Biography

Book John Jacobs through The Keynote Curators.

John Jacobs is the co-founder of the $150 million lifestyle brand, Life is Good. When he and his brother Bert started the company in 1994, they had $78 in their pockets, lived out of their van, and sold t-shirts on the streets of Boston. Was this their way of avoiding the “real world”? You betcha. Did it turn into something much bigger? Absolutely.

It has been over 25 years since they sold their first t-shirt, but John Jacobs and Bert champion the same mission: to spread the power of optimism. On their journey, they’ve been inspired by a vibrant community of resilient optimists who identify deeply with the brand and who constantly demonstrate the depth and meaning behind the three simple words “Life is Good.”

While John Jacobs and Bert believe life is good, they also know life isn’t perfect, which is why Life is Good donates 10% of its annual net profits to the Life is Good Playmaker Project, which helps over 1 million kids overcome the impact of poverty, violence, and illness each year. In making their company a fully-integrated for-profit/non-profit model, the brothers hope to use their business as a vehicle to do good in the world.

Because of his unique perspective that ties rational optimism to business, John Jacobs has been asked to share his transformative message at a wide range of corporate and thought leadership conferences including Inc 5000, Morgan Stanley, SAP Sapphire, Discover, and more. John Jacobs and Bert have been featured in Forbes, NPRs How I Built. This, CNNMoneyCNBC’s Business Nation, ABC News’ Nightline, NBC’s The Today Show, The New York TimesThe Wall Street JournalInc. Magazine, and Men’s Health Magazine, among others.

Contact us for John Jacobs’ fees and availability.

Read More

Videos

John Jacobs, Co-Founder, Life is Good Sizzle

LIFE IS (STILL) GOOD

CJU16 Keynote Speaker John Jacobs: "Get To" vs. "Have To"

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Life is Not Easy, Life is Not Perfect, Life is Good

Bert & John Jacobs founded Life is Good to inspire people to celebrate the good around them. Over time, a vibrant community grew that taught them that optimism is the most powerful strategy to living a happy and fulfilling life, especially in the hardest of times. In times of uncertainty, fear, loss, and tragedy, we still have the choice to focus our energy on what’s right in our lives and the world around us and find the opportunity instead
of obstacles. We have the ability to use these times of darkness to come together, to see each other as humans (not just co-workers or clients), build unbreakable bonds, and innovate like never before. Through this virtual keynote experience, Bert or John Jacobs will share the inspiring business story of Life is Good, from the humble beginnings selling T-shirts out of a van, to finding opportunity in the face of hardships like the Great Recession and unthinkable tragedies like the Boston Marathon Bombing, which took place steps from the Life is Good
Headquarters. Audience members will leave this keynote with a renewed sense of optimism and with the tools and inspiration needed to find and grow the good around them – in business and in life.

Blog Posts

Why Top Professionals Know How to Optimize Their Time

Learn time management strategies that evolve with your career from Top 50 business thinker Dorie Clark, expert on strategic boundaries and professional growth.

Read More

Transform The Worst Day of Your Life Into Your Greatest Strength

Keynote speaker Torsten Gross shares how transformed tragedy into triumph, proving your worst day of your life might become your greatest strength.

Read More

How Purpose Transforms Adversity Into Achievement with Tez Steinberg

Get insights on how purpose transforms adversity into achievement with ultra-endurance athlete Tez Steinberg's powerful lessons from rowing solo across oceans.

Read More

8 AI Speakers Who Turn “Cool Demo” Into Event Engagement (2026 Lineup)

The right AI speakers don't just wow audiences—they change what your team does on Monday. Book impact-driven keynotes for 2026.

Read More

Events That Create WOW! Moments Through Audience Connection

Learn ways to best engage audience in your events with personalized experiences that create unforgettable lasting impressions.

Read More

Why Olympic Champions Prioritize Rest and Sleep to Enhance Performance

Sleep performance enhancement strategies from Olympic champion Apolo Ohno reveal why quality rest trumps training for peak results.

Read More

Related Thought Leadership Speakers

Contact Us Today

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • MM slash DD slash YYYY
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form
  • This field is hidden when viewing the form