a friend. To make it plain and simple, shift more of your focus towards the cards in your hand vs. how the game seems to be going. When you master your hand, you win more books than you lose.

That said, I am happy to reconnect with my audience, spark conversations, and include you in my journey. You will see more from me that represents my brand voice and receive updates on future announcements. It feels good to be back! More on the way!

Build the Table

By: Jarod O’Brian

July 19, 2025

During a text conversation, a friend asked me a question that sparked a battery in my back. Although the question was only two words, it always gets me going. For those wondering it was simply... What’s next? 

By now, most of you who are connected to me (whether personally or through social media) know that I have completed my M.A. in Public Relations. Yes, earning my degree in this field was a huge milestone, and it was celebrated accordingly. However, the confetti dropped, and the “clean-up crew” did what needed to be done. It’s time to refocus because I am building a dynasty.

With this said, the public relations (PR) field is very similar to sports. It is a competitive field that emphasizes survival of the fittest. If you desire to not only work in this arena but thrive in it, you must have a clear goal to cling to.

My goal is to win championships – plural. I must reverse engineer and accurately define the championship terms. From my perspective, a championship would be delivering campaigns that generate a 30% profit increase to businesses. This number represents a tangible and positive impact of my value added within partnerships.

Secondly, I need to dominate games consecutively. Regarding PR, “games” are event activations, board presentations, strategy sessions, and network events. If I do not win these games, there is no way I can contend for a championship.

Thirdly, which should be first, I must sharpen my pro skills. Or, like the great Allen Iverson said, … “Practice?! [We’re] talking about practice!” Because when you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.

Quiet is kept – If you don’t train during the off-season, you’ll experience an “off” season. But when you’re as driven as I am, you can’t afford to be off.

I can’t help but think – I’d rather build my own table vs. sit at one that doesn’t have space for me to eat. Too many moments have left me feeling overlooked, underutilized, unseen, misunderstood, misinterpreted, incomplete, and empty. Various encounters have fostered a false hope that someone wants to partner for a greater cause. Unfortunately, I’ve realized that some people never intended to share a meal; they only wanted table service.

But here’s the thing about coming to such a bold realization… these unappetizing events have only intensified my hunger. After all, how could I not be hungry after seeing the available options on the menu (e.g., healthy partnerships, strong business relationships, lucrative deals, flexible schedules, and more)?!

If no one tells you the magic of building the table, YOUR table, allow me to be the first. The table is what holds it altogether. The table represents the foundation for ideas to flourish. But before you start building, you must ask these questions:

How big is the table? Is there room for company? Which material is the table made of?
Is this table a centerpiece where like-minded people gather, or does it fold like a lawn chair? Will the table be a necessary appliance or just a nice decoration?

Now that you’ve answered the previous questions, it’s time to start building! Build intentionally. Congregate. Fellowship. Strategize. Exchange all the ideas and free-flowing content that could only happen when a team becomes family. Because what people don’t tell you is that the real impact starts from ground zero. It’s one thing to speak to strangers about the pains of creating a legacy, but it’s a different bond to share with those who have collected splinters while helping you fulfill your purpose.

When you see me, understand that my table was built for collective advancement. So before you pull up a seat, ask yourself, what is your contribution?