Resilience, Risk & Reinvention – Lessons from Michael Johnson’s Startup Story

What if one phone call could completely change the trajectory of your life? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Johnson, a scientist turned entrepreneur, president of the New Jersey Innovation Institute, and now author of 1% Dad. 

His story is one of relentless work ethic, fearless curiosity, and the ability to seize opportunity when it knocks, even if you don’t recognize it at first. From a childhood shaped by devoted parents and early struggles in school and sports, Michael shares how discovering the power of hard work in high school football set him on a path of discipline that has driven every chapter of his journey.

We dive into the unlikely twists that brought him from building rockets in the driveway with his science-teacher dad to a NASA internship he almost ignored, to launching a biotech company out of a basement.

Michael takes us inside the grit behind building Visikol, from hustling for early funding to convincing pharma giants to trust two twenty-somethings with their most guarded research, and the gut-wrenching challenges of keeping a startup alive through crises, including COVID, when business evaporated overnight. His decision to sell the company at its peak was equal parts strategic foresight and personal necessity, a move that proved wise when the market collapsed shortly after.

Today, as President of the New Jersey Innovation Institute, he’s focused on helping founders get their ideas into the world and inspiring fathers to excel in both their personal and professional lives through his newly released book, 1% Dad. His book serves as a call to action for men to reconnect with their health, purpose, and presence at home, and Michael gets honest about the isolation, self-doubt, and quiet struggles many fathers face. 

He also opens up about the moments of vulnerability behind his successes, the mentors who shaped him, and the practical mindset shifts that have carried him forward.

This episode is packed with stories, lessons, and insights that hit well beyond business. If you’ve ever wondered how to navigate the unknown, protect your energy, and keep pushing forward when things get messy, this one is for you.


00:00 – Introduction & Early Life
02:36 – Discovering Discipline Through Sports
07:29 – Mentors & Lifelong Lessons
11:14 – From Science Enthusiast to NASA
17:46 – Early Entrepreneurial Spirit
20:25 – Founding Visikol
23:36 – Securing First Funding
26:54 – Surviving the Startup Struggle
29:09 – The COVID Crisis & Pivot
30:56 – Deciding to Sell
33:41 – Leading NJII
39:15 – Writing 1% Dad
42:09 – Vulnerability & Honesty in the Book 
45:19 – Silencing Self-Doubt
48:20 – Advice to His Younger Self
51:34 – Final Thoughts & Where to Find the Book



Michael on Socials: IG: mjohnson_phd
 X: @MichaelJoh82712
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-njii/
Youtube: @1percentdad 


Jon on Socials:
IG: @thejonschultzpodcast
X: @JonSchultzPod
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jon-schultz-podcast
www.jonschultz.com