Grow Your Career 1% Daily - I’ll Show You How | Follow for Tips on Learning, Professional Development, and Productivity | Professor | MBA + JD

Is this the part where I talk about brand voice, distribution, and storytelling across the funnel? Or say we “help companies scale content that converts”?

𝗪𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁.

But what we really do is write content your team doesn’t have to worry about, so you can stay focused on strategy, not sentence structure.

𝗛𝗲𝘆, 𝗜’𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻. 👋

And my path here hasn’t exactly followed a playbook:
Banking → Law School → Teaching → L&D → Content

(Yeah… it’s been a ride.)

Today, I run a B2B content agency with my wife. We keep it lean and personal — just the two of us, plus our kids and a couple barky mini schnauzers. 

At Damn Smart Marketing, we give marketers writing they can trust and results they can stand behind.

✓ Content that sounds like you (not a template, not bland AI)
✓ Full support from idea to publication
✓ A partner who gets content
✓ Zero fluff, zero hand-holding
✓ More time to focus on what matters

In other words: you get to 🚀 while we handle the ✍️.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿? 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸:

1️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗿-𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀.
Blogs, LinkedIn posts, newsletters, case studies. If it’s got words, we’ll write it. You get to run the show without sweating every sentence.

2️⃣ 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀.
We’ve built an AI-assisted workflow that makes posting easy, effective, and actually worth reading.

If you're curious, DM me. 

No cold, hard pitch, I promise. Just a real convo about where you’re headed and whether some damn smart content can help.

Stephen 😀

Stephen Mostrom

See you later, LinkedIn…

Donna and I are headed to Florence! 

It’s been a crazy busy year — energizing, exhausting, meaningful, relentless — and we made it through together.

Now it’s time to unplug.

We’re swapping client deadlines for slow mornings in Santo Spirito.

Zoom calls for Chianti pours.

Content calendars for Tuscan sunsets.

And yes, I fully plan to come back with a few extra pounds…
kilos, if you will.

See you soon!
Arrivederci!

Writer for B2B Tech & Finance ✍️ | Running a content agency with my wife (and yes, still married) | Human words, AI workflows | JD & MBA

No alternative text description for this image

LinkedIn organic reach is ☠️... right?

I synced up with my favorite career coach, Julia Korn, to share 5 pro tips from the 1000+ LinkedIn posts I wrote for execs this year. 

And the 10M+ impressions and 20K+ followers they drove. 
... Organically. 

1. Write like you talk
2. Get real
3. Subtract
4. Where's the proof?
5. Post, adapt, repeat

The article is LIVE (!)

If you're looking to grow on LinkedIn, don't miss this.
→ https://lnkd.in/eZj-25AS

Donna (extrovert): Let's be room hosts at MarketingProfs B2B Forum!
Me (introvert): ahahaha cool cool cool 😅 😱 ☠️

But where else can you hang with hundreds of B2B diehards?

Where else can you get a front-row seat to the sharpest voices in marketing and walk away with a dozen lines you wish you’d written?

Where else can you see Ann Handley dance alongside a marching band?

So yeah… 
This guy’s a room host. 

If you need me, I’ll be by the door acting like I didn’t rehearse my “welcome everyone!” a dozen or more times. 

And apparently I’m doing it again tomorrow. 🤷

ServiceNow

I help businesses transform with the power of AI. Your workflows and data connected with AI is driving real ROI, and I have the distinct privilege of helping to tell that story and kickstart action.

I am delighted to leverage my deep understanding of AI technologies and automation success to enable ServiceNow customers to transform employee and customer experiences, ensuring seamless integration and maximum value from the latest AI innovations. 

As an Advisory Solution Consultant at ServiceNow, I'm part of a team of AI specialists who work to help our clients understand and leverage the latest AI and automation capabilities of the ServiceNow Platform. 

Together, we conduct training sessions, workshops, proofs-of-concept and explorations that explain, demonstrate, and showcase the transformative potential of AI and Intelligent Automation.

