John Pagley
@johnpagley.bsky.social
Co-Founder at Joyfill · Love growing my companies · Sharing lessons, wins, and my founder journey along the way
Being busy is easy.
Building something that actually compounds is not.
This book challenged me to stop mistaking motion for progress.
“Busy is not a badge of honor.”– Jordan Raynor
Building something that actually compounds is not.
This book challenged me to stop mistaking motion for progress.
“Busy is not a badge of honor.”– Jordan Raynor
January 16, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Being busy is easy.
Building something that actually compounds is not.
This book challenged me to stop mistaking motion for progress.
“Busy is not a badge of honor.”– Jordan Raynor
Building something that actually compounds is not.
This book challenged me to stop mistaking motion for progress.
“Busy is not a badge of honor.”– Jordan Raynor
Love this quote so much👇
“When you are born, you look like your parents; when you die, you look like your decisions.”
You can watch the full interview here youtu.be/hJYkUMV8I_s?...
“When you are born, you look like your parents; when you die, you look like your decisions.”
You can watch the full interview here youtu.be/hJYkUMV8I_s?...
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Love this quote so much👇
“When you are born, you look like your parents; when you die, you look like your decisions.”
You can watch the full interview here youtu.be/hJYkUMV8I_s?...
“When you are born, you look like your parents; when you die, you look like your decisions.”
You can watch the full interview here youtu.be/hJYkUMV8I_s?...
People rise to the level of the identity you give them.
Treat people not as who they are, but as who they can become.
When you speak to someone’s potential, you quietly give them permission to grow into it.
Treat people not as who they are, but as who they can become.
When you speak to someone’s potential, you quietly give them permission to grow into it.
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
People rise to the level of the identity you give them.
Treat people not as who they are, but as who they can become.
When you speak to someone’s potential, you quietly give them permission to grow into it.
Treat people not as who they are, but as who they can become.
When you speak to someone’s potential, you quietly give them permission to grow into it.
Reading Called to Create reframed how I think about my work.
“We were created to create.”– Jordan Raynor
That line reminded me that what I build isn’t just a career pursuit—it’s a calling that demands excellence.
When I approach my craft with that mindset, everything changes.
“We were created to create.”– Jordan Raynor
That line reminded me that what I build isn’t just a career pursuit—it’s a calling that demands excellence.
When I approach my craft with that mindset, everything changes.
January 9, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Reading Called to Create reframed how I think about my work.
“We were created to create.”– Jordan Raynor
That line reminded me that what I build isn’t just a career pursuit—it’s a calling that demands excellence.
When I approach my craft with that mindset, everything changes.
“We were created to create.”– Jordan Raynor
That line reminded me that what I build isn’t just a career pursuit—it’s a calling that demands excellence.
When I approach my craft with that mindset, everything changes.
You are a human summary of what you consume.
I’ll go first — this is one of my bookshelves.
Are you feeding on the right things?
Would love to see your bookshelves, and book recs 🙏
I’ll go first — this is one of my bookshelves.
Are you feeding on the right things?
Would love to see your bookshelves, and book recs 🙏
January 7, 2026 at 3:15 PM
You are a human summary of what you consume.
I’ll go first — this is one of my bookshelves.
Are you feeding on the right things?
Would love to see your bookshelves, and book recs 🙏
I’ll go first — this is one of my bookshelves.
Are you feeding on the right things?
Would love to see your bookshelves, and book recs 🙏
I just finished reading Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor. WOW. Here are the key takeaways I'll share with you in 30 seconds:
1. Time is not neutral — it’s a stewardship responsibility.
2. Busyness is often a substitute for clarity.
3. Productivity systems fail without values-driven priorities.
1. Time is not neutral — it’s a stewardship responsibility.
2. Busyness is often a substitute for clarity.
3. Productivity systems fail without values-driven priorities.
January 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
I just finished reading Redeeming Your Time by Jordan Raynor. WOW. Here are the key takeaways I'll share with you in 30 seconds:
1. Time is not neutral — it’s a stewardship responsibility.
2. Busyness is often a substitute for clarity.
3. Productivity systems fail without values-driven priorities.
1. Time is not neutral — it’s a stewardship responsibility.
2. Busyness is often a substitute for clarity.
3. Productivity systems fail without values-driven priorities.
I have to share the PAUSE that changed my life.
Sleep is an asset, not a liability.
Hustle culture told me to grind harder.
