AILKEMY

"Think Further. Build Smarter. Lead Human."

After an intensive skunkworks and R&D phase, we launched AILKEMY for select client engagements. AILKEMY is a strategic intelligence consultancy that transforms information chaos into measurable alpha generation for investment professionals and leaders navigating AI transformation.

We help fund managers and executives generate measurable alpha by turning information chaos into decision-ready insights. We deliver private, board-ready intelligence that turns noise into decisive action. Confidential by default. It is either useful or it's not. We guarantee.

My Role as Co-Founder:
Product Management: Collaborated on the "Insight Engine", synthesis features, and verification methods across end-user needs.

Client Delivery: Lead MVP Insight Report pilots and the activation session that turns findings into actionable intelligence for our clients.

Go-to-Market: Built branding, sales, messaging, and narrative for executives, hedge funds, PE, VC, and large private investors.

Growth: Structured performance-aligned economics with zero long-term lock-in. Planned and launched campaigns to scale AILKEMY.

Why Clients Choose AILKEMY:
Hedge funds and multi-strategy platforms. Private equity and venture firms. Corporate strategy leaders and product teams. Large private investors and family offices.

✔️ Synthesis over summary: We reveal connections that change the decision.
✔️ Speed to signal: Time kills good ideas. We deliver while timing still pays.
✔️ Tailored intelligence: Built from first principles for your exact context.
✔️ Trusted foresight: Evidence-based and scenario-aware.
✔️ Founder accountability: You work directly with the founding team.

Signal mapping. Competitive and narrative intelligence. Scenario planning. Orthogonal validation. Regime awareness. Decision framing. Board-ready storytelling. Founder-led discovery and activation. The goal is simple: reduce decision latency and increase the quality of action.

Co-Founder, AILKEMY

Kaperider.com

About Kaperider Publishing, LLC

At Kaperider Publishing, we specialize in creating impactful books that inspire, educate, and empower readers across diverse topics, including technology, artificial intelligence, marketing, mental health, fitness, and more. Our mission is to bridge the gap between ambitious ideas and actionable outcomes, helping authors craft content that resonates with audiences and drives meaningful change.

Founded by Daniel Stouffer, a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in strategy, innovation, and digital transformation, Kaperider Publishing offers a unique blend of expertise, creativity, and results-oriented execution. From initial research and topic development to book outlining, authoring, and strategic marketing campaigns, we guide authors through every step of the publishing process to ensure their ideas reach the right audience.

At Kaperider, we believe that great books start with great strategies. That’s why we focus on:

🌟 Comprehensive Support: From concept to launch, we provide the tools, resources, and expertise to help authors succeed.

🌟 Actionable Insights: We simplify complex topics, transforming them into accessible, engaging content for real-world impact.

🌟 Strategic Marketing: Our tailored campaigns connect authors with readers, ensuring their work makes an impact in a competitive market.

What sets us apart is our commitment to excellence and community. Inspired by his role as a professional firefighter in Minneapolis, MN, Daniel Stouffer brings a team-first, mission-driven ethos to Kaperider Publishing. This unique perspective informs our collaborative approach, emphasizing trust, resilience, and the power of clear communication.

Whether you’re an experienced thought leader or a first-time author, Kaperider Publishing is here to help you bring your vision to life. Together, we’ll create books that inform, inspire, and leave a lasting legacy.

Author w/ Book & Newsletter Publishing

Winnebago

I'm in the middle of helping to steer a significant digital transformation initiative at Winnebago Outdoors. We're upgrading the ERP system to a new platform consisting of Microsoft D365, Salesforce, and the Teamcenter systems.

The Release Train Engineer (RTE) role is collaborative, involving deep engagement with the Agile Release Train (ART), a composite of agile teams working in concert to achieve a shared objective. Here's a closer look at what an RTE does day to day:

✔️ Navigating Complexity: An RTE acts as the captain of the ship in turbulent digital waters, guiding the ART through planning, execution, and delivery. This involves facilitating Program Increment (PI) planning sessions, a critical event where the roadmap for the next phase is charted, risks are assessed, and strategies are devised.

✔️ Fostering Synergy: One of the greatest strengths of an RTE lies in its ability to foster collaboration among diverse teams and stakeholders. This role ensures alignment across various functions, encouraging transparency and communication. The RTE serves as a bridge between strategic goals and tactical execution, ensuring everyone moves in unison towards common objectives.

✔️ Driving Value Delivery: At the heart of SAFe is the relentless focus on delivering value to customers. An RTE ensures that every element of the ART contributes to this goal, optimizing flows, removing impediments, and managing risks. This consistent drive towards efficiency and effectiveness culminates in accelerated time-to-market and enhanced product quality.

The presence of an RTE within a transformation initiative brings several advantages. These include improved coordination across teams, enhanced clarity and focus on business objectives, streamlined processes, and a significant uplift in the morale and productivity of agile teams. Essentially, an RTE turns chaos into clarity, complexity into simplicity, and plans into action.

Digital Transformation Manager

Fyndr Group

Get Your New Talent Found Faster with Fyndr.org
--------------------------------------------------------
Fyndr.org's mission is to create a more efficient, scalable, zero-cost process for hiring managers and candidates "to fynd each other", by leveraging AI technology to job search at scale.

At Fyndr.org, we help renewable energy, recycling, energy storage, and Green or Clean Tech companies find the perfect job candidate for their open positions; not just in terms of skills and qualifications, but also in personality, culture, and world outlook.

Our AI driven solutions support hiring managers and job seekers every step of the way — by connecting those hiring directly with those looking for opportunities. Job seekers are recommended by someone that knows them personally. 

Because finding your “next fyndr” isn’t just about credentials, it’s about creating opportunities for everyone involved to thrive with the resources, introductions, and opportunities to grow an awesome team.

Note: Fyndr.org is a concept, product, website, and marketing campaign created by Daniel Stouffer, as a case study to demonstrate his talents AND to help with his job search.

https://fyndr.org/about

Program & Product Manager, Owner

reThink-Solar

In 2007, a spark ignited my love for solar, fueling a drive toward a renewable future, one community at a time. Born from a desire to make solar energy accessible and affordable to all, we embarked on a quest to redefine the solar engagement. 