Advisory Solution Consultant - AI Specialist

AI MISTAKES

AI MISTAKES is on a mission to foster a shared learning journey through the landscape of artificial intelligence. I demystify AI by illuminating the unexpected outcomes and common missteps that arise when working with these tools. By reframing mistakes as valuable learning opportunities, we aim to build a resilient and curious community of lifelong learners while building essential skills for the future. 

AI MISTAKES is not just about gaining technical proficiency; it's about embracing the trial-and-error process as an essential part of innovation. The goal is to empower individuals and organizations to explore, experiment, and expand their understanding of AI, turning each stumble into a step forward on their AI journey. In addition to sharing knowledge, AI MISTAKES offers tailored guidance to individuals and organizations looking to enhance their AI capabilities and building programs that empower the people at all levels to perform and delivery results using the AI tools, techniques and strategies.

Founder

PepsiCo

Innovation can happen anywhere, and when it does you must foster it, help it develop, and grow! We work with colleagues around the world to activate innovation that extends to all parts of the company. Whether it is Improving the products and capabilities we have, or enabling new ideas for products and capabilities yet to come, we activate success. Great ideas come in so many sizes and even the smallest can have an outsized impact.

With a small team of talented people we are relentlessly striving to empower the people of PepsiCo to perform like never before and in ways never before imagined.  Some of our current avenues of exploration are tech scouting, prototyping, building platforms, growing education through exposition events, and especially facilitating design thinking and ideation sessions.

The part of this work that I find most engaging, is working towards helping others develop continuous improvement practices in whatever they do. It might take the form of new technology, process improvement, culture change, or people engagement at every level. I believe that by encouraging the use of DevOps, agile practices, new ways of working and people empowerment, we will unlock never before seen levels of creativity, productivity and satisfaction while improving peoples lives and bringing ever more smiles to our customers.

Senior Manager - Technology Innovation & Incubation

Across the globe and focusing on optimizing the value stream, I work with partners and providers to deliver cloud and datacenter compute capabilities to our ever changing and innovative business.

I'm currently focused on enabling faster infrastructure delivery and better infrastructure agility, particularly with hybrid cloud computing connectivity to suit the strategic needs of an evolving portfolio of consumer products.  

With an excellent team of experienced architects and engineers, we are developing new solutions that enable better technology solutions in far flung and often remote manufacturing and distribution facilities. 

Beyond being involved in transforming our infrastructure services, I also work toward bridging the divide between operations and application development in order to provide for continuous improvement across our application portfolio. I believe that by encouraging the use of practices typically associated with manufacturing and software development, we can enhance our infrastructure delivery and support disciplines substantially. Coupling developer best practices and best of breed configuration management tooling is a powerful combination allowing incredible productivity gains and faster time to market with rapid delivery of services.

Specialist - Infrastructure Architecture & Engineering

Working with multiple teams across the world to deliver the best of Intel hardware and Microsoft Windows to PepsiCo, striving to develop and engineer flexible and modular enterprise automation. Evangelizing the use of PowerShell across Intel servers and clients as well as working with application teams to drive toward a dev-ops culture. In concert with our worldwide infrastructure management partner, we provide engineering and support for Windows Server 2003, 2008, 2008R2 and 2012. 

Project initiatives are the biggest part of my responsibility, varying from hardware integration to operational management to infrastructure automation to workload optimization (hardware/virtual/ordering configuration). Integration is probably the most interesting part of the puzzle because there is an incredible diversity of systems and application that need to be brought together.

A key responsibility is working with our multiple sourcing providers to ensure security compliance and best practice implementation. In bringing about a secure and well managed environment, I especially enjoy working directly with hardware and software vendors to ensure our technological future. I get to work with leaders in our industry to bring to bear the latest hardware standards, improve service management, evaluate new hardware, software and cloud solutions.  Partnering with so many different organizations, I frequently provide feedback to vendors on problems and improvements needed as well as ensuring that the vendors are providing solutions that are in the best interest for all involved.

The part I most enjoy about my current role is sharing information with those around me and helping others to understand how they can best leverage the Windows and Intel world to deliver best in class services, analysis and information.

