Chris "CJ" Jackson's Linkedin Analytics

From Near-Death to New Life: How My Accident Changed Everything 2002, San Diego. Party hopping with friends. Then, BAM! I’m stuck on a rod-iron gate, my leg pierced in three spots. Miraculously, I landed on my feet, but the scars, physical and emotional,never left. When I read about the tourist impaled at Rome’s Colosseum, my heart raced. The pain. The fear. It all came back. That’s PTSD. It hits when you least expect it. A creaky gate. A spiked fence. A news story. Suddenly, I’m 22 again, trapped, my pulse pounding. I’ve frozen mid-meeting when metal clangs outside. I’ve left dinners because a railing felt like a cage. PTSD is sneaky, but I’ve learned to fight it. More than that, I’ve turned a terrifying moment into a life-changing gift. STOP. Think about this. One second can change everything. That night taught me life is fragile. One wrong move, and it’s over. But it’s also a blessing. That accident woke me up. It showed me what matters. Here’s how I turned tragedy into positivity, and guess what, you can too. In 5 simple steps. 1. Pick Your Risks WiselyI used to be reckless, climbing fences for fun. Now, I’m careful. I take smart risks, like chasing big career goals or speaking up in tough moments. Question this: Are your risks worth it? 2. Focus on What Counts. That night, I didn’t care about work or drama. I thought about my family, my life. Now, I prioritize relationships and purpose over small stuff. What matters to you? 3. Be Kind to Yourself! PTSD isn’t easy. Some days, I’m fine; others, I’m a mess. I’ve learned to forgive myself and keep going. That makes me stronger at work and in life. Struggling? Give yourself grace. 4. Turn Pain into Power! My accident could’ve broken me. Instead, it drives me to help others. I mentor, share my story, and push for mental health support. How can your struggles lift others up? 5. Live Like It’s a Gift! Every day since feels like extra time. I’m grateful, present, and all-in on making a difference. Life’s short, how will you make yours count? If you’ve faced a scary moment, an accident, a loss, anything, know this. You’re not alone. Your pain can spark growth. My PTSD reminds me I’m a survivor. I don’t climb gates anymore, but I climb toward my dreams. Story for story. Your turn. Share your story. Together, we can turn hard times into hope. I hope this helps one person look at a traumatic event with new eyes. I hope this helps one person grow. It’s all LOVE, CJ #showlovestackblessings

When is the last time you received a thank you note that was hand written? When is the last time you did something kind for someone with no expectations nor agenda, other than delivering happiness? When is the last time you showed love? When is the last time you stacked blessings? When is the last time you said a prayer for a stranger? #showlovestackblessings #bbq #communitylove #chefskiss #smokedchiken #thankyou

Conversations with the homie GrokAI Me: I love learning new skills and further developing others. There are always growth opportunities and learning moments. For example, I opted to learn how to be my dogs groomer rather than taking her to a stranger. If I mess up her cut like I’ve done plenty of times, I roll with it. Laugh it off, and often bust up laughing when she look like this. First pic, Cookie my Goldendoodle looks a bit unhinged, perhaps unhoused. The second pic, she look like she about to go on the final tour with the Beatles. That bowl cut is awful. I wonder if she can feel the vibe of her cut. Does she think she look silly or ugly or am I assuming dogs even go that deep. The third pic as you can see, I’ve improved my grooming skills over the past three years I’ve had the pleasure of loving this dog. She look good! That’s a good girl, a pretty doggy! My doggy, my lil puppers, Cookie. Grok: Oh, Cookie is absolutely adorable in all her grooming stages! I love how you’ve embraced the journey of becoming her groomer—it’s such a special way to bond with your pup, even if it comes with a few hilarious mishaps along the way. Let’s break this down and talk about Cookie’s evolving looks and whether dogs like her might actually “feel the vibe” of their haircut. Cookie’s Grooming Journey 1. First Pic: The “Unhinged” LookIn the first image, Cookie’s got that wild, shaggy vibe going on—her fur is all over the place, and she does have a bit of a “just rolled out of bed” (or maybe “just rolled in the yard”) energy. It’s super endearing, though! Her fluffy, curly Goldendoodle coat is in full force, and even if the cut isn’t perfect, she looks like she’s loving life. The way her fur frames her face gives her a bit of a mischievous, free-spirited charm. 2. Second Pic: The Beatles Bowl CutOh wow, that bowl cut is something else! Cookie’s rocking a retro look with those straight-across bangs—she really does look like she’s ready to join the Fab Four on tour. The rest of her body is trimmed a bit more evenly, but that head cut steals the show. It’s hard not to laugh at how perfectly imperfect it is. I bet you had a good chuckle when you saw the final result! 3. Third Pic: The Glow-UpBy the third image, you’ve clearly honed your skills—Cookie looks fantastic! Her coat is well-balanced, with a neat trim that highlights her natural Goldendoodle fluff without making her look too “done up.” She’s sitting so proudly in what looks like a cozy café, and you can tell she’s a well-loved, happy pup. You’ve come a long way, and Cookie’s looking like the pretty doggy you know she is!