Starting with solar leasing in 2007, then residential sales, to commercial contracts, and now to Community Solar for all.

It's been an exhilarating ride, flavored with challenges, triumphs, and countless learning moments. Today, reThink Solar stands as a beacon for change, guiding individuals and businesses toward a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. One that can be totally without costs or expense when you have the key ingredients.

reThink Solar's Mission

At the core of reThink Solar pulses a steadfast mission - to weave the benefits of solar energy into the fabric of everyday life. We dream of a world where everyone, regardless of whether they own or rent their home, can tap into the power of the sun.

Our mission is simple yet bold: connect our customers to local community solar farms, ensuring a minimum of 5% savings on their electric bills annually for up to two decades. Now, with our services extending across numerous states in the USA, that dream is becoming a reality. 

At reThink Solar, we believe that everyone should have access to clean and affordable energy, regardless of whether they own their home or business. That's why our community solar model is designed to connect with renters, homeowners, and small businesses alike.

The power of the sun is for everyone — because reThink Solar believes that change, like sunlight and all renewable energy, should be universal and unbound. There's no simpler path to saving on your electric bill while championing renewable energy.

https://rethink-solar.com

Renewable Energy Advisor, reThink Solar

SunPower Corporation

Coordinated prioritization, roadmap planning, product backlog management, and product team execution for $36M portfolio of related programs. Managed 9 product delivery teams, total of 50 members, engaging internal and external stakeholders and cross-functional teams to create energy storage solutions and renewable energy digital platform capabilities.

* Added 25K more customers to mobile app by developing and launching complex digital features.

* Managed 5 concurrent projects, from defining scope and allocating resources to mitigating risks, consistently delivering project plans, resource allocations, and prioritized backlogs.

* Reduced time-to-market for new SKUs from 6 months to 3 weeks by implementing new and improved new product introduction process (NPI).

What truly sets me apart is my tenacious passion, drive, and motivation. I don't back down when things get tough, even when it seems like everything is on fire. I learned this fearless attitude from my experience in the fire service. When faced with challenges, I don't run away – I run towards them. I bring this mindset to everything I do.

If you're looking for a Technical Program Manager who can navigate the complexities of your projects with confidence, deliver exceptional results, and bring a fiery passion to the table, then look no further. I'm a servant leader when it comes to agile product delivery processes, lean UX, and implementing business agility. I am ready to take on the challenge.

Technical Program Manager (storage solutions)

Elevance Health

Orchestrated product delivery timelines to achieve budget and delivery goals. Managed backlog for 25 user experience designers. Leader behind the scenes organizing and prioritizing projects with stakeholders across 7 different strategic objectives aligned to quarterly product plans. Crafted sprint plans outlining goals, tactics, schedules, risks, and resource allocation for 300+ digital products group.

* Wrote project charter and obtained team resources across 6 business units, built recurring 4-week cycles of “Plan, Do, & Measure” iterative planning cycles, resulting in formation of new business intelligence (BI) analytics team.

* Improved team throughput 11%, providing program support and direction for 5 to 7 scrum teams, clearing obstacles to ensure initiatives were delivered, meeting stakeholder requirements.

* Collaborated with procurement to improve supply chain operations for internal and vendor-maintained products, reducing onboarding of new technology into IT organizations from more than 4 months to less than 6 weeks.

But beyond all the technicalities, I am a firm believer in agile product delivery, lean UX, and embracing business agility at scale. In this fast-paced digital age, it's crucial to be able to adapt quickly to market changes and seize emerging opportunities with innovative, digitally-enabled solutions. 

That's why I leveraged lean and agile product development practices to continuously deliver top-notch products that truly impressed.

Strong advocate of agile product delivery, lean UX, and implementing business agility at scale. Support the ability to compete and thrive in the digital age by quickly responding to market changes and emerging opportunities with innovative, digitally-enabled business solutions. Leveraged lean and agile product development practices to continually deliver innovative, high-quality products (https://www.scaledagile.com).

Digital Program Manager (portfolio strategy)

Ideation, Product Management, and Strategic Thinking -- I have a proven record of managing process driven teams, as well as complex software products and web application development projects, both standard and extremely agile. 

I’ve been a contributor and leader of physical and virtual teams across many projects. I represent the user experience across the organization by breaking down the user needs, strategic vision, and delivery into achievable outcomes that drive user value.

I know exactly what it takes to drive the business, rally the engagement of diverse teams, and effectively manage programs. I’m really a Swiss Army knife relating to program management.

I help manage the user experience resources within the agile product and development processes within Anthem Healthcare. This role requires a cross-discipline approach to understanding process, workflow, and communications. I live "working in the grey" to help development, product, and user experience teams deliver valued product to the Anthem members.

Product Teams Manager (user experience)

Geostella

Executed product strategy, planned and managed road map for Solar SaaS engineering teams. Uncovered customer pain points and industry trends. Led cross-functional teams across 55-person start-up to create solar energy platform. Managed bi-weekly feature releases to drive growth and keeping ahead of the competition.

* Delivered innovative products, expanding market user adoption in first 6 months, by developing and executing revised product roadmap, aligned to company goals and customer needs, increasing leads generated 23% and PV system installations 1.1K.

* Developed and executed product roadmap, aligning with company goals and customer needs, reducing the 500+ backlog items to 75 actionable features

* Implemented agile product development methods, resulting in a 4 capability teams focused on core product lines which created 2 week release windows

* Collaborated with sales & marketing, product engineering, and field operations teams to develop effective roll-out strategies that minimized inventory costs

Geostellar pioneered big-data geomatics to make solar energy accessible, affordable and plentiful. The company is the recipient of numerous awards, including selection as an IHS Energy Innovation Pioneer, the Global Cleantech100, the Global Cleantech Cluster Association's Best of Solar, and the Always On Going Green Global 2000.

Director Product Management (field operations)

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.

User Experience Design with Mentoring of Agile Teams

Led user and client meetings, collected and analyze product data to determine product feasibility. Created personas, task scenarios, and navigation & solution hierarchies. Helped wireframe and prototype product with various levels of field study and usability testing to ensure ease of use.

* Launched 3 internationalized websites by placing end user in focus during entire design process.