Associate Specialist - Windows Engineering Lead

Windows Server Engineering
   - Developed and Implemented transition plans to move from Dell server hardware to HP server hardware for all new systems.
   - Defined new Intel hardware standards (windows and linux) for implementing new HP Blade and Rack systems
   - Implemented new hardware monitoring system architecture and infrastructure
   - Delivered Windows Server 2008 R2 automated build to support existing Dell hardware and future HP hardware.
   - Implemented automated RAID provisioning as part of automated server build capabilities.
   - Delivered USB based windows installation process to enable worldwide server build capability in low bandwidth locations worldwide.
   - Drove enterprise firmware update agreements to establish business approved 'maintenance window' to improve blade environment stability and performance

Windows Client Engineering
   - Served as consultant as part of a small task force assembled to improve Windows 7 boot performance to speed adoption of the new platform
   - Brought server build 'best practices and lessons learned' over to client build automation to improve delivery quality and speed
   - unified server and client Windows PE environment to implement PXE based install process throughout the enterprise
   - Met with multiple vendors during client hardware RFP process.
   - Evaluated desktop, laptop, ultrabook and tablet systems for RFP process and provided specific rating and details to procurement team to assist with RFP processes and selection.

Responsible for Windows on Intel Engineering
   - Brought together disparate team of server and client windows engineering to build a framework for future build automation.
   - Put together a common PowerShell framework allow for modular build scripting and execution.
   - Worked with a cross-cultural/cross-country team of engineering in 3 separate locations to bring about a successful Windows 7 migration project and Windows Server 2008 R2 platform.

Infrastructure/Operations Senior Analyst - Windows Engineering Lead

Responsible for the enterprise automated server build of Windows Server 2003 and 2008.  
   - Re-engineered the existing OEM OS setup process with flexible hardware agnostic images based process, establishing a long term supportable process through the remainder of the OS life-cycle. 
   - Encouraged the additional and utilization of the Standard 64-bit version of Windows Server 2003 to decrease licensing costs but provide for high-memory configurations of hardware.
   - Unified 32-bit installs and 64-bit installs into a single scripted process to further enhance consistency across version (standard, enterprise/32-bit, 64-bit)
   - Unified installation process to be consistent across virtual hardware and physical hardware
   - Built an extensible windows update mechanism to allow progressive and continual windows updates to be added to build configuration upon enterprise approval.
   - Implemented new "build check" process to allow server build tasks to be completed at a lower stage in the provisioning process and ensuring consist build results.

Responsible for the enterprise security standard implementation of Windows Server 2003.
   - Researched, Implemented CIS policy settings across new and existing Windows 2003 servers to achieve the management designated score benchmark using local policy to effect the major change on a server-to-server basis. 
   - During the remediation efforts, over 3000 servers were successfully reconfigured with minimal business impact.

Responsible for enterprise backup, recovery and business continuity capabilities.
   - Engineering an automated installation and configuration process for Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery allowing for a hands-off backup solution.  
   - Completely designed, coded and implemented a cross-platform (windows/unix) automated shutdown and start-up process across 7 different systems to support power interruption at distribution facilities leveraging a UPS comm card.

Associate Analyst - Windows Server Engineer

- Assist with server build development and engineering for Windows Server 2003
- Assist with server build development and engineering for Windows Server 2008
- Provide consulting to application teams for hardware specifications
- Assist with development of an ASP website front-end to collect server order and relevant information and input it to a workflow data software system.
- Assist with security remediation efforts by collecting data
- Develop and keep current all server build documentation
- Update ANSI C code for internal server build components

Contractor: Systems Engineer

Self-employed

Perform a wide variety of services for clients, 
 - network design 
 - system setup and maintenance
 - website hosting
 - website design and maintenance
 - E-commerce website development and solutions
 - PC/server Hardware
 - special project consultation and management
 - Computer education and training
 - database design
 - application development (JAVA/ASP/PHP)
 - backup/disaster recovery planning
 - business intelligence consulting
 - security remediation and compliance consulting

As an independent IT consultant I've worked on solutions large to small. (3 PC through hundreds of PC and several servers; 4 page brochure websites, to large, content managed e-commerce sites). At the end of the day, it's about providing the IT services that a business needs to best utilize computing resources to grow and run.