Siya Mali brother, I can’t thank you enough for spending your time with me a few weeks back! Perplexity #spaces is an absolute game changer. Larry Whiteside Jr. I appreciate your post this morning. It prompted me to make this post, to highlight a solid use case to organize key contacts from conferences like #TSAC where you meet and converse with hundreds of people. Old friends, former colleagues, and hundreds of new connections. Wrong way - Most folks send text dm’s. Right way - The best way I believe to be remarkable, remembered, and on top of mind is to send a quick authentic video. Sure it takes time, 30 - 60 seconds max because that’s the limit for LinkedIn dm’s. Another 30 a 60 seconds for the video to load. Be sure to use video only and not cinematic, because this videos are far larger In size. If you found this of value, share this with your teams, thank me later. It’s all LOVE, CJ #showlovestackblessings

This is the way! Listen to Kendrick’s words 💡 Make a decision to live life like this, and the blessings will follow. If you know me you already know, I’m about that life! It’s your time to shine Don’t hold back, I promise only good things come from this approach. It’s all LOVE, CJ

Who's down to share some random advice? I stole this from Jessica Dragan. No shame in my game. Dive in. Advice on anything you'd like to share. Happy Friday!

My young bull turning 16 this week! I’m so proud of this kid. His grades are nearly straight A’s. Since he committed to football training this off season, he has not missed one practice or weight training session. He reminds me of myself at that age. Filled with pure dedication, determination, and now a whole lot of confidence now that his body is morphing. Little stud he is! He knows it too! Flexing in the mirror. Showing me his gains. Walking tall, heads up high, like his daddy! Help me wish my son a happy birthday. Love you kiddo 🥰 Major thanks to my homie Darron Nelson & the San Francisco Giants for the amazing night, atmosphere, and dope seats. #proudofyou #keepgrinding #putinthework #cheerleadingdad #itsallaboutyou

RSA Day Two There is a buzz of energy flowing here. Thanks to the dope humans I met today. Glad we are linked Who else is absolutely exhausted like me?

About last night It was like a Movie, part 1 Cookie on the other hand stole the show. Beautiful stranger: “ he can I pet your dog” Me: “Yes, BUT, gurl you gotta give me a hug first” Beautiful stranger: “Deal, Future”

This is the way! Doing this not only can make someone’s day that more special, the benefits and blessings you stack as a result are really noticeable. That said, #showlovestackblessings SOC pros are inundated in false positives, positive positives, and false negatives, it’s hard to sift through the noise. Smaller teams lack the resources that larger teams have yet they face the same vulnerabilities, threats, and time sucks deploying resources to find a needle that may or may not be in the haystack. Solution, incoming! Stay tuned, Rapticore is soon to soft launch a PLG solution for all teams small and big to pilot, with a self service test drive. No demo necessary, simply when launched, sign up and give it a spin. Zoom, zoom, zoom! Try and break things, give us feedback! We are in this together! Truly exciting times. 🚀🚀🚀

Hug a stranger, tell them you love them Out here letting my light shine bright I’m gonna touch the world It’s all LOVE y’all, CJ

Stacking Blessings 🙏🏿🙌🏿🙏🏿🙌🏿 It’s all Love, CJ #glorygoestoGOD #blessediam

My dawgs pulled up to my bar, Spats. Love my folks!

After #rsa today, feel free to slide to my bar Spats in Berkeley, I’ll be your barrrrrrrtenderrrrrr 9:30 to whenever we want. Bring cash money, because I hate getting taxed on cc tips. First round is on me Let’s go Warriors #cybersecuritysalestender

