Mr. James H. Blackburn

A common thread throughout Jim’s life is his evolution as a teacher and learning facilitator as well as in his ability to promote the value and potential of the many people who have sought out and benefited from his insightful and thought-provoking counsel.

He began his professional life as a school teacher/athletic coach, then transitioned into the financial services business for a 25-year career as a sales-person, sales-manager, and general manager.

In 1995, at age 52, Jim turned the page on his professional life as he left the financial services industry and founded what ultimately has become SURVE Partners, a unique and innovative consultancy focusing primarily on the art and science of personal and professional development. His motive for this dramatic professional transition was based on his increasing awareness of his own personal struggles with finding meaning, fulfillment and happiness as a highly paid professional with an international insurance company. As a result, he has created and pioneered unique learning processes that contribute directly to the significant increase of a person’s ability to work more productively with and through others while at the same time feeling

more fulfillment and meaning in his or her work.

In 2011, Jim wrote and published his first book, “seeds of Intent”, which became an Amazon “ Best Seller” in November of that year. He wrote this book for the person who has a desire to live life more fully while experiencing less worry, fear and/or struggle. Throughout the book, he shares examples of his own struggles and learnings from those struggles to help the readers better understand their lives are in essence their instruments of learning, and that they are not their past. The book has had many powerful reviews, including one from Kirkus Review, known as the world’s toughest book critic. While this book has been impacting 100’s of lives, Jim’s personal drive for continuous growth has resulted in the publishing of the 4th edition of “seeds of Intent” in 2015 which is more reader friendly as it serves as a unique tool contributing to a person’s transition into the life he or she is meant to live.

Jim lives in Avon Lake, Ohio with his dog Aj, a rescue German Short Hair/Labrador Retriever, and within minutes of his 5 grandchildren.