Essentialism tells us to pause longer…before the grind.
I like that Greg McKeown (author of the book Essentialism) argues that clarity comes from space — not speed.
Sleep is an asset, not a liability.
Hustle culture told me to grind harder.
Essentialism tells us to pause longer…before the grind.
I like that Greg McKeown (author of the book Essentialism) argues that clarity comes from space — not speed.
December 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I have to share the PAUSE that changed my life.
Sleep is an asset, not a liability.
Hustle culture told me to grind harder.
Essentialism tells us to pause longer…before the grind.
I like that Greg McKeown (author of the book Essentialism) argues that clarity comes from space — not speed.
Sleep is an asset, not a liability.
Hustle culture told me to grind harder.
Essentialism tells us to pause longer…before the grind.
I like that Greg McKeown (author of the book Essentialism) argues that clarity comes from space — not speed.
How to signal respect when you meet someone?
One of the most underrated ways to win with people is to MASTER your first impression.
Your first five seconds can establish the entire relationship.
When you start interactions with warmth and attention—not distraction—you signal respect.
One of the most underrated ways to win with people is to MASTER your first impression.
Your first five seconds can establish the entire relationship.
When you start interactions with warmth and attention—not distraction—you signal respect.
December 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
How to signal respect when you meet someone?
One of the most underrated ways to win with people is to MASTER your first impression.
Your first five seconds can establish the entire relationship.
When you start interactions with warmth and attention—not distraction—you signal respect.
One of the most underrated ways to win with people is to MASTER your first impression.
Your first five seconds can establish the entire relationship.
When you start interactions with warmth and attention—not distraction—you signal respect.
“journaling is so overrated”
Doodling maybe.
Now, "reflection journaling" on the other hand…
Reliving your choices and reflecting on them at the end of the day (or week) is extremely powerful for your tomorrow.
I encourage everyone to get themselves a signature notebook.
Here's mine
Doodling maybe.
Now, "reflection journaling" on the other hand…
Reliving your choices and reflecting on them at the end of the day (or week) is extremely powerful for your tomorrow.
I encourage everyone to get themselves a signature notebook.
Here's mine
December 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
“journaling is so overrated”
Doodling maybe.
Now, "reflection journaling" on the other hand…
Reliving your choices and reflecting on them at the end of the day (or week) is extremely powerful for your tomorrow.
I encourage everyone to get themselves a signature notebook.
Here's mine
Doodling maybe.
Now, "reflection journaling" on the other hand…
Reliving your choices and reflecting on them at the end of the day (or week) is extremely powerful for your tomorrow.
I encourage everyone to get themselves a signature notebook.
Here's mine
8 years ago, I built a SaaS that sells on autopilot...STILL TO THIS DAY.
I'll share the details of how we did this in a future post later this month. the raw, gritty good stuff 😅
Follow so you don't miss the post!
I'll share the details of how we did this in a future post later this month. the raw, gritty good stuff 😅
Follow so you don't miss the post!
December 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM
8 years ago, I built a SaaS that sells on autopilot...STILL TO THIS DAY.
I'll share the details of how we did this in a future post later this month. the raw, gritty good stuff 😅
Follow so you don't miss the post!
I'll share the details of how we did this in a future post later this month. the raw, gritty good stuff 😅
Follow so you don't miss the post!
We have only 2 weeks left in 2025. How would you make those final days count? 🤔👊
December 15, 2025 at 2:15 PM
We have only 2 weeks left in 2025. How would you make those final days count? 🤔👊
Just finished reading Called to Create by Jordan Raynor, and wow. It made it to my top 10 must-reads!
If you are a faith-driven entrepreneur or business-minded person, I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.
If you are a faith-driven entrepreneur or business-minded person, I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.
December 12, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Just finished reading Called to Create by Jordan Raynor, and wow. It made it to my top 10 must-reads!
If you are a faith-driven entrepreneur or business-minded person, I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.
If you are a faith-driven entrepreneur or business-minded person, I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.
Just had my first kid. The noise cancelling mode on these bad boys…. 😙👌 (chef’s kiss)
December 10, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Just had my first kid. The noise cancelling mode on these bad boys…. 😙👌 (chef’s kiss)
My wife said I said this so many times that she had to frame it for me.
I like to think this is "my" quote.
I like to think this is "my" quote.
December 8, 2025 at 2:15 PM
My wife said I said this so many times that she had to frame it for me.
I like to think this is "my" quote.