Information Technology Consultant

Texas Woman's University

• Deployed, administered, maintained and supported the computer/electronic systems of the department.  
• Ensured physical and virtual security of systems.  
• Optimized dispatch computer operations; designed and implemented video and security monitoring station for remote monitoring of campus locations.  
• Planned, designed and implemented computer based emergency alert system as stop-gap measure until direct student notification contractor chosen.  
• Integrated web based parking permit registration system.  
• Initiated RFP for upgrade of new fire/burglary alarm central station receiving computer system. Coordinated implementation of entry access security solution across multiple locations around Texas.
• Worked with state of Texas Department of Public Safety to prepare for next generation federated information system implementation.

Systems Engineer

Conroe Medical Education Foundation

Administer, maintain and support a network of over 75 computers.  Actively troubleshoot problems in the Unix and Windows NT/2000 Server environment.  Other jobs included Internal BI systems for tracking patient visits and several databases for tracking inventory, employees, patient visits, and lab tests.  Rebuilt website for residency program.

Information Systems Manager

Learn from MISTAKES with AI | Tech Transformation | Innovation | Cloud | DevSecOps

Are you struggling to demonstrate the business value of technology?

With over 25 years of experience driving innovation and architecting complex systems, I've seen fantastic technology fail because it did not adequately address the user needs of the people it was built to serve.

I specialize in creating clarity amidst complexity - bridging the gap between technology capabilities and business priorities. My superpower is quickly grasping the heart of ambiguous problems and rallying teams to deliver solutions that create measurable value.

If you are a technology or business leader tired of:

❌ Chasing the latest hype while struggling to justify budgets

❌ Translating technobabble for skeptical executives

❌ Watching projects derailed by misaligned priorities

I can help you cut through the noise to build innovation strategies and technology roadmaps that move the needle for your organization and fully leverage AI and automation.

My approach combines systems thinking, design practices, and technical fluency to:

🎯 Uncover the root causes of business problems

🎯 Rapidly validate solution ideas

🎯 Deliver technology that users love

🎯 Continually optimize to drive outcomes

I've applied this formula to industry leaders like PepsiCo and helped clients build and integrate critical IoT, cloud, data, DevOps, and AI capabilities. 

Let's connect for a discovery call to explore if my expertise can help unlock value in your technology investments.

Daniel Lemire

Tonight I opened the digital factory. 

Friday night is pretty much always creator time.

Most often, that means new video content for YouTube (and here on LinkedIn, and X). 

But tonight, something new is joining the creation workshop. 

This past week, I installed and turned on a brand new state of the art 3D printer, and I’ve already started work on my first project!

My research, analysis, and planning for 2026 to be the year physical AI. So what better way to keep tabs on the latest developments than by enabling brand new hardware that will be able to fully leverage all the great 3D models that we can already generate with AI. 

Just a day ago, Meta released a new Segment Anything model that further helps to separate and capture 3D objects. 

It’s exciting to see what’s coming, and I’m looking forward to some great new opportunities (and the content benefits that come with it) to literally build with AI in 2026. 

Let me know what you would try out if you had the chance, and especially let me know if you’d like to consider partnering up for exploring and building with AI in 2026.

ServiceNow AI Consultant | AI MISTAKES | Transformation | DevOps

After spending the last several years building apps with AI, it still amazes me how this is even possible. 

I’ve shifted to different apps and solutions over the years, but there's always another new idea that lets me test what’s possible. 

Lately, it’s incredible how little I have to do to finish an app. Most of the time now, I don’t even have to ask it to test the app; it’s already doing it!

So consider this: if there is a small app that solves a specific problem you would be willing to pay $20 or more for, it might be time to try an agentic coding platform.

And if you are already working with ServiceNow, you really must see the Build Agent in action; it’s truly remarkable.

Why do some AI initiatives accelerate while others stagnate?

