It is finally time to come clean to my Microsoft family. For the last five years, I have been living in two very different worlds. By day, I was a Senior Escalation Engineer at Microsoft, working in the support world, helping solve complex problems, jumping into the hard cases, and…
Category: General
Reading the Writing on the Wall, Then Choosing the Exit
In May of 2025, Brandi and I were in Fiji celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty five years will make you think differently. It has a way of turning down the noise and turning up the truth. You start thinking less about titles and more about peace. Less about what…
Being Good at Everything (and Great at Nothing)
There’s a certain kind of professional who doesn’t fit cleanly into a job title or headline. These are the people whose specialists expertise makes them broadly skilled, and who truly embody the concept of specialists expertise broadly skilled individuals in the workplace. They can step into almost any situation, understand…
The Quiet Reset
Delete. Accept. Forget. Restart. There comes a moment when survival quietly shifts into something else. Not relief, not celebration—just a subtle realization that continuing the same way is no longer sustainable. You begin to understand that carrying everything, everyone, and every version of yourself forward isn’t strength. It’s weight. And…
Riding Into 50: The Year of the Motorcycle Journey
Turning 50 isn’t something I want to mark with a single party or a single moment. Half a century deserves more than cake and candles — it deserves a journey. That’s why I’ve decided to embark on a 50 year adventure.The real question is: Is 50 a one-day event… or…
Breaking Others Down Doesn’t Build You Up
In any community-driven organization, mental health plays a crucial role as people come together to share their time, talents, and lived experiences. That is a gift. Whether someone gives an hour, a skill, or a perspective shaped by their personal journey, it deserves to be received with gratitude. Yet too…
When Leadership Blocks the Conversation
Leadership isn’t about titles. It isn’t about seniority. And it certainly isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. Leadership is about listening—seeking out perspectives from all levels, weighing them with humility, and using that knowledge to guide decisions. But too often, organizations face a frustrating reality: the higher…
The Mechanic’s Car Is Always Broken
I was sitting with a good friend the other day, having one of those conversations that meanders through life, work, and all the messy pieces in between. At some point, he asked about the latest crypto theft—if I’d heard anything new from the forensics team. I sighed. “No. And honestly,…
People. Process. Product. And… Getting Blocked
Over a few months, I had been reaching out to someone I already knew—someone I genuinely respected and thought could be an amazing addition to something I was working on. This wasn’t some random cold outreach. We had a small relationship. We’d crossed paths before. My plan?✅ Grab some lunch…
Two Writers, One Story: Dinner with Carrie Nyman
Last night was one of those rare and unforgettable evenings that reminds you just how powerful human connection can be. After months of working together to bring Undermined into the world, I finally had the opportunity to meet Carrie Nyman—my ghostwriter, editor, and the emotional compass who helped shape my…