I like to think this is "my" quote.
Another great chat with a fellow entrepreneur 🎙️💪
a few good growth nuggets in this one.
a few good growth nuggets in this one.
Watch our latest interview with Julien Nahum, creator of a growing open-source package—OpnForm.
The conversation covers his beginnings, growth insights, and what’s ahead for the project.
🎙️ Watch: youtu.be/POyPjbWS6Xs?... #opensource #forms #buildinpublic
Huge thanks to @jhumanj.bsky.social 🙏
The conversation covers his beginnings, growth insights, and what’s ahead for the project.
🎙️ Watch: youtu.be/POyPjbWS6Xs?... #opensource #forms #buildinpublic
Huge thanks to @jhumanj.bsky.social 🙏
The Birth and Early Growth Hacks Behind OpnForm and NoteForms with Julien Nahum
YouTube video by Joyfill
youtu.be
December 5, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Another great chat with a fellow entrepreneur 🎙️💪
a few good growth nuggets in this one.
a few good growth nuggets in this one.
Be intentional with everything you do.
Your day should be a collection of events you deem as impactful and fulfilling.
Your day should be a collection of events you deem as impactful and fulfilling.
December 3, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Be intentional with everything you do.
Your day should be a collection of events you deem as impactful and fulfilling.
Your day should be a collection of events you deem as impactful and fulfilling.
Be someone’s “Plus-One” 🫶
Every team has the “drainers” and the “drivers.”
The ones who enter a room and raise the temperature and the ones who cool it down.
Influence grows quickly when ego shrinks intentionally.
Every team has the “drainers” and the “drivers.”
The ones who enter a room and raise the temperature and the ones who cool it down.
Influence grows quickly when ego shrinks intentionally.
December 1, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Be someone’s “Plus-One” 🫶
Every team has the “drainers” and the “drivers.”
The ones who enter a room and raise the temperature and the ones who cool it down.
Influence grows quickly when ego shrinks intentionally.
Every team has the “drainers” and the “drivers.”
The ones who enter a room and raise the temperature and the ones who cool it down.
Influence grows quickly when ego shrinks intentionally.
As a bootstrapped founder, I’m noticing AI pushes companies down two paths:
(1) Using AI to cut headcount and maintain output.
(2) Investing in AI-augmented talent, raising short-term costs but expanding long-term output.
(1) Using AI to cut headcount and maintain output.
(2) Investing in AI-augmented talent, raising short-term costs but expanding long-term output.
November 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
As a bootstrapped founder, I’m noticing AI pushes companies down two paths:
(1) Using AI to cut headcount and maintain output.
(2) Investing in AI-augmented talent, raising short-term costs but expanding long-term output.
(1) Using AI to cut headcount and maintain output.
(2) Investing in AI-augmented talent, raising short-term costs but expanding long-term output.
It took me waaaay too long to understand and apply the “Trade-off Mindset”.
“We can’t have it all. We can’t do it all. But we can choose what matters most.”
So instead of asking, “How can I do it all?”
Ask: “What am I willing to give up to focus on what truly counts?”
“We can’t have it all. We can’t do it all. But we can choose what matters most.”
So instead of asking, “How can I do it all?”
Ask: “What am I willing to give up to focus on what truly counts?”
November 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
It took me waaaay too long to understand and apply the “Trade-off Mindset”.
“We can’t have it all. We can’t do it all. But we can choose what matters most.”
So instead of asking, “How can I do it all?”
Ask: “What am I willing to give up to focus on what truly counts?”
“We can’t have it all. We can’t do it all. But we can choose what matters most.”
So instead of asking, “How can I do it all?”
Ask: “What am I willing to give up to focus on what truly counts?”
I got my PhD watching YouTube shorts.
I highly recommend the School of Hard Knocks channel: www.youtube.com/@theschoolof...
Packed with powerful nuggets worth a billion dollars...literally.
Remember: What you consume, you become.
I highly recommend the School of Hard Knocks channel: www.youtube.com/@theschoolof...
Packed with powerful nuggets worth a billion dollars...literally.
Remember: What you consume, you become.
November 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I got my PhD watching YouTube shorts.
I highly recommend the School of Hard Knocks channel: www.youtube.com/@theschoolof...
Packed with powerful nuggets worth a billion dollars...literally.
Remember: What you consume, you become.
I highly recommend the School of Hard Knocks channel: www.youtube.com/@theschoolof...
