Growing up in South Windsor, some of my most meaningful moments didn’t happen in a classroom or a boardroom — they happened outside at Nevers Road Park. Long before I was building companies, writing books, or managing the daily pressures that come with responsibility, I was walking those paths. Sometimes once, sometimes several times over….
Tag: Justin calabrese
How I Learned to Sell Before I Learned to Drive
I learned how to close a sale before I ever held a driver’s license. That sentence still makes me smile — not because it sounds impressive, but because of how unlikely it was. Most teenagers are focused on passing their road test, saving for their first car, or figuring out weekend plans. I was learning…
Why NPR Chose a 16-Year-Old Entrepreneur: A Reflection on Starting JC Surveillance
When I was 16 years old, I received a phone call that most teenagers would never expect. National Public Radio wanted to interview me. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about media exposure, branding, or publicity. I was thinking about motion sensors, wiring systems, and how to convince adults that a teenager could protect their…
How I Earned a Rare Double Lifetime Induction Into a Prestigious Business Honor Society
I am grateful to have been awarded a rare double lifetime induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, one of the world’s most respected business honor societies. This recognition reflects academic achievement and professional engagement in the field of business, and I view it as both an honor and a responsibility. Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes top-performing business…
The Most Expensive Message I’ve Ever Paid For In New York City — And Why It Was Worth It
Standing on a big digital billboard in New York City is one of those moments that doesn’t feel real at first. You grow up seeing those screens in movies, watching brands fight for attention in the brightest, loudest, most crowded advertising space in the world. They’re symbols of arrival. Of success. Of money. Of influence….
Stepping Into 2026: Creating What Matters, On My Terms
2026 feels different to me. Not in the loud, fireworks-and-noise way, but in a quieter, more intentional way. It feels like a year where I stop rushing to prove things and start choosing what genuinely brings me joy, clarity, and meaning. I’m not chasing chaos this year. I’m planning with purpose. For me, 2026 isn’t…
What It Means To Publish My Third Book: The Apology Mindset
There’s a moment every author knows well: the quiet pause after finishing a manuscript, when you close the laptop, exhale, and realize that something deeply personal is about to leave your hands and enter the world. Publishing The Apology Mindset, my third book, has given me that familiar feeling—but this time, it carries a different weight,…
What 150+ Businesses Taught Me About Entrepreneurship, Ego, and the Power of Being Teachable
I still remember the moment I realized people were finally starting to take me seriously. I was young, ambitious, and building what many would have called a “small business,” yet my vision was anything but small. When NPR featured me for launching a company at such a young age, it felt surreal — not because…
The Holidays, Through My Eyes: Why Family, Kindness, and Connection Matter Most
The holiday season has always meant more to me than twinkling lights, perfectly wrapped gifts, or a table overflowing with food (though let’s be honest — I will never say no to a second helping). For me, the holidays are about something far deeper: connection. They are about slowing down in a world that constantly…
Still Here: A Journey Through Healing and Self-Discovery
Twelve years have passed since I walked out of the darkest season of my life, and my understanding of mental health has transformed into something far more layered, intentional, and sacred. Back then, mental health meant survival. Today, it means awareness, gentleness, boundaries, and the courage to keep choosing myself even when memories echo louder…









