“As I walk through this wicked world, searching for light in the darkness of insanity…” (composed by Nick Lowe, brought to life by Declan Patrick McManus)
I’ve always hated those “About Me” pages where people pretend they’re fascinating enough to write about themselves in the third person.
So I won’t do that.
Much.
I’m John Langan. For more than 45 years, I’ve helped businesses and nonprofits tell their stories, build their brands, and avoid really bad marketing decisions. I’ve been a screen printer, graphic artist, customer service rep, marketing director, consultant, fundraiser, blogger, and professional herder of impossible deadlines.
Every stop along the way taught me something – usually the hard way.
I’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies, family businesses, schools, nonprofits, and just about every organization in between. My philosophy is simple: marketing should be honest, memorable, and give people a reason to care.
Buzzwords blow.
In 2019, I started Left Jab Digital Marketing to help small businesses cut through the marketing nonsense and communicate like actual human beings.
But really, Left Jab started for three reasons: I wanted to be my own boss, take control of my life, and begin my carefully crafted plan for world domination.
Progress on that last front has been mixed.
The business is doing fine, my life is mostly under control, and world domination keeps getting delayed by golf and, lately, the World Cup.
When I’m not marketing – or trying to convince clients that Comic Sans is not a branding strategy – I’m usually writing about whatever happens to be rattling around in my head.
Soccer. Politics. Music. History. Family. Philadelphia.
The occasional rant about modern life.
If it makes me laugh, make me think, or makes me shake my head in disbelief, there’s a decent chance it’ll end up here.
The real “about me?”
I’m a former Cub Scout (this means nothing now, but the picture is funny and I couldn’t resist).
I’m a father, grandfather, brother, son, friend, and lifelong Philly guy. I’m proudly Irish, hopelessly addicted to the beautiful game, and supporter of Manchester United, the Philadelphia Union and the USMNT – which, lately, has felt less like being a fan and more like participating in a long-running psychological experiment.
This website isn’t a brand. It isn’t a business strategy. And it definitely isn’t an attempt to become an influencer. (Please… no.)
It’s simply a place to share stories, opinions, observations, and the occasional completely unnecessary hot take. Some you’ll agree with. Some you won’t. That’s fine. Life would be pretty boring if we all thought the same way.
I have two goals, for whatever is left of my life.
First, I want to keep evolving. To keep learning. To keep questioning. To become a little better than I was yesterday.
I’ll never get everything right, but I know the direction I want to travel: love over hate, faith in science over superstition, peace over war, good over evil, and us over me.
Second, I want to spend as many conversations as possible with the two greatest grandchildren in the history of the planet.
So I can learn. From themYes, I’m completely biased. No, I’m not taking questions.
Finally, I firmly beleive that all problems can be solved with conversation, over a nice meal and a fine bourbon.
“And that’s all I have to say about that.” ~ Forrest Gump
Love you Johnny Langan! I always wanted to write! Good Job!
Just do it, Mary Elizabeth!
Good to know you.. John!!
John, my name is Kathleen (yes I am 50% Irish), Fuchs. I am a retired high school English teacher, born and raised in the Finger Lakes of Upstate New York. We live in the woods here and watch the sunset on gorgeous Seneca Lake every night. For the last six years, I have been teaching English for a small college in Jacksonville, Florida. Your book, Ten Steps To Improving College Reading, is my favorite book textbook ever! I gave my students an extra credit assignment to write to you because they love this book too! I have never written to an author; I tried to contact you through Atlantic Cape Community College…well, you are the funniest and most enjoyable textbook writer I have ever encountered! Thank you for your humor and your subtle philosophical innuendos as well. You teach so much more than reading skills!
Hi Kathleen… thanks so much for the kind words! However, you have me confused with another John Langan. Your “John Langan” is a tremendous author of textbooks, and I’m just a blustery blogger.
But thanks for making my day!
JL (the other)