After working with dozens of enterprises on their AI transformations, I've noticed a pattern that rarely gets discussed:

It's not about the technology...it's about the questions we ask.

Here's what I mean:

Instead of asking "How can we use AI?"
Ask "What problem are we truly trying to solve?"

Instead of "Which AI tool should we buy?"
Ask "How will this create value for our customers?"

Instead of "How much can we automate?"
Ask "Where does human expertise matter most?"

The most successful transformations start with these fundamental questions. They treat AI not as a silver bullet, but as a powerful tool in a broader strategy.

The organizations that thrive don't chase AI for AI's sake. 

Focus on:
• Clear business outcomes
• Employee empowerment
• Customer value creation
• Measured, intentional implementation

AI is a means to an end, not the end itself.

What questions are you asking in your AI journey?

This image reminds me of Thanksgiving celebrations as a kid, and when I look at it, it evokes emotions because it brings back that childhood experience.

Way back when I was in elementary school, Thanksgiving activities included coloring, and they always included a cornucopia.

I have rarely seen a cornucopia in person, and we do not have one in our home, despite it being the regularly used home for Thanksgiving festivities (mainly because we have a table that seats 14). 

Anyway, what's interesting about this image, and the effort I put into generating it with AI, is that in the past, if I had wanted to do this post, it would have taken hours of effort to share this with you in the visceral way that I am doing right now because of image generation.

The image's reality is not the point; your emotional reaction is.

I am using AI to invoke something beyond an image. This is the case with almost anyone who uses AI to generate images or video... It's all about our reaction.

They’re powerful because they make us feel something real.

As we step into this season of gratitude, that's the reminder worth holding onto: Technology can generate the picture, but only people generate meaning.

So if this simple AI cornucopia stirred a memory for you, that's not artificial at all.

That's human, and that's something worth being thankful for.

The results are in, and they speak for themselves.


The G2 community ranked ServiceNow ITSM the leader in nine market categories.

As I was reading through the comments, it’s clear that the platform does what it was engineered to do. No solution is a magic wand, even with the power of AI. 

I have the pleasure of working with our customers every day, showing what's possible and helping drive value, but what I appreciate most is how AI is solving not just problems for the enterprise but also for the platform team. 

From “having a sidekick that takes care of the grunt work” to ensuring “nothing slips through the cracks,” see what users say they love most about our ITSM: 

http://spr.ly/60427NtNA


And before I go, I need you to know that ServiceNow isn’t just winning with ITSM; we’re winning across Enterprise Workflows. 

If the work you do must be done, there's nothing like it for delivering for your employees, customers, and the whole organization.

Benchmarks are NOT reality.

We can argue about which benchmarks matter and how people *feel* about using or interacting with an AI all day long, but this is what we have right now and they are definitely relevant even if they don't tell the whole story.

I have several observations about this latest set of scores:

1.) It gets exciting when all the scores go up

2.) I get concerned when a benchmark hits 100% though, because it means we can no longer effectively compare the performance against that benchmark going forward. 

3.) Check out that ARC-AGI-2 score leap (particularly relevant to agentic AI)

Associate Professor at The Wharton School. Author of Co-Intelligence

Whoa. This new GDPval score for GPT-5.2 is a very big deal.

GDPval is probably the most economically relevant measure of AI ability, suggesting that in head-to-head competition with human experts on tasks that require 4-8 hours for a human to do, GPT-5.2 wins 71% of the time as judged by other humans.

Previous best was under 50%.

Incredible new AI advancements are happening. 

In fact, there has been enough innovation over the last 12 months to last for the next 12 years of tech implementation projects.

Now is the time to take action. 

In 2026, AI pilots will be separated from AI performers. 

Let’s break it down: http://spr.ly/6040CJcgi

taplio

The Battle

Stephen Mostrom

Daniel Lemire

Followers

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Performance ScoreStephen Mostrom's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDaniel Lemire's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Stephen Mostrom

Daniel Lemire

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Stephen Mostrom's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreDaniel Lemire's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreStephen Mostrom's LinkedIn Performance