Posts by mearls
Leadership Isn’t About Being in Charge — It’s About What People Feel Around You
Most people think leadership is about being in charge. It’s not. It’s about being responsible for the energy in the room. I’ve seen incredibly talented teams struggle, not because they lacked skill, but because the environment felt heavy. Unclear expectations. No trust. No room to grow. I’ve also seen average teams do extraordinary things because…
Read MoreWhy Building Other People’s Legacies Is the Real Direction of Leadership
A personal reflection on why real leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about building others. A Story of Direction, Mentorship, and Legacy with Michael Earls
Read MoreSingle-Cloud First Was the Discipline — Now Let’s Talk About Movement
Cloud strategy is workload strategy. Learn how to decide what moves, what stays, and how to modernize without creating hybrid sprawl.
Read MoreWeek Three — When Change Gets Boring
Real change often becomes boring before it becomes permanent. A reflection on routine, identity, and why quiet progress is where habits truly stick.
Read MoreSingle-Cloud First: Discipline, Not Dogma
Cloud conversations often frame single-cloud and multi-cloud as opposing strategies. One sounds flexible.The other sounds limiting.But that framing misses the point. Single-cloud first isn’t about loyalty. It’s about discipline. And discipline is what makes control possible. Most environments don’t start as multi-cloud. They gradually become multi-cloud: a SaaS platform here, a new workload there, an…
Read MoreMy Cup, Your Cup, and the Tea Story That Hit Me Different
A reflection on the Zen story of the overflowing teacup, leadership, gratitude, and learning how to pour into others while still staying open to growth.
Read MoreAgentic AI Isn’t Breaking Systems — It’s Exposing What We’ve Been Ignoring
Agentic AI isn’t breaking systems — it’s revealing identity and platform weaknesses we’ve tolerated. Architecture becomes operational safety at machine speed.
Read MoreA Bottle, A Moment, A Reminder — Rombauer Pinot Noir
A reflective wine moment with Rombauer Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands — balanced, elegant, and a reminder to slow down and savor the evening.
Read MoreWeek Two — When Change Gets Quiet
Last week was about recognizing that change is already happening, often before we label it, track it, or feel ready. This week is about what happens next. I remember realizing a habit was forming while traveling. Not in ideal conditions — but in motion. Finding one or two workouts wherever I landed. Running outside in…
Read MoreImproving Memory Starts With Better Notes
Struggling to remember meetings, ideas, or what you read? Science shows handwritten notes improve memory, focus, and recall. Here’s why slowing down works.
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