Why You Should Listen to Jason Jackson

  • By Deane Ogden
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creativity

    Sometimes people write and ask which people I get inspired by and if there are resources out there that really light me up and stoke my creative fires. I wrote about a few of them before, but there's another person I watch closely who I think you'd be wise to pay attention to.

    Meet Jason

    Jason Jackson (or "JJ", as I've always called him) and I played bass and drums, respectively, in a handful of hard rock bands together between 1992 and 1995, and became as close as brothers in the process. In those days, we both had hair down to our asses, shared a penchant for slashed acid-washed jeans with holes in the knees, and trashed more than our share of perfectly good dwellings as young idiot rockers with way too much freedom on our hands and huge arena-sized dreams in our back pockets. As it goes with great bands, everything went to shit, ala a Behind the Music episode, and both acts broke up. All members went their separate ways, but Jason and I stayed close because of the bond we built during that whole experience together.

    I think Jason would agree that we both went on to do things neither of us really thought would ever happen. As determined as you are at that age, your plans are always huge, but the seeds of doubt in your mind that things might not pan out are always there, too. After bouncing around awhile playing more music, I eventually landed in Los Angeles, as I thought JJ would too. But he didn't. In fact, he actually did something far greater than I ever will. Jason became the Director of Emergency Operations for Wal-Mart. No, not the Wal-Mart down the street from you... the #1 retailer in the world... that Wal-Mart... as in THE entire company.

    What is does that mean? That means that, back in 2005, six full days before anyone even knew what Hurricane Katrina was, Jason noticed a blip on a radar somewhere that looked to him like a storm bearing down on the southern coast of the United States. Before anyone—ANYONE—even had a clue what was going on, Jason initiated a string of events that resulted in the safety and care of hundreds of thousands of Hurricane Katrina victims and their families. In fact, a full twelve hours before the Federal government had even responded to the "worst storm in the history of the United States", Jason and his team were already clothing, feeding, and caring for thousands of victims. The national media didn't mention much about it (for reason obvious in a moment), but Jason and his team did in 24-hours what FIMA took almost five days to do, and even still, FIMA never got it right. In short, Jason, my bandmate from years earlier, saved a ton of lives during that disaster. He would never admit it, but the truth is that he is a savior to many, and a hero to many more.

    And Now...

    JJ is still with Wal-Mart, although he's been given even more responsibility and is shouldering an even greater leadership mantle. As a result of his true leadership skill (and I don't just throw that phrase around flippantly—a true leader is hard to come by), Jason is mentoring leaders at a global level now and is teaching people how to be more effective as heads of teams and organizations.

    The Leader's Locker is Jason's most recent project. I would encourage any of you who are reading my stuff because you want to be better business people to check out Jason's work there. It's extraordinary. Jason's insights into organic business and genuine leadership are absolutely spot on, and really, should be culled by someone into a college-level business course on the art of effective leadership.

    It's crazy to me to think about being a longhaired rocker with JJ back in my years following high school. But when I look at what he has so selflessly done with his life, it all lines up. He's the same generous, loving and attentive person he was back when he was wrestling me to the ground and yelling at me to "quit being stupid and just play the damned song!" Except now he's saying those things to world governments and corporate organizations.

    Check out The Leader's Locker when you get a few minutes. You'll be glad you found him. I sure am.

    JJ (top) and me, circa 1994