James A. Shields.

Writing

Essays & notes

On entrepreneurship, local commerce, and what it takes to build trust in markets where one side always knows more than the other. Subscribe below to get new pieces by email, or follow via RSS.

Recent writing

  • Why I'm Betting on Main Street

    The most durable opportunities aren't in the feeds — they're in the businesses you drive past every day.

  • What Auto Shops Taught Me About Trust

    Every transaction where one side knows more than the other is a trust problem. Auto repair is the purest case I've found.

  • Notes on Starting Small

    Small isn't a compromise. It's a strategy — and usually the only honest place to start.