Welcome to my website! 👋
I’m John Brandon, a journalist, book author, and Forbes columnist
My articles have been read by 60M+ people all over the world. My second book The Seven Minute Productivity Solution was published in 2022. I am currently a columnist at Forbes magazine.
60M+
Readers
23 years
As a writer
15,000
Articles published
10,000
Reviews
Samples of my magazine work
Wired magazine
My article about having a digital avatar fill in for you in meetings was a very popular article on the website.
Christianity Today magazine
I once wrote about Francis Chan right before he decided to leave his church and become a church planter.
Inc. Magazine
A career milestone was this feature story on Cruise Automation and AI. They were eventually acquired by GM for $1B.
Entrepreneur magazine
I’ve contributed regularly to Entrepreneur and once wrote a monthly column for the magazine. Here’s a personal favorite.
Popular Mechanics
A contributor for many years, this article about science fiction aliens in movies is an all-time personal favorite.
Forbes magazine
I write a column about innovation in social media and artificial intelligence for Forbes and have contributed since 2019.
Published books
The 7-Minute Productivity Solution
My second book for Baker Books/Revell offers daily routines to help you stay productive with a purpose.
Lifeblood
My first book from an indie publisher came out in 2018 and is about living a life devoted to Jesus Christ.
Official Biography
John Brandon has lived what he writes about for Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Wired, Popular Mechanics, Fox News, and many others. He has a BA in journalism from the University of Northwestern and spent over a decade in the corporate world, becoming director of Information Design at Best Buy at the ripe old age of 26. In the aftermath of a corporate restructuring, he traded hats to become a full-time columnist/journalist and has published more than 15,000 articles since that time. He and his wife live west of Minneapolis and have four grown children.
Want to book a speaking engagement?
I am available to join your podcast, speak at your church, or appear on television.
Endorsements for The 7-Minute Productivity Solution book
“It’s a gamechanger…”
“Anyone in business knows time is a precious commodity. What John Brandon has done in his new book is offer practical guidance on how to focus our attention and use time wisely. It’s a game changer for those seeking a competitive advantage.”
Jason Feifer
Entrepreneur Magazine Editor-in Chief
“He makes habits into superpowers…”
“John Brandon has pulled off a not-so-small miracle here: he’s written a book about daily routines that’s a page-turner. He makes the quotidian exotic and turns everyday habits into superpowers.
Mark Buchanan
Book Author
“How to stay focused and motivated…”
“Productivity is all about habits: forming and nurturing the beneficial ones, recognizing and ditching the harmful ones. Brandon’s book teaches you how to build (and stick to) a set of daily
routines for staying focused and motivated.”
Michael Calore
Wired Magazine Editor, Consumer Tech & Culture
“Transform how you live…”
“Good routines can propel us forward as a way to develop game-changing habits. John Brandon has made the case for using simple daily practices to transform how you live your life.”
Nir Eyal
Bestselling Author
Frequently Asked Questions
Have you really published 15,000 articles?
Yes! This seems almost impossible, but I am including 4,000 published columns at Inc.com plus in print articles over 10 years. I published hundreds and hundreds of game reviews early in my career. I’ve tested and reviewed over 10,000 gadgets.
How many magazines have published your articles?
A lot! Here’s a partial list that is still growing: Wired, Popular Mechanics, Entrepreneur, TechRadar, Popular Science, Computerworld, CIO.com, CIO Insights, The Ladders, Business News Daily, Business 2.0, CSO, FoxNews.com, Chicago Tribune, Outside, Men’s Journal, New Man, Christianity Today, Paste, Relevant Magazine, TechHive.com, PC Magazine, PC World, CIO Traction Watch, VentureBeat.com, Baseline, Breakaway, Campus Life, InSite Magazine, Alliance Life, Beacon, Coastal Living, Computer Shopper, Macworld, MacUser UK, PC Plus Magazine, Windows Magazine, Linux Format, Shutterbug, Digital Photo Pro Magazine, GamesRadar.com, GamesDomain.com, GameZone.com, Electronic Gaming Monthly, How It Works, Gizmodo, Laptop, PC Upgrade, Tech Edge and MIT Technology Review
Wait, you write for Forbes?
It only took 20 years, though. I started writing for Forbes after almost two decades of writing for many publications including Wired, Popular Mechanics, and Inc.
What is your all-time favorite article ever published?
That’s a hard one to answer but I must say, there’s one for VentureBeat about an AI god that made me a minor celebrity. First, it had millions of views. Then, Elon Musk tweeted about it. Other articles were written about my article. And, I just love the topic.
What is your most infamous article?
I am hesitant to even mention it, but I did predict that email would die by 2020. I was kind of wrong about that, but on the plus side — I was right about Slack and similar apps, and I was also correct that I never email with friends and family.
Who is the most famous person you’ve interviewed?
That would have to be 50 Cent, and the cool thing is I interviewed him twice! For a guy who has seen his fair share of hardship, he seemed warm and caring when I met him. He answered all of my questions, even the tough ones, both times!
What are you working on next?
That is a secret that I am not able to divulge at the moment.