John Duke Logan

Crafting Experiences That Inspire — and Helping Others Do the Same

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:45:00 -0800

I had the opportunity to deliver this keynote to Citizens in partnership with the Life is Good brand (featuring Steve Gross, Founder of the Life is Good Playmaker Project).

We explored the overlap between innovation, leadership, and optimism (three things the world probably needs a little more of as we head into 2026)

Our session focused on:

• Strategies to ignite creativity.

• Practical ways to build more authentic relationships.

• Tools leaders can use to approach challenges from a more constructive, optimistic perspective.

And yes, we still had some fun along the way including magic, mind-reading, a crowd-sourced “Good Vibe” playlist built in real time from audience submissions, and a massive Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament with 300 leaders.

Huge shout-out to David Lam of Happy Lam Media and NewView.Media for capturing the energy and magic of the event so beautifully.

Malcolm Mitchell in my role as his Keynote Producer and Creative Director, where I help shape his brand, storytelling, and on-stage experience.

On the surface, it was a few school events and a corporate keynote. But the conversations we kept coming back to (on stage and off) were all about culture. Specifically, this idea:

What your culture prioritizes is what your teammates will focus on.

And Malcolm’s story makes that lesson impossible to ignore.

Growing up, Malcolm was an incredible athlete. As a wide receiver, he was breaking school records left and right. Athletics were celebrated. Trophies were handed out. He went on to become a standout player for the University of Georgia Bulldogs, where football was clearly the priority and he thrived in that environment.

Academics? Not so much.

Eventually, Malcolm realized that if he wanted a future beyond football, something had to change. That shift became even more clear when he was drafted by the New England Patriots and stepped into the NFL.

To survive (and win) you need both preparation and performance. You have to study relentlessly, understand complex playbooks, and execute under pressure. Culture demands it.

Malcolm was part of the Patriots’ Super Bowl winning team that famously came back from a 28–3 deficit against the Falcons. He was also the only rookie to ever catch a pass from Tom Brady in the Super Bowl — in the same game they completed the comeback and won.

That’s why Malcolm’s message resonates so deeply with students, educators, and corporate teams alike. Leadership isn’t about one big speech or moment.

It’s about the small, daily signals that shape how people think, prepare, and show up.

Culture always wins.

How Great Leaders Decide What to Do (and What to Delegate)

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:31:46 -0800

I make a point to stop by Barnes & Noble at least once a week.

I’ll grab a coffee in the café and wander through the aisles.

On this visit, I noticed Tim Ferriss’ The 4-Hour Workweek and decided to flip through it.

One workflow chart stopped me in my tracks because it highlighted a challenge I see in so many leaders: trying to do everything themselves.

Two common leadership pitfalls jumped out at me:

Avoiding asking for help
Spending time on tasks that don’t actually require your involvement

I’ll admit that I’ve fallen into both traps, too.

The best leaders know the goal isn’t to work harder, but to work smarter. Ask yourself:

What tasks can be delegated?
What tasks truly require your attention?

Who Are You? (A Social Experiment)

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:30:00 -0800

I conducted an experiment in high school.

When I was a senior, my friends and I played a game. We had to answer the question:

“Who are you?”

However, there were two rules.

1: You had to put your answer on a sticky note.
2: It had to be anonymous, so you could be fully yourself without any judgment.

Word got around, and more people started doing this. I soon began receiving random sticky notes from people who wanted to participate as well.

We decided to hang the submissions up in a room in the school so others could see.

I was expecting people to talk about their future careers, their personalities, or their hobbies.

But a lot of answers went much deeper than that. Many people used this opportunity as a way to show how they were really feeling and to share thoughts that had been on their minds.

I truly didn’t think this would turn into such a powerful moment, but I got the chills once everything was set up and I started reading through every single note.

Above is some old footage from when we were hanging them up, along with a sneak peek at a few of the submissions (some of them are pretty intense).

The lesson I learned: Be kind to others. You never know what people are going through.

The 52 Acts of Courage Game

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:29:00 -0800

Try this game out with your friends this year. Each person needs their own deck of cards.

Every Sunday night before you go to bed, pull out a random playing card and ask yourself this one simple question:

"What is one act of courage that I did in the past seven days?"

Maybe you tried a new food that you’d never tried before.Maybe you spoke up in a work meeting when you typically don't speak up.
Maybe you reached out to someone you were a little bit nervous to reach out to.

Anything that had you step out of your comfort zone, even just a little bit.

Once you have your answer, take a Sharpie and write that act of courage on the face of the playing card.

At the end of the year, my buddies and I are going to meet up at our favorite coffee shop.

When Paul McCartney first wrote Hey Jude, it was meant to comfort John Lennon’s son, Julian, during a difficult time. The original title was actually “Hey Jules” and the message was simple: “Take a sad song and make it better.”

I doubt anyone imagined it would become a global anthem almost 60 years later, uniting people across generations, backgrounds, and beliefs. But that’s what life should be about: bringing people together through positive experiences.

As you work through your week, remember that joy is contagious. Sometimes all it takes is one song to start the chain reaction.

You Don't Always Have to Win

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:50:00 -0800

I was stuck in traffic the other day with a friend when we saw a giant billboard on the side of the highway that said:

“Winning is Always Worth It.”

We turned to each other and said, “Is it though?”

That question spiraled into one of those deep conversations, and I want to share with you the story I shared with him.

I played football, basketball, and baseball growing up, and then I really focused on track and running. I realized there was going to be a local 5k road race in my town.

About 150 people signed up. Most would be in the back, walking with their friends, drinking an iced coffee, catching up on life, and enjoying the view. The winner would typically have their name in a paragraph in the local paper and get a little medal as well.

So the first year, I decided to run and I got in the Top Ten.

The next year I ran again And I won the whole thing.

Let us be grateful for the everyday comforts that make life a little easier.

Remember: The small things are sometimes the big reasons to be thankful.

A Daily Habit to Re-Wire Your Brain

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 14:09:37 -0800

A few years ago, my friends and I challenged ourselves to go 24 hours without complaining, being negative, or judging others. Sounds simple, right? Spoiler alert: we didn’t make it.

Those traits are human. We all do it. I do it. Sometimes it’s how we bond, vent, or deal with stress. But we wanted to see what would happen if we just noticed when we slipped into that mindset.

The challenge wasn’t about being perfect. It was about becoming more aware of how we perceive situations. And it turns out, you start to see the world differently and appreciate the small moments in life.

This clip’s from a podcast I was on with the incredible Chelann Gienger, where we talked about rewiring thought loops, finding perspective, and how even small mindset shifts can make a big difference.

Try it sometime: Go 24 hours without complaining, being negative, or judging others. Not to win anything. Just to see what it teaches you about how your mind works.

And if you don’t make it? Congrats, you’re human. So am I.

Thank you to Chelann Gienger for inviting me on your...Read More