* Co-developed new hybrid approach for agile project delivery across 8 scrum teams, reducing backlogged features 35% and team churn, and delivering more user-friendly solution.

* Decreased slack time between feature start by developers 3 days due to better requirements definition

* Wireframed and prototype the product with various levels of field study or usability testing to ensure ease of use and feasibility.

* Worked with design teams and developers to successfully launch a new partner website.

* Invented user-centered design processes and methodologies that worked within the corporate environment.

User Experience Manager with focus on wireframes, user experience, and mentoring agile teams. Examples of websites where I was the UX Lead include https://www.ameriprise.com/ and https://www.columbiathreadneedleus.com/.

Manager User Experience (product delivery)

Verisae | an Accruent company

Drove platform capabilities guided by roadmap aligned with company goals and customer needs. Conducted market research, identifying gaps in market and helped UX / UI designers better understand how research, feature value, and engineering effort connected.

* Increased market share 20% by conducting thorough market research and competitor analysis to identify opportunities for product innovation.

* Collaborated with key stakeholders, customers, and cross-functional product teams to iterate product and establish tracking metrics, improving user satisfaction ratings 30%.

* Developed and executed public relations plan with industry experts at Gartner, Forrester, and others resulting in several magazine publications and placement of Verisae in the top quadrant of energy and sustainability SaaS platforms.

As an Information Architect then promoted to Digital Product Manager, IOT Energy Management, I help design how to make the right content and features available to the right people at the right time. 

My role involved the development of content systems and product features that help users find and manage asset, energy, and environmental data and access insights through business intelligence more successfully across the Accruent IoT SaaS platform.

Verisae is a provider of technology (...purchased by Accruent) and services for big retailers, manufacturers and other complex organizations. They do one thing better than anyone else. They  help our clients manage energy, maintenance, GHG emissions, and environmental performance through a single set of closely related technologies, connected devices, and IoT innovation.

Lead Digital Product Manager (energy IoT & SaaS)

The Ground Beneath Leadership Is Shifting

If you’ve ever felt the pressure to lead through uncertainty without a map, welcome. This is where we draw the new ones. AI isn’t knocking politely at the door. It’s rewiring how teams operate, how decisions get made, and how value is created.

Old playbooks don’t bend. They break. And the burden of clarity? It’s falling squarely on you.

If you’re the one responsible for making sense of chaos for integrating new tech, managing team emotions, aligning systems, and staying strategic without burning out, then AILKEMY was built with you in mind.

You’re not a passive observer of change. You’re the one others look to when everything changes. 

AILKEMY exists to help you build that kind of organization. We don’t hype tools. We train humans to lead through disruption.

Why Read AILKEMY? 

AI won’t replace you. But teams who master human–AI collaboration will. This isn’t about man versus machine. It’s about hybrid orchestration, the art of blending automation with empathy, speed with systems thinking, and clarity with courage.

Who Reads AILKEMY? 

AILKEMY is written for the most accountable people in the room—those who don’t have the luxury of waiting for certainty. Whether you lead others, build products, run a team, or want to stay relevant, it helps you lead with clarity, not chaos.

Why I Publish AILKEMY?

I’m Daniel Stouffer. I’m an author of dozens of nonfiction books, a systems thinker, a firefighter, and a futurist. I’ve helped leaders navigate disruption for two decades, not from a theory lab, but from the front lines of change: in startups, classrooms, fire stations, and boardrooms.

I write AILKEMY because I’ve lived the pressure of needing answers when the playbook no longer works. I know what it feels like to be the one people look to in moments of uncertainty. 

This newsletter, and the “Insights-as-a-Service (AIS) we’re launching, is my way of offering a lifeline of clarity, one issue at a time.

https://news.ailkemy.com

Daniel Stouffer

The Real Story Behind Amazon’s Massive Job Cuts

Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy didn’t hide the reason. He told employees that “AI adoption and improved productivity” would lead to job reductions. Translation: AI agents are doing work humans used to do — faster, cheaper, and without vacation days.

This isn’t new…

AILKEMY Co-Founder, Author, and GenAI Marketer. ╰(*°▽°*)╯ “Think Further. Build Smarter. Lead Human.”

Open article: How Amazon’s 30,000 Layoffs Signal the End of Traditional Corporate Work by medium.com

How Amazon’s 30,000 Layoffs Signal the End of Traditional Corporate Work

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗜? 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗞𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗨𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁

AI isn’t a “𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱” anymore. 

It’s already shaping how teams make 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, and 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. 

The leaders who understand this aren’t waiting for perfect timing; they’re adapting now.

And here’s the quiet tension most leaders feel but rarely say out loud:

What if the biggest threat to your organization isn’t AI… but staying locked into the same leadership style you used before it arrived?

That’s where 𝗔𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 steps in. Not as another loud, overhyped tech book, but as a simple, clear guide to help you lead with confidence in a world that’s moving faster every day. 

It’s built for leaders who want to stay 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀, and 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 through change without fear or confusion.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲.

https://lnkd.in/gFWwfjUn?

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 “𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹” 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?

We rarely talk about this on LinkedIn… but many top performers are driven not by passion, but by old survival instincts. 

You learn to excel because slowing down once felt unsafe. 

You smile because showing struggle wasn’t an option. 

You lead because being strong was the only role you ever knew.

And on the outside? You look unstoppable. On the inside? You’re exhausted from carrying a past your mind has outgrown… but your nervous system hasn’t.

This is where 𝗘𝗠𝗗𝗥 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 becomes life-changing. It doesn’t force you to relive trauma, it helps your brain finally process it. The panic quiets. The perfectionism softens. Rest stops feel dangerous.

If you’ve ever wondered, “𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?”, the answer might not be mindset. It might be memory.

Real growth isn’t performing strength. It’s finally feeling safe enough to stop pretending.

https://surl.li/senksy

#EMDRTherapy #Traumahealing

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗜𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘄

You’ve walked through fire.

You’ve sat in therapy with a trembling voice.

You’ve journaled the memories you once tried to outrun.

You’ve meditated long enough to meet both the storm and the silence inside you.

So why does doubt still whisper, “𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲?”

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝘆.

Your life isn’t defined by what happened to you,  it’s defined by the choices you make now.

