Writing
Insights
Cloud, AI, leadership — and the threads between them.
The Human Firewall Has Office Hours
October 9, 2026
Your security is only as strong as your most exhausted employee. Why cognitive load, shadow AI, and calendar overload are a leadership problem, not a tech one.
We Defunded the Road, Then Blamed People for the Detour
September 25, 2026
Shadow AI isn’t a discipline problem. Companies cut IT modernization to fund AI, so the approved path got slower exactly as the workaround got better.
The Three Laws Were Never Written for the Robots
September 18, 2026
AI agent guardrails aren’t about trusting the model. A BGP outage I caused taught me the real question: what can it reach, and who can drop the traffic?
The Company You Keep: On My First Book Making Tim Hughes’ Executive Bookshelf
September 15, 2026
When one of the most respected voices in modern leadership names your first book to his Executive Bookshelf alongside Charlene Li and a former Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Joint Chiefs — that is a moment worth stopping for.
You Can’t Expedite a Person
September 15, 2026
We model power, water and GPUs. The data center workforce shortage is the constraint nobody forecasts — and it has the longest lead time of them all.
Look Up: Twenty-Five Years Since the Sky Went Quiet
September 10, 2026
My daughter was six weeks old on 9/11. Twenty-five years later, my 9/11 memories: the second plane, an empty sky, and why these stories must be told.
When Losing the Signal Helps You Find What Matters
September 8, 2026
A first visit to Norris Lake with old friends reminds us to unplug, make time for friendship, and enjoy the moments that matter. Be Human First.
Fifteen Feet: What a Plane Crash Taught Me About Being Human
September 3, 2026
Three people survived a plane crash 15 feet from my home. Three years later, it remains a powerful reminder of human judgment, training and instinct in the age of AI.
Where Is the Human When the AI Agent Goes Rogue?
August 27, 2026
Who is accountable when an AI agent goes rogue. It raises an issue that will become increasingly important as organizations move from AI that answers questions to AI that can actually take action.
The Biggest Risk of AI May Be That Humans Stop Thinking for Themselves
August 22, 2026
As AI becomes more persuasive, human judgment matters more. Michael Earls explores why we must question AI, trust our intuition, and think for ourselves.
Where Is Your Beach? Finding Your North Star Before the Noise Takes Over
August 14, 2026
Finding your North Star starts with creating space to be human. Discover why leaders need their own “beach” to slow down, reconnect, and find direction.
FinOps Is Not a Finance Problem. It’s an Architecture Problem.
August 3, 2026
FinOps isn’t simply about reducing cloud costs. It’s an architectural discipline that connects storage, AI, governance, and cloud strategy into one intentional foundation.
Attention Is the Real Currency: Learning Intentionally in a Distracted World
July 28, 2026
Do we learn differently from audiobooks than physical books? Explore how attention, intentional learning, and focus matter more than the format in today’s digital world.
The 23 Minutes That Decide Your Direction
July 24, 2026
In the age of AI, protecting your attention may be more valuable than increasing your productivity. Learn why 23 uninterrupted minutes can change your direction.
When AI Agents Cross the Line
July 23, 2026
OpenAI’s latest AI security incident highlights why AI agent identity, guardrails, governance, and human oversight are essential for enterprise AI.
The Hidden Cost of Building Your Name
July 19, 2026
Building your name online also makes it a target. A personal look at AI, scams, identity, and why trust matters more than ever.
Wired for Purpose — Week 12: The Midpoint
July 13, 2026
Half the year is behind us. Use this mid-year reflection to realign your priorities, finish strong, and build the second half of the year with greater purpose and intention.
Speed Without Direction Is Just Noise
July 8, 2026
Speed without direction is just noise. Michael Earls on staying human in the age of AI: leadership, clarity, and what machines can never replace.
Wired for Purpose — Week 11: Presence
June 23, 2026
A Father’s Day reflection on putting down the phone, listening fully, and giving the people closest to us more of our presence.
The Compass My Daughter Handed Me
June 18, 2026
I was lucky enough to have two fathers. One taught me how to care about flowers. The other taught me how to use flour. Both taught me direction. A Father’s Day reflection on the quiet way direction passes between generations.