Posts by Michael Earls
Surprise Find: Montes Cabernet in Aruba
There’s something magical about stumbling onto a familiar taste in an unexpected place. On a recent evening in Aruba, I found myself sitting on a balcony overlooking the Caribbean sunset, a glass of Montes Cabernet Sauvignon in hand. The best part? I didn’t discover it in some tucked-away wine bar or resort list. I found…
Read MoreFinding Forward Motion
Explore the journey of Finding Forward Motion through personal scars and the challenges of leadership and team dynamics.
Read MoreManfredi Barolo 2020: A Taste of Piedmont in Paradise
When you think of Aruba, you picture white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and sunsets that paint the horizon gold. You don’t necessarily think of Barolo—the “King of Wines” from Piedmont, Italy. But sometimes travel surprises you, and in Aruba, I found myself with a glass of Manfredi Barolo 2020, bringing Old World elegance to the…
Read MoreVacation, Time Management, and Life
There’s something about standing on a quiet beach, looking out at the ocean, that makes you think differently about time. In our day-to-day lives, we’re surrounded by pings, meetings, inboxes, and endless to-do lists. We measure time in 30-minute calendar blocks or in how quickly we can clear out our notifications. But when you step…
Read MoreParini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo: Rustic Italian Charm in the Glass
Sometimes the best wines are not the most expensive or the most complex, but the ones that feel effortless—wines that invite conversation, complement a meal, and capture the heart of their homeland. That’s exactly what I found with Parini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, an Italian red that carries the warmth of Abruzzo straight to the table. The…
Read MoreThe Mystery Key We All Carry
I was staring at my keychain the other day and noticed a key I’ve been carrying around for years. No clue what it opens. At some point, it was important enough to add, but is it still relevant now? It’s just a weight in my pocket. It hit me: this is how routine creeps in.…
Read MoreFinding Forward Motion… and Why My Walk-Out Deck Matters
Not all scars are visible, but every one of them tells a story. Some are easy to see, like a skinned knee after pushing all-out on a treadmill. Others are hidden, shaped by giving 150% and still wondering if it’s enough. Both kinds matter. They remind us we’ve been tested, and that we’re still moving…
Read MoreAzure AI Foundry: The Everyday Router for Your AI Life
In my role today, I support AI workloads for customers across industries. That means I spend a lot of time looking at toolsets—what’s hype, what’s real, and what will make life easier for the people building with AI. Here’s what I keep seeing: A customer falls in love with a new LLM—let’s say OpenAI’s latest.…
Read MoreGoodbye, Dial-Up: From AOL Beeps to Gigabit Dreams
News alert: On September 30, AOL will officially shut down its dial-up internet service. Yes, it still existed. And yes, I’m just as surprised as you are. For some of us, this is more than a footnote in tech history—it’s the end of an era. The Song of My Youth I can still hear it now:…
Read MoreFrom Coffee to Deep Talks: How a Startup Teammate Changed My View on Life
Yogesh Patel and I met years ago working at a Bay Area startup—bonding over miles of work travel, long days at conference booths talking about why our product mattered, me drinking coffee… and Yogi drinking hot water (still not sure about that choice). We became friends the way good friendships happen, through shared stories, late-night…
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