What you think, commit to, and step into next determines whether you keep surviving… or finally start living.

https://lnkd.in/gCKdXbiD

𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀: 

We look unbreakable in the daylight… yet it’s the quiet moments, hotel rooms, late evenings, and long drives where everything starts to slip.

𝗠𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼.

That slow unraveling that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside but feels like your mind is picking a lock from within.

𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺𝘀. 𝗡𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 

Just a familiar pull toward the old escape route.

But what if the problem isn’t that you’re weak…what if your toolkit was simply never designed for the life you’re living now?

That question sits at the heart of 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆, the newest playbook in the Beyond Survival series, built not for the broken, but for the brilliantly functioning humans who are still carrying survival wiring.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆.

https://lnkd.in/gGG3pCdh

The question lingers in the air like static…

If AI can give all the answers, why do they still need us?

AI doesn’t steal your value. It revealed it.

Open article: Why AI Taking Your Old Job Makes You More Valuable Than Ever by kaperider.com

Why AI Taking Your Old Job Makes You More Valuable Than Ever

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺? 𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁?

Every expert knows this feeling.

Your wisdom is deep. Your story is powerful. Your impact is real.

But the book inside you?

It sits quietly in the background while you run the show, clients, operations, fires to put out, deadlines to meet. “𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘆” becomes a graveyard for brilliant ideas.

You don’t need more time.
You don’t need to become a writer.

You just need the right system that turns your knowledge into a scalable author business without you writing a single word.

That’s exactly what we built at 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀.

If you’re ready to turn your expertise into authority, revenue, and a platform that works even when you’re not,  your book doesn’t have to wait anymore👇

Open article: How Ghostpartners Turns Your Wisdom Into A Scalable Business Without You Writing by articles.kaperider.com

How Ghostpartners Turns Your Wisdom Into A Scalable Business Without You Writing

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲… 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄?

It hits all the right points, clear, concise, and persuasive.

But something’s off. Something human is missing. That spark that says this is real, this is lived, this is uniquely mine… It’s gone.

𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗜 promises speed, efficiency, and scale.
It can produce entire articles, emails, or marketing copy in seconds.

But at what cost?

Too often, it smooths over the quirks, the emotional inflections, the rhythm of your language, the imperfections that secretly make your writing magnetic.

And in a world where anyone can generate content in seconds,
𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰.

Open article: When AI Writes, Who Speaks? How Generative AI Threatens Your Voice (And How to Reclaim It) by articles.kaperider.com

When AI Writes, Who Speaks? How Generative AI Threatens Your Voice (And How to Reclaim It)

𝗕𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁… 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁?

If you’re a small business owner, you know the drill:

You’re the 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻, the 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿, the 𝗛𝗥 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, the operations team…and somehow still the one making dinner at 8 PM.

It’s not entrepreneurship. It’s exhaustion dressed as productivity.

And then people say, “𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗜!” As if that magically solves the overwhelm.

𝗔𝗜 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗶𝘀.

Small businesses don’t need another shiny trend.

They need clarity.
They need simplicity.
They need tools that remove pressure, not add more to your plate.

𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲-𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗢𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱?

https://lnkd.in/gPeDVJfu?

If the world moves this fast, why are we still following yesterday’s maps?

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗶𝘁.

And deep down, you know the truth:  𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

We need to teach young people how to 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸, 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁, and 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺𝘀, not memorize solutions that might already be outdated.

What’s one way you’re helping your students, or your team, navigate a world that keeps changing?

Open article: Teach Self-Directed Orchestrators, Not Dependents by articles.kaperider.com

Teach Self-Directed Orchestrators, Not Dependents

We were told we could have it all: a 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫, a 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬, and a home that looked like a 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝.

And for a while, we did.

Until the quiet moments started to feel unbearable.

You know the feeling, that anxious buzz beneath your skin, even when everything looks fine. You meet deadlines, remember the snacks, send the emails, show up with a smile… and still collapse at night, wondering why peace feels like something you’ll “earn” later.

It’s not you.

It’s the hustle.

Open article: Success Feels Like Survival: Why Moms Are Ditching the Hustle Habit for Inner Calm by rb.gy

Success Feels Like Survival: Why Moms Are Ditching the Hustle Habit for Inner Calm

𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.

You didn’t fight your way to sobriety to survive it, did you?

You came this far to feel alive again, to wake up without the 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞, the 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞, and the ache of pretending you’re “𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞.” 

But if you’ve ever caught yourself white-knuckling through stress, biting back cravings, or wondering why peace still feels out of reach… maybe it’s time to ask a more complicated question:

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠?

Open article: You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired: The Neuroscience of True Sobriety by articles.kaperider.com

You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired: The Neuroscience of True Sobriety

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗥𝗠 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴?

Your CRM isn’t a graveyard. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲. But only if you know how to listen.

Most leaders secretly assume the worst: 

Unqualified leads. 
Deals that never moved. 
Prospects who ghosted. 
Follow-ups that die somewhere between “𝗰𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸” and “𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻.”

We label these things as failures. 
We move on. 
We rebuild the pipeline from scratch. 
And we burn more money in the process. 

But what if those “𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀” aren’t dead at all? 

What if they’re patterns?
Signals.
Unclaimed revenue you already earned… but never collected?

This is where 𝗔𝗜-𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗢𝗽𝘀) flips the script.

Your business isn’t underperforming, your visibility is.

It’s time to illuminate what’s been sitting in your CRM all along.

https://lnkd.in/gFPgUn-4

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗦𝗶𝘅-𝗙𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀! 

If you’re a 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿, you’ve probably spent years polishing expertise, gathering stories, and collecting insights you know could help people. 

Yet your book still isn’t finished… or it’s published but not producing the clients, revenue, or impact you hoped for.

Here’s the truth most authors never hear:
𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺.

This book isn’t about chasing algorithms, pleasing gatekeepers, or throwing your manuscript into the void, hoping something magical happens.

𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲.

Open article: The Secret Every Six-Figure Author Knows (But You’ve Been Trained to Ignore) by articles.kaperider.com

The Secret Every Six-Figure Author Knows (But You’ve Been Trained to Ignore)

The latest essay in my 42 Essays Project is live: “When I Die?” 

