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Michael Earls
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Michael Earls
  • Leadership
    • Start Here
    • All Leadership
  • Strategy
    • Enterprise Governance
    • Identity & Security
    • Platform Architecture
    • Multi-Cloud Strategy
    • Cloud Strategy Principles
    • AI & Agentic Systems
    • Cloud Cost Strategy
    • 7 Rs Modernization
    • Lift and Shift Isn’t Transformation
    • AI Agents + Cloud Spend
    • No One Owns – AI
    • Drinking the Future Water
  • Book
  • Change
    • Start Here
    • Gratitude
    • Growth
    • Reflection
  • Insights
  • About
  • Contact

Posts by mearls

The Hidden Cost of AI: Why Data Centers Are Drinking the Future

By mearls | April 15, 2026
hidden cost of ai – water

AI is accelerating demand for data centers—but behind the compute is a growing dependency on water. Here’s why water usage is becoming the next constraint in cloud and AI.

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Wired for Purpose — Week 1

By mearls | April 13, 2026
morning-routine-leaders-wired-for-purpose

A simple morning routine for leaders to reclaim focus, clarity, and direction before the day takes over. Part of the Wired for Purpose series.

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AI Has the Same Problem Cloud Did — No One Owns It

By mearls | April 9, 2026
ai has the ame problem cloud did no one owns it

AI isn’t failing because of technology—it’s failing because no one owns it. Learn how unclear ownership and operating models limit real transformation.

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AI Agents Are the New Cloud Spend Problem

By mearls | April 8, 2026
ai agents are the new cloud spend problem

AI agents aren’t just automating work—they’re introducing a new kind of cloud cost. Without guardrails, autonomy turns into unbounded spend.

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AI Is Changing Work. But Not How You Think.

By mearls | April 6, 2026
AI is changing your work

AI isn’t just changing the work—it’s changing how we show up. From trust to communication to authenticity, this is the real shift most leaders are missing.

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Lift and Shift Isn’t Transformation

By mearls | March 29, 2026
Lift and Shift Isn’t Transformation | Cloud Strategy & Modernization

Most cloud migrations don’t fail—they stall. Learn why lift and shift creates the illusion of progress and what real cloud transformation requires.

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Experience Is the Hidden Advantage in the Age of AI

By mearls | March 15, 2026
experience-ai-advantage-leadership

AI tools are accessible to everyone, but experience and judgment may be the real advantage in the age of AI. Why leaders over 40 and 50 may be best positioned for this shift.

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The Brain on All-Day Video: Zoom Fatigue and Staying Human in a World of Endless Meetings

By mearls | March 13, 2026
Person exhausted after all-day video meetings with brain graphic representing Zoom fatigue and mental overload.

Why video meetings exhaust our brains. The neuroscience behind Zoom fatigue and how all-day video calls affect focus, energy, and the rhythm of modern work.

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Week Nine — Protecting the Change You Built

By mearls | March 13, 2026
week-9-protecting-the-change-you-built-morning-routine-1920×1080

Long-term change isn’t just about building habits. It’s about protecting the routines and standards that keep your life aligned.

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The AI Workplace Divide: Experience Still Matters

By mearls | March 9, 2026
The AI Workplace Divide- Experience Still Matters

Artificial intelligence is creating a divide between managers and employees. As organizations adopt agentic AI, leadership and real experience will determine which initiatives succeed.

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