Writing
Insights
Cloud, AI, leadership — and the threads between them.
Leadership Isn’t About Being in Charge — It’s About What People Feel Around You
February 8, 2026
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…
Why Building Other People’s Legacies Is the Real Direction of Leadership
February 6, 2026
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
Single-Cloud First Was the Discipline — Now Let’s Talk About Movement
February 5, 2026
Cloud strategy is workload strategy. Learn how to decide what moves, what stays, and how to modernize without creating hybrid sprawl.
Week Three — When Change Gets Boring
February 3, 2026
Real change often becomes boring before it becomes permanent. A reflection on routine, identity, and why quiet progress is where habits truly stick.
Single-Cloud First: Discipline, Not Dogma
February 1, 2026
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…
My Cup, Your Cup, and the Tea Story That Hit Me Different
January 30, 2026
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.
Agentic AI Isn’t Breaking Systems — It’s Exposing What We’ve Been Ignoring
January 27, 2026
Agentic AI isn’t breaking systems — it’s revealing identity and platform weaknesses we’ve tolerated. Architecture becomes operational safety at machine speed.
A Bottle, A Moment, A Reminder — Rombauer Pinot Noir
January 26, 2026
A reflective wine moment with Rombauer Pinot Noir from Santa Lucia Highlands — balanced, elegant, and a reminder to slow down and savor the evening.
Week Two — When Change Gets Quiet
January 26, 2026
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…
Improving Memory Starts With Better Notes
January 25, 2026
Struggling to remember meetings, ideas, or what you read? Science shows handwritten notes improve memory, focus, and recall. Here’s why slowing down works.
From French Bread to Garlic Focaccia — What Bread Taught Me About Change (Again)
January 23, 2026
I moved from French bread to garlic focaccia and learned (again) how real change happens — through patience, process, and letting the same foundation evolve.
Platform First: Paved Roads, Freedom, and the Cost of Both
January 20, 2026
Platforms don’t fail when teams go around them. They fail when the road no longer leads where work needs to go.
Week One — Change Is Already Happening
January 18, 2026
Change doesn’t happen overnight — it happens quietly. A personal reflection on routines, consistency, and the moments that make change finally stick.
From Dutch Oven to Focaccia: What Bread Taught Me About Change
January 17, 2026
What started as a simple French bread turned into a focaccia lesson on change, patience, and adapting when the process doesn’t go as planned.
What Are You Leaving Here So Next Week Starts Lighter?
January 16, 2026
A Friday reflection on release, integration, and creating space before the next week begins. No fixing, no forcing—just room to breathe.
Kung Food AmerAsia: A Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives Find… Right Here in Cincinnati
January 16, 2026
I watched Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives and assumed Kung Food AmerAsia was in NYC or California—turns out it’s been in the Cincinnati area for 16+ years. I finally went, and it brought back that off-the-radar, eclectic “dive find” feeling I’ve missed.
Identity First: The Only Control Plane That Survives Every Cloud Decision
January 13, 2026
Identity isn’t plumbing — it’s architecture. User, device, and code identity form the only control plane that survives every cloud decision.
Awareness Before Acceleration
January 12, 2026
The second week of January is when things start to get honest. The energy of the new year hasn’t disappeared, but it has changed. The…
From Aruba to My Kitchen: Homemade Stroopwafels, Gratitude, and Slowing Down
January 10, 2026
A first-time attempt at homemade stroopwafels inspired by Aruba, with reflections on gratitude, coffee, process, and slowing down into 2026.
Refining the Base
January 8, 2026
Different city. Same Orangetheory workout. That alone was the reminder. No matter where you go, the work shows up the same. Today’s focus was simple: your…