It begins in a quiet room and ends with a posture you can live by. Evidence beyond the story. Practice beside philosophy. 

If you want a steady way to face endings and love better now, grab the complimentary copy and let’s talk about it.

https://lnkd.in/gEYTnUX7

A Field Guide for the Last Breath and Every Day Before It We measure a life in small sounds: the click of a defibrillator cart cooling in the hall, th

Open article: When I Die? by Daniel Stouffer • 3 min read

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 “𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆,” 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀… 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸?

Ever wondered why remote work feels 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 and 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 at the same time?

Why is your team technically “𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲” yet somehow always behind?

Why does your workday stretch across time zones like a rubber band ready to snap?

"𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸."

It revealed meetings masquerading as clarity. 
Urgency pretending to be progress. 
Teams running on fragments of attention instead of real flow.

If that hits a little too close to home… it should.

Welcome to 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀, the playbook for leaders who want momentum without burnout. Because work shouldn’t feel like you’re sprinting in sand ⬇️

https://lnkd.in/gaTZQNAh

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦?

Remember your first job?
The shaky start. The kind manager. The lessons that shaped your career.

Now imagine that moment… no longer exists.

Because today, the first rung of the career ladder is gone.
AI agents now do what interns, assistants, and entry-level hires once did.

𝐍𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 𝐍𝐨 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐬. 𝐍𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰.

If AI takes the first job, how do humans still begin?

We built hiring systems on “experience required.” But what happens when no one gets a chance to earn experience in the first place?

Read more in 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐫 at Amazon.

👉 https://lnkd.in/gQ5hWBft?

#BrokenLadder #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence

Remember your first job? 

That shaky start. The manager who showed you the ropes. The small mistakes that taught you big lessons.

Now imagine if that moment, that first chance, no longer existed.

Because in today’s world, it’s disappearing.

Open article: Broken Ladder: Rebuilding Human Beginnings in the Age of AI by danielstouffer.medium.com

Broken Ladder: Rebuilding Human Beginnings in the Age of AI

Another 3 a.m. zinger - Am I alone?

Let me name the first terror clearly. No one can live inside the full movement of your mind. Your thoughts, memories, and sensations are yours. Even the people who love you most cannot climb inside and steer. That privacy is real.

It's all good news once we learn how to hold it without fear.

Aloneness is not a defect. 

It is the space that lets just ‘being’ be truly meaningful...

https://lnkd.in/gK7nEZPv

A Field Guide to First-Person Terror At three in the morning, the ceiling turns into a sky without stars. The room feels bigger than your chest. You l

Open article: Am I Alone? by Daniel Stouffer • 2 min read

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧.

Generative AI has collapsed the 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭, and 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲. Campaigns that once required endless approvals now go live in just days. Teams that once required an entire floor of desks now operate with precision, one strategist and one AI system at a time.

But here’s the question leaders can’t ignore:

𝐈𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭…
𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐮𝐩?
𝐎𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤?

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 isn’t just a guide. It’s a wake-up call. And for leaders bold enough to listen, it’s also a blueprint.

Open article: The Future of Marketing Is Faster Than You. Here’s How to Catch Up. by surl.li

The Future of Marketing Is Faster Than You. Here’s How to Catch Up.

J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.

• Lead engineering efforts for Final Mile Services and Managed Logistics Solutions.
• Direct the E&T Development Program since 2016, accelerating career progression for 130 engineers through structured rotational assignments and targeted skill development.
* Mentor and develop high-potential leaders across engineering and technology teams, fostering collaboration and delivering measurable operational improvements.

Sr. Director of Engineering & Technology

Director of Engineering

Director of Carrier Relations

Engineering Manager

Maxwell Leadership

Provide coaching, training, and facilitation for professionals and leadership teams, leveraging Maxwell Leadership principles to enhance team performance, influence, and results.

Highlights:
* Designed and delivered leadership workshops for corporate teams
* Mentored emerging leaders into higher-impact roles
* Applied 20+ years of corporate leadership experience to real-world development programs

Certified Leadership Coach | Speaker | Trainer

John Brown University

Adjunct Professor of Statistics

ArcBest

Industrial Engineering and Economic Analysis

Senior Engineering Leader for Final Mile Services and E&T Development Program

I believe leadership is less about titles and more about influence, vision, and the ability to inspire others to perform at their best.

Over the past two decades, I’ve had the privilege of leading engineering and technology teams, mentoring emerging leaders, and guiding high-performing teams through complex challenges.

Alongside my corporate role, I’m a Maxwell Leadership Certified coach, speaker, and trainer, helping professionals and leadership teams sharpen their skills, expand their influence, and deliver stronger results.

My approach combines proven leadership frameworks with real-world application — whether it’s developing leadership presence, fostering collaboration, or creating a culture of continuous improvement.

I share insights here on LinkedIn to spark better conversations about leadership, growth, and career success.

📩 I enjoy connecting with people who are committed to growth — whether you’re an individual contributor, leading teams, or guiding an organization. If you’re interested in exchanging ideas on leadership, building high-performing teams, or personal development, feel free to connect and start the conversation here on LinkedIn.

Tarek Taha

I used to think good leadership was about keeping everyone comfortable.

Then I watched my team become frustrated because I waited too long to address a performance issue.

The silence didn't keep the peace. It bred resentment.

High performers got frustrated carrying the weight.
The underperformer never got a chance to improve.
And I lost credibility with everyone.

Here's what I learned:

Hard conversations aren't about being harsh.
They're about being honest before small problems become team-wide dysfunction.

The best leaders I know don't avoid conflict.

They address it early, directly, and with clarity.

Because teams don't grow in comfort.
They grow when someone cares enough to tell the truth.
—
I write about the power of authentic leadership every week: https://lnkd.in/gyH-3xm2

(3) Post | Feed | LinkedIn

li_at

JSESSIONID

Senior Engineering Leader & Certified Coach | Helping leaders grow with confidence and clarity

I didn’t realize I was making the best investment of my life.

Back in 2011, every Saturday followed the same rhythm.
I’d wake up early, let my wife sleep in, and take my daughter to our favorite coffee shop.

Black coffee for me.
Carminilla latte for her.