Packed with powerful nuggets worth a billion dollars...literally.
Remember: What you consume, you become.
I’ve found a tiny investment that builds massive capital.. 👇
In business, we obsess over ROI—yet we overlook an asset: how we make others feel.
People don’t remember your title, your revenue milestone, or your résumé. They remember how elevated they felt in your presence.
It costs nothing.
In business, we obsess over ROI—yet we overlook an asset: how we make others feel.
People don’t remember your title, your revenue milestone, or your résumé. They remember how elevated they felt in your presence.
It costs nothing.
November 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
I’ve found a tiny investment that builds massive capital.. 👇
In business, we obsess over ROI—yet we overlook an asset: how we make others feel.
People don’t remember your title, your revenue milestone, or your résumé. They remember how elevated they felt in your presence.
It costs nothing.
In business, we obsess over ROI—yet we overlook an asset: how we make others feel.
People don’t remember your title, your revenue milestone, or your résumé. They remember how elevated they felt in your presence.
It costs nothing.
What you see when they made it.
vs.
The cost you don’t see that got them there.
Putting in the work is ALWAYS worthwhile.
vs.
The cost you don’t see that got them there.
Putting in the work is ALWAYS worthwhile.
November 19, 2025 at 2:33 PM
What you see when they made it.
vs.
The cost you don’t see that got them there.
Putting in the work is ALWAYS worthwhile.
vs.
The cost you don’t see that got them there.
Putting in the work is ALWAYS worthwhile.
Yep, “AEO” is the winner.
Hear me out.
AEO, GEO, LLMO, AIO, etc, etc… All of these AI SEO acronyms floating around REEEALLY all mean the same thing—optimizing content for being cited, referenced, used, or surfaced in responses by AI/LLM systems.
I’m calling everyone to rally with me for “AEO”.✊
Hear me out.
AEO, GEO, LLMO, AIO, etc, etc… All of these AI SEO acronyms floating around REEEALLY all mean the same thing—optimizing content for being cited, referenced, used, or surfaced in responses by AI/LLM systems.
I’m calling everyone to rally with me for “AEO”.✊
November 17, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Yep, “AEO” is the winner.
Hear me out.
AEO, GEO, LLMO, AIO, etc, etc… All of these AI SEO acronyms floating around REEEALLY all mean the same thing—optimizing content for being cited, referenced, used, or surfaced in responses by AI/LLM systems.
I’m calling everyone to rally with me for “AEO”.✊
Hear me out.
AEO, GEO, LLMO, AIO, etc, etc… All of these AI SEO acronyms floating around REEEALLY all mean the same thing—optimizing content for being cited, referenced, used, or surfaced in responses by AI/LLM systems.
I’m calling everyone to rally with me for “AEO”.✊
A couple of years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson.
The power of “no”.
In business/life, we often glorify “yes.”
But saying no isn’t rejection — it’s protection.
Every no creates space for the things that truly move the needle.
Because when everything is important, nothing really is.
The power of “no”.
In business/life, we often glorify “yes.”
But saying no isn’t rejection — it’s protection.
Every no creates space for the things that truly move the needle.
Because when everything is important, nothing really is.
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A couple of years ago, I learned a very valuable lesson.
The power of “no”.
In business/life, we often glorify “yes.”
But saying no isn’t rejection — it’s protection.
Every no creates space for the things that truly move the needle.
Because when everything is important, nothing really is.
The power of “no”.
In business/life, we often glorify “yes.”
But saying no isn’t rejection — it’s protection.
Every no creates space for the things that truly move the needle.
Because when everything is important, nothing really is.
Have crazy big goals. Because if it's not big enough, is it worth being a goal at all?
"If you set a crazy big goal, rather than a mediocre goal, you want to work really hard to will it into existence.”
And even if you don’t achieve it, the progress towards that big goal will be worthwhile.
"If you set a crazy big goal, rather than a mediocre goal, you want to work really hard to will it into existence.”
And even if you don’t achieve it, the progress towards that big goal will be worthwhile.
November 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Have crazy big goals. Because if it's not big enough, is it worth being a goal at all?
"If you set a crazy big goal, rather than a mediocre goal, you want to work really hard to will it into existence.”
And even if you don’t achieve it, the progress towards that big goal will be worthwhile.
"If you set a crazy big goal, rather than a mediocre goal, you want to work really hard to will it into existence.”
And even if you don’t achieve it, the progress towards that big goal will be worthwhile.