JESS3’s Leslie Bradshaw and Jesse Thomas just stepped off of a big, pretty boat, where they enjoyed the Summit at Sea — a group of young entrepreneurs meeting each other on a Caribbean-bound cruise ship and talking about how to change the world.

Photo Credit: Eclectic Method

When the news report of an event comes from “BERMUDA TRIANGLE,” you know some mysteries are being unveiled there. Here are some of the lessons Leslie and Jesse took from their trip.

When asked how he was able to build and scale over 350 companies, Richard Branson attributed it to “the art of delegation,” which Leslie and Jesse are always trying to master as JESS3 continues growing at breakneck speed.

Poster Credit: Pat Perry

Giving back is paramount. Every single speaker and attendee had some sort of meaning they were creating in the world beyond their own needs. Whether it was an eye towards the environment, or providing amazing opportunities for those less fortunate, the spirit of humanity was awe-inspiring. “It was something I was not only glad to see from so many entrepreneurs, but also something I am excited to cultivate even further in my life an our company,” said Jesse. “As a direct result of the Summit at Sea, I am formalizing our pro bono efforts into a foundation.” Stay tuned for further details on that exciting development.

Photo Credit: Jesse Thomas

When asked about the so-called “PayPal Mafia” phenomenon, venture capitalist Peter Thiel remarked, “Working with your friends is the equation to build something long term.” This really struck a cord with Leslie, who told me, “Working with my partner in all things, Jesse, alongside a number of long-time friends and former co-workers has been an incredibly satisfying, efficient and meaningful way to build our team.”

Photo Credit: Eclectic Method

With JESS3’s work on the O Music Awards for MTV, Leslie and Jesse were excited to attend the “360 Music” panel, where the topic was the state and future of the music industry. Capturing the zeitgeist of the music industry in a way that was beautiful and optimistic, Alexander Ljun, CEO and Founder of SoundCloud, said that there is a fundamental misunderstanding about what the music industry is. When people talk about its gloom and doom, they are actually talking about recorded music, Ljun said. When you widen the lens of what the industry is — encompassing instruments, apps, interest and games, you find a much different tale. Ljun observed that, in those terms, the music industry is thriving.

Speaking of the music industry, here’s a little taste of The Roots’ live Summit at Sea performance.

The Roots @ Summit at Sea from Alexis Levine on Vimeo.

T-Pain was also there. In spirit, that is. (Sorry. Jesse made me do it. :))

Tags: JESS3, On a Boat, Summit at Sea, The Roots