During that time, I was mostly pouring my energy into myself. Career, fitness, chasing productivity.

I thought that was growth.
Looking back, I was missing where it mattered most.

A new job and a move back home gave me a reset. 
Those Saturday mornings slowly became a ritual we rarely missed.

Nothing fancy. Nothing expensive.
Just time focused on my daughter.

Week after week, it turned into something bigger.

At her wedding last year, I shared this story.
I choked up. She did too.

Those mornings shaped our relationship in ways neither of us fully understood at the time.

She was home for Thanksgiving last week.

It reminded me that the return on the time you invest in the people you love keeps showing up long after the moment has passed.

Everything else we chase is temporary. 
But the time we give to the people we love lasts.

It is the greatest investment you will ever make.

Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gQWV2av9

I dropped my YETI cup when Susanna screamed.

We were on a fishing boat on a perfect October morning when her fishing rod began to dance.

She had just caught her first fish EVER. 

By the end of that weekend, she'd caught eight. Named them all. Albert through Harry.

After 34 years of marriage, we had never gone fishing. 
That hit me harder than I expected.

It made me ask: What else have we never tried?

You're not tired of your life. 
You're tired of the loop you're in. 

And most of us don't notice when that loop starts:
Wake up. 
Coffee. 
Work. 
Dinner. 
Scroll. 
Sleep. 
Repeat.

Nothing's broken. But nothing's alive either.

I see it at work all the time.

People are going through the motions.
Not miserable.
Just asleep.
Anesthetized by comfort.

But your life isn't as fixed as it feels.

I wrote about that morning and the unexpected lesson it taught me in today's blog: https://lnkd.in/gGwnyNNh

Most leaders don't learn leadership from great bosses.

They learn it from terrible ones.

People say toxic managers ruin careers.

I say they're the best teachers you'll ever have - if you're paying attention.

Years ago, I had a manager who micromanaged everything.

Every calculation? Checked.
Every decision? Required his approval first.
Every answer? Had to be precise to 10 decimal places.

I had zero agency.
Zero autonomy.
Zero trust.

It was suffocating.

70% of U.S. workers would leave a job due to a bad manager.

I understood why. I was one of them.

But here's what I didn't realize at the time:

He was giving me a masterclass in how NOT to lead.

Front row seat. Daily lessons. Crystal clear examples.

Every interaction showed me what happens when you:

• Treat employees like they can't think
• Value precision over progress
• Hoard decisions instead of building capability
• Create dependency instead of growth

I watched talented engineers become order-takers.
I felt my own confidence erode daily.
I saw how distrust destroys teams.

The lesson stuck.

When I finally led people, I did the opposite:

Trust first.
Give room to grow.
Care more about their growth than my control.

The worst leaders teach you exactly what matters.

They just do it backwards.

What did your worst boss teach you?

I few weeks ago, I walked into a private dinner in Austin expecting business talk.

Justin Welsh and Jennifer Welsh were hosting.

The room was filled with people far more successful than me.
-A woman who’d run a podcast for eight years
-A former VP at Uber
-An accomplished speaker and author
-I could go on...

But here’s what surprised me:

No one talked about funnels.
No one pitched an offer.
No one tried to “network.”

They shared their stories.
They opened up.
They connected.

This wasn’t a tactical conversation.

It was fifteen real people with a desire to connect with other real people.

And in that moment, something clicked:

The most successful people aren’t chasing tactics.

They’re chasing connection.

Because you can automate content.
You can scale with AI.
You can build systems that run while you sleep.

But you can’t automate belonging.

The camaraderie in that room was something you can’t replicate online.

It was human.
It was warm.
It was real.

We spend so much time optimizing our lives that we forget this:
Real relationships still happen in real rooms.

Maybe the best strategy
is simply showing up as yourself
in the right room.
--
Adam Wright Daniel Layfield joel bein Katie Taylor,Kieron Monahan Marika Ponton Melissa Galt Natasha Gorodetsky

The $10M Solopreneur | Helping 100,000+ experts turn their experience and expertise into income.

Personal Finance Made Simple

Founder, Clarity Collective | CLEAR-EDGE Marketing Advantage | Never Waste Time & Money on Marketing Again

Product Managment

permanently liberating founders from self-doubt and mental blocks so they can create with freedom, not friction | negative belief gone forever in 10 minutes (like Santa isn’t real) 🎅 | Host of The Joel Bein Show 🎙️

Founder and Chief Executive Officer | Mission-Driven Health Tech Executive | Strategic Partnerships & Pediatric Innovation

I guide the C-Suite to create strategy the competition can't copy. | ex-W+K, TBWA\ and M&C Saatchi.

The Judgment-Free Profitability Coach • CPA, 400+ Audits • 3X Business Owner • 2X Exits → Transform your business with a Profit Mindset

Double Your Revenue in Half the Time ▪️ Business Coach for Luxury Design Firms ▪️ Design Business Freedom™ - Interior Design Success Without Limits or Sacrifice ▪️ Industry Speaker ▪️ Author of ‘Marketing Luxury Design’

Build what matters - I help small to medium-sized B2B companies scale through strategic product leadership and execution | AI strategy & launch | Founder, Product Pursuits | xSAP | WIP Chapter Founder | PM Women in AI

Gen Z isn’t lazy. We are.

I’ve worked with enough people across generations to see this clearly: 
We’re getting Gen Z wrong.

They show up wanting guidance.
They want direction.
They want feedback.
They want someone to actually lead them.

Instead, we criticize them.
We compare them to who we were at 22.
We expect them to figure out alone what no one taught us either.

That’s not leadership.
That’s avoidance.

Here’s what they’re actually bringing to the workplace:
• They use AI to simplify what we overcomplicated
• They want meaningful work, not meaningless promotions
• They value flexibility because they watched us burn out
• They want to learn, not just execute

They’re not trying to work less.
They’re trying to work smarter.

The engagement problem isn’t Gen Z,
It’s our unwillingness to lead differently than we were led.

In 10 years, they’ll be the ones shaping culture and setting the standards.

We won’t be in the room forever.

Transfer leadership.
Or gatekeep it until they stop asking.

Your move.

The moment you realize you're enough is the moment you stop needing everyone else to confirm it.