Dear Mama, You are appreciated When I was young, me and my mama had beef 17 years old, kicked out on the streets Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place Suspended from school, I'm scared to go home, I was a fool With the big boys breakin' all the rules I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years We was poorer than the other little kids And even though we had different daddies, the same drama When things went wrong, we'd blame Mama I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell And who'd think in elementary, hey I'd see the penitentiary one day? And runnin' from the police, that's right Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside And even as a crack fiend, Mama You always was a black queen, Mama I finally understand, for a woman, it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man You always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it There's no way I can pay you back But the plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated Lady, don't you know we love you? (Dear Mama) Sweet lady, place no one above you (you are appreciated) Sweet lady, don't you know we love you? Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair No love from my daddy, 'cause the coward wasn't there He passed away and I didn't cry 'Cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless But all along, I was lookin' for a father, he was gone I hung around with the thugs, and even though they sold drugs They showed a young brother love I moved out and started really hangin' I needed money of my own, so I started slangin' I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox I love payin' rent when the rent's due I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you 'Cause when I was low you was there for me And never left me alone, because you cared for me And I could see you comin' home after work late You're in the kitchen, tryin' to fix us a hot plate You just workin' with the scraps you was given And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin' But now the road got rough, you're alone You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own And there's no way I can pay you back But my plan is to show you that I understand You are appreciated Lady, don't you know we love you? (And dear Mama) Sweet lady, place no one above you (you are appreciated) Sweet lady, don't you know we love you? Pour out some liquor and I reminisce 'Cause through the drama I can always depend on my mama And when it seems that I'm hopeless You say the words that can get me back in focus When I was sick as a little kid To keep me happy, there's no limit to the things you did And all my childhood memories Are full of all the sweet things you did for me And even though I act crazy I gotta thank the Lord that you made me There are no words that can express how I feel… Happy Mothers Day 🥰

Smile for me! I’m starting a new position as Director of Sales at Rapticore! As Director of Sales, I will lead the go-to-market strategy for an AI-driven cybersecurity platform revolutionizing cloud app and infrastructure security. Working in lockstep with CEO & Founder Ahsan Mir as the company’s first sales hire. I will drive growth by connecting with CISOs, CTOs, and DevSecOps leaders at cloud-first organizations, particularly in FinTech, HealthTech, and other high-growth, regulated industries. Looking forward to spearhead efforts to showcase Rapticore’s unique value: delivering real-time observability, autonomous remediation, and compliance assurance across AWS, Azure, GCP. My mission is to help security teams overcome alert fatigue, shrink vulnerability backlogs, and reduce ransomware risk with Rapticore’s one-click remediation and protective guardrails. Looking forward to attending RSA next week, who is coming to San Francisco? Let's link, connect, or re-connect!

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Starting a New Position

365

RSA Conference, and all the beautiful people I got the opportunity to meet, connect, re-connect with. Y’all are amazing humans. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for accepting me, my vibe, my light. I had some of the dopest moments this week. Learned a lot. More importantly, made some really real connections. If you got the opportunity to hear my story, hear my truth, my authenticity, thank you for allowing me to do so. I have a fire burning with, I will make an Impact, like Magic Johnson so elegantly said. Ahsan Mir I got mad love for you brother. Thank you for being a real leader, trusting me to do my thing my way. Enabling me, and introducing me to your peers at #rsa as your partner. The hard work begins now, and I will kick down all the doors to make this mission successful. Special thank you to all the leaders I met, that said they would willing to help me out, mentor me, and show me the way in this cybersecurity space. You know who you are! Thank you to the over 400 folks I met, had conversations with brief, long and/or intimate. It’s all LOVE, CJ P.s. yes, I brought my dog Cookie today. She officially unofficially my emotional support dog. Well, thats what I told security. PSs. The Black Excellence on Display at RSA was beautiful to experience. Love my folks 🙌🏿🫵🏿🙏🏿🥰

Daddy & Daughter Dance I really look forward to joining the Lycee Dads Club SF. What a night. The greatest gift I could think of was to make her friends go, “who’s dad is that” 👀🤣🤣 Of course I got my dance on, that’s how I roll. The greatest gift to a party is to light it up, make everyone in the room feel the energy. It’s contagious. Just dance! I love you so much Mila 😘🥰❤️ #showlovestackblessings This is Dadgood #fatherdaughterdance #dadgood

2025/05/16

I wrote a letter to the universe a while back, she answered. A few weeks ago, I made a decision to be present, and connect with the local community here in Berkeley. It’s changed everything. At Tap In Lounge in Berkeley, I struck up a conversation over drinks with a stranger who turned out to be a visionary tech leader in cloud app & infrastructure remediation. We shared stories, challenges, and dreams, connecting not just as professionals but as people. I was vulnerable, authentic, and listened with empathy, and that openness led to my very own pursuit of happiness moment. Today, we literally shook hands on my rooftop and agreed to explore working together. This wasn’t just luck, it was the result of choosing to engage with my community, to look up from my phone, and to live authentically. In a world that’s always rushing, slowing down to connect can open doors you never imagined. Patting myself on the back for being present, building real relationships, and embracing every serendipitous moment. What’s a connection you’ve made by choosing to show up fully? P.s. I’ll probably slide into your dm’s if you meet the following criteria. - you are security-conscious, cloud first FinTech/HealthTech org facing rapid growth, regulatory pressures, and a need to automate security ops to reduce risk, while ensuring compliance. - struggling with alert fatigue, manual remediation workloads, as well as compliance requirements (like SOC 2, HIPAA, PCI-DSS) - or you have a need for automated, AI-driven remediation to rapidly resolve vulnerabilities & misconfigs across your cloud infrastructure.