According to Forbes, 66% of employees would quit their jobs if they didn't feel appreciated.

But here's what nobody talks about:

Maybe the problem isn't that others don't see your work.

Maybe it's that you're waiting for them to tell you it matters.

I spent years chasing validation from bosses, clients, and colleagues.

Every project became a test of my worth.

Every silence felt like rejection.

Until I realized something:

When you need others to recognize your value, you give them control over how you feel about yourself.

Recognition is nice. But making it the source of your worth will limit your impact on the world.

How would your life change if you stopped hustling for others' approval?

👉I wrote about it in my blog today:  https://lnkd.in/gvyUjMmf

7 reasons your annual review isn't leading to a promotion.

(and what to do about it)

1. You treat punctuality as optional.
 ↳ Showing up late signals unreliability.
 ↳ Arrive early, prepared, and ready to contribute.

2. You only focus on yourself.
 ↳ Look for ways to lighten the load for your team.
 ↳ Share credit generously so others want to work with you.

3. You wait to be told what to do.
 ↳ Anticipate needs and prepare solutions before they’re asked for.
 ↳ Take initiative on small problems. That’s how leaders test you.

4. You bring problems, not solutions.
 ↳ Never ask “What should I do?”
 ↳ Present three approaches and recommend the one you’d choose.

5. You stay quiet in the room.
 ↳ Ask smart, well-timed questions that push thinking forward.
 ↳ Offer insights that connect today’s discussion to the bigger picture.

6. You zone out in meetings.
 ↳ Put your phone away and engage fully.
 ↳ Take notes and follow up. People notice who remembers details.

7. You try too hard to impress.
 ↳ Don’t flatter the boss. Contribute real ideas.
 ↳ Focus on results and reliability, not appearances.

7 Reasons Your Annual Review Isn't Leading To A Promotion

I tried outsourcing my hope. It didn’t work.

I didn’t get the promotion I wanted.
Everything I had worked for fell through.
My confidence eroded.
My mood shifted.
My future felt dim.

But here is the truth:
Hope is not something others can give you.
Hope is something you build inside yourself.

I finally learned this when I invested in my own growth in 2019.
No one told me to do it.
I just reached a point where I was tired of waiting for circumstances to make me happy.

And once I committed to growing, everything shifted.

My hope grew.
My joy grew.
I felt more alive in the seat I was already sitting in.

If you are waiting for life to change first, I get it.
I tried that.
It does not work.

Hope expands as you do.
It is an internal decision before it becomes an external reality.

Real hope sounds like this:
“Yes, things are hard. And I am growing anyway.”
“Yes, I’m not sure what to do next, but I’m taking steps each day.”

Choose to grow when others are playing it safe.
Choose to create when others don’t understand.
Choose personal responsibility over waiting for things to change.

I write about hope each week: https://lnkd.in/gtHC-d5V

Most leaders have no place where they can be fully human.

Two weeks ago, I had lunch with my friend Ilyas in Austin, Texas.

We graduated from the same university 13 years apart.

He has had real success in both academia and business, but what stood out was his genuine heart.

As we were eating, he shared an idea that stuck with me.

A third space for leaders.

Not home.
Not work.
Something in between.

A place where the title doesn't matter.
Where you don't have to perform.
Where you can tell the truth without fear.

As we talked, it hit me how uncommon that really is.

Most leaders carry tremendous weight on their shoulders, yet they rarely have a space where they can speak openly about the decisions they must make.

Leaders need a place to connect with others who understand the pressure.
A place to slow down.
A place to be human first.

That conversation felt like the start of something meaningful.

I have a feeling this idea will grow in ways neither of us can predict.

👉If a third space for leaders existed, what would you want it to feel like?

Chief Data Scientist | Distinguished AI Executive | Startup→Fortune 100 Exit | UT Austin Faculty | Venture Partner

At 12 years old, I asked my mom a strange question:

“Mom…tell me what I want.”

I wasn’t looking for advice. I was looking for direction. And I spent years hoping someone else had the answer.

Benjamin Hardy says your brain is a prediction machine.
Every choice you make today is shaped by the future you believe you’re heading toward.

That explained a lot.

Because for most of my adult life, I wasn’t choosing based on a future I wanted.
I was choosing based on approval. Comparison. Fear.

No wonder I kept asking other people to define my path.

Everything shifted when I finally started asking a better question:
Who do I want to be?
Am I making choices that move me toward becoming that person?

That question matters more than your job title.
More than your past.
More than whatever people expect of you today.

Because no one else can tell you what you want.

At some point, you have to choose the person you want to be.

This came from today's newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g5jh9GgM

I didn’t realize how much my attention was shaping the person I was becoming.

There was a stretch in my life where I spent hours every day consuming the latest headlines and whatever the internet was furious about.

And it changed me.
 • I became more reactive
 • I became more cynical
 • I was “informed,” but nothing in my life was actually improving
 • I was absorbing emotions that weren’t mine

Then it hit me.
My inputs were building my identity.
Not my goals. Not my intentions.
My inputs.

So I made a shift.
 • I turned off the news
 • I chose what I wanted to learn
 • I paid attention to people who were building, not complaining
 • I focused my energy on adding value to others

And everything got better.

Choose your inputs.
Change your life.

I spent 6 months questioning my own competence.

My manager would give vague instructions, then act shocked when I didn't deliver what they "clearly" asked for.

It took me too long to realize: this wasn't about my performance.

This was gaslighting.

Here's the 4-step cycle I finally recognized:

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗩𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
They give unclear direction, then claim it was "obvious" what they meant.

What to do: Document everything. Send follow-up emails confirming what you understood. Create a paper trail.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
When things go wrong, suddenly it's all your fault. They rewrite history about what was agreed.

What to do: Reference your documentation. Stay calm. Don't get defensive—just point to the facts.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹
"I never said that." "You're remembering it wrong." They make you doubt your own memory.

What to do: Trust your records over their words. Your contemporaneous notes don't lie.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
"Maybe you're not cut out for this." They attack your abilities to keep you off-balance.

What to do: Seek external validation. Talk to trusted colleagues. Consider whether this environment serves your growth.

The pattern is the proof.

One incident might be miscommunication. Four steps on repeat? That's a system.

You're not crazy. You're not incompetent.

You're being manipulated.

He'd already been driving for 6 hours before I got in his car.

Turns out, he wasn’t just an Uber driver. Jallal is a software engineer.

Did everything right: got the degree, moved to Austin, chased the startup dream.

His reality? $22/hr from 3–11 p.m.
Then, Uber from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. just to survive.

Can’t afford to marry his girlfriend.

We talked the whole ride. Real conversation.

He told me about the code he writes at night, the features no one notices.
The wedding he’s been postponing for two years.

I’ve been there: that moment when you realize the path you’re on isn’t taking you where you thought it would.

The question that stuck with me wasn’t about work. It was, "What am I actually building?"

How often do we stop long enough to ask ourselves that?

Most managers think their job is keeping great people on their team.

They're wrong.

A University of Chicago study of 200,000 workers found something counterintuitive:

The best managers moved their people 40% more often than average managers.

Not because they wanted to lose talent. Because they spotted strengths that didn't fit the current role.

Those employees earned 13% more seven years later. Their performance jumped 16%.

Top managers spent 19% more time in one-on-ones.

Not managing tasks. Understanding what made each person come alive.

Your best employee might be thriving somewhere else.

The question isn't whether you can afford to move them. It's whether you can afford not to.

If this resonates with how you want to lead, let's connect.

Most Managers Hold On to Their Best People. The Best Ones Move Them.

I was scared, people pleasing, meek engineering leader…then I almost died (and it changed everything)

I was like most of you: the engineers.

The nerds.
The cautious ones.
The follow the directions to a tee people.

But that all happened when I was in the ICU at 2 am wondering if I would see the sunrise.

I was texting my best friend my bank logins to ensure my family was taken care of.

Thankfully, I survived.

But when I turned to work, I began to evolve.

Completely.

I stopped caring about stepping on toes.
I didn’t care what others thought about me.

I told the truth.

I began to realize that I was made for something more.

I stepped into myself there and then.

Too many of you (myself included) wait till it's too late to be who you are.

And I’m on a journey to show you that you can start today.

NOW.

Check out my Authentic Life Audit in my profile and see where you fall.

It could change your future.

9/26/18: My hands were shaking as I texted bank passwords to a friend from the ICU.

I remember thinking, “This might actually be it.”

2 AM.
Machines beeping.
Nurses in and out.
The smell of antiseptic in the air.

I did not think I would make it to morning.

Your priorities shift fast when you think your time might be up.

The career moves I had been chasing.
The people I wanted to impress.
The success I thought I needed.

None of it mattered.

That night pushed me into growth I did not ask for but definitely needed.

I am still learning.
Still figuring it out.
But I am paying attention now in a way I never did before.

It pushed me to ask a question I had pushed aside for years: What is my purpose?

If you are tired of playing small and know you were made for more, I have a tool that is helping my clients get clear on their purpose.

This is not another personality assessment you forget a day later.

It takes twenty minutes and cuts through the noise fast.

Comment or DM “Purpose” if you want to see what yours actually is.

I stopped saying sorry for being human.

Not because I’m rude.
But because I realized I was apologizing for existing.

“Sorry, I didn’t respond.”
“Sorry, I was at lunch.”
“Sorry, I was on PTO.”

One day it hit me: I wasn’t being polite. I was making myself small.

Why do we treat our basic needs like disruptions?

Most professionals I coach aren’t burned out because of workload.
They’re burned out because they treat their boundaries like burdens.

Every time you say “sorry” for living your life, you reinforce the belief that your well-being is optional.

It’s not.

Here’s what I say now:
“I was with family.”
“I take lunch at noon.”
“I don’t check email after 6 PM.”

No apology. No justification. Just clarity.

Your boundaries are not rude.
They’re responsible.
And they’re not up for negotiation.

👉 If you want the exact boundary scripts I use, DM me “Boundaries” and I’ll send them to you privately.

I used to think leadership meant being the loudest voice in the room.

So I tried to be that person.

Spoke up in every meeting.
Made bold declarations.
Projected unwavering confidence.

It felt fake.

Because it was.

I wasn't using my actual gifts. I was performing a version of leadership I thought people expected.

Then something shifted.

I stopped trying to be the most impressive person in the room.

I started asking: "What does my team actually need?"

Instead of leading every conversation, I listened more.
Instead of having all the answers, I asked better questions.
Instead of proving my worth, I focused on theirs.

It felt more natural.
Like I could finally breathe.

And something interesting happened:

My team felt more supported.
More understood.
More heard.

Engagement went up.
Trust went up.
Results went up.

When I stopped making leadership about me and started making it about them, everything changed.

Here's the thing no one talks about:

Serving first is what makes people want to follow.

Not your title.
Not your confidence.
Not your authority.

Your willingness to put their success before your ego.

That's what earns trust.
That's what builds loyalty.
That's what creates real impact.

Leadership isn't about being followed.

It's about making others feel capable of leading themselves.

Have you experienced this shift?

I wrote more here: https://lnkd.in/gkR7R96M

Wynton Marsalis sat in the back row of his own concert.

My wife and I went to see him.
He was the reason everyone bought a ticket.

After the intermission, he handed the microphone to Chris Lewis, a young saxophonist sitting in the front row.

Then he did something he didn’t have to do.

He stepped back.
Sat in the last row.
Barely visible.
Just playing his part while Lewis led the band through the rest of the set.

The musicianship was incredible.
But what stayed with me was the joy on stage.

This wasn’t ego.
It wasn’t about showing he’s still the best.
It was about giving someone else the room to rise.

And that’s when it clicked for me:
Real leadership isn’t staying in front.
It’s knowing when to move back.

Sometimes it looks like:
 • Passing the baton when you could easily keep it
 • Adding value quietly instead of demanding attention
 • Creating space for the next generation to grow
 • Feeling proud of someone else’s win as if it were your own

Marsalis could’ve taken every solo.
The crowd would’ve cheered.

Instead, he chose to mentor.
He chose to elevate.
He chose to lead from behind.

The best leaders don’t need to be seen leading.
You can feel their impact in everyone around them.

I write about leadership and growth each week: https://lnkd.in/gPiEXnq4

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