Develop Daily

🧠 Publishing the growth guide for busy professionals. Subscribe for tips on learning, career development, and productivity.

Founder

Damn Smart Marketing, LLC

🚀 Writing high-converting copy for Tech and Finance. We work with companies like Comerica Bank, Clari, Bluecore, and GreenSlate.

Co-Founder and Copywriter

Maricopa Community Colleges

🧑‍🏫 Taught 150+ credit hours in Business Law, Business & Tech, Investments, and more. Received 95% student satisfaction. 

✋ Structured course material to accommodate learning levels, including ESL and special needs, across classroom and online learning platforms.

Adjunct Professor of Business

Silicon Valley Bank

✈️ Piloted a skill assessment tool to support the successful business case for an organization-wide learning OKR and $200k+ investment in skills technology.

💭 Developed an Agile learning community, which trained Agile champions to drive mindset transformation across the enterprise. 93% likelihood to recommend.

🤓 Built learning material to power key best practices across API, Architecture, Cloud, Agile Frameworks, and more.

L&D Product Manager

Bank of America

💻 Installed a first-of-its-kind virtual workshop model, which improved manager speed to proficiency by six weeks. 

🤝 Led the creation of a national sales leadership conference, which achieved 100% learner satisfaction. Received the enterprise Performance Excellence Award for this work. 

⚡Deployed a simulated training platform that reduced loan officer systems training time by 30%. 

🤖 Successfully executed the pilot program for a Salesforce training tool, scoring 100% likely to recommend.

Learning Program Manager

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

Learning is today's professional superpower. 🚀

Just 15 minutes of daily development can unlock your potential and future-proof your career. 

In the time it takes to finish a coffee, you can:

📌 Level up your skills
📌 Prepare for leadership or a promotion
📌 Pave the path to stronger work-life balance

--

Need more convincing?

Check out this data from PEW Research. 

📈 65% say learning expanded their professional network.
📈 47% say learning helped them advance within their current company.
📈 29% say learning enabled them to find a new job. 

And there's more ...

📈 87% say learning helped them feel more capable and well-rounded.
📈 69% say learning opened up new perspectives about their lives.
📈 58% say learning made them feel more connected to their local community.

In short, learning is amazing for your career and personal life. 

--

Ready to build a dynamic learning habit?
You're in the right place. 

Here's how I can help: 

👉 Follow on LinkedIn for daily posts to support your journey. 

👉 Subscribe to the Develop Daily Newsletter for weekly inspiration and curation of the best professional growth content from across the Internet.

Learn about: 
📌 Development plans
📌 Habit building
📌 Productivity
📌 Skill acquisition
📌 Work/life balance
📌 Career growth

👉 I also offer Develop Daily workshops for teams and leaders. If you're looking to activate the full potential within your organization, let's talk. 

--

I'm excited to grow alongside you!

My DMs are open. Let me know what you’d like to learn more about. I'd also love to hear what you're passionate about and what's driving you to develop daily.

Stephen 😀

I've missed more than a few shots in my career.

Here are 3 that still stick with me:

1️⃣ I talked myself out of applying for a promotion early in my career. Later, my boss casually mentioned he would’ve given it to me.

2️⃣ A senior exec once tore into my PowerPoint deck. I’d called out a program run by another team. Turns out, that wasn’t the time for “radical candor.”

3️⃣ Midway through facilitating a session for 50 peers, I got hit with a coughing fit so bad my co-facilitator had to bail me out. Rough.

I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and been ghosted. I’ve been passed over for roles I thought I nailed. I’ve even been laid off.

And here’s the thing: I wouldn’t trade those misses for anything.

———

I love this quote from Michael Jordan.

It's easy to think of an NBA legend like Mike and only remember the winning moments. But the misses shaped him just as much as the buzzer-beaters.

9,000 missed shots.
300 lost games.

"And that is why I succeed."

———

Career misses happen. To me, to you, to everyone.

The question is: how do you frame them?

You can see misses as failures. Or as the building blocks of success.

The choice is yours.

———

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career development, and productivity.

Stephen Mostrom

I thought degrees would carry me through my career.

The truth? They were just the warm-up. 

After 20+ years of schooling and 2x grad degrees, I walked away with a powerful lesson. 

👉 Learning is a lifelong pursuit. 

The reality is this: 

- School was never designed to set you up for life.
- Self-learning is a tool few professionals use.
- Skills evolve at a breakneck pace. 

The latest data from LinkedIn shows that 25% of top career skills are turning over every year.

No degree program can keep up with that.  

The solution?

👉 Commit to continuous learning. 

✓ Build a daily learning habit
✓ Surround yourself with fellow learners
✓ Stay curious and humble
✓ Adapt and apply

Do this, and you'll avoid the drift toward irrelevance that haunts so many promising careers. 

———

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career development, and productivity. developdaily.substack.com

Every time I want to skip a day, I remind myself:

Learning is an investment in the future. 

Here's the hard truth — building a learning habit will cost you.

- Time you think you don’t have.
- Effort when the easy option looks better.
- Discipline when results aren't immediate.

But here’s the flip side:

If you don't invest now, you’ll pay later — in missed opportunities, outdated skills, and ceilings you could’ve smashed.

Want a better future? 
Pay the price today.

✓ Block time on your calendar every day.
✓ Give learning your full attention, no distractions.
✓ Apply what you learn immediately.
✓ Celebrate your progress, even when it feels slow.

So, what’s it going to be — costs today or costs tomorrow?

For me, it's a no-brainer. 

———

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🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career development, and productivity.

Have you heard of “productive procrastination?”

(Spoiler: it’s a HUGE waste of time) 

———

James Clear. 
Cal Newport. 
David Allen.

Pick up a book by any of these modern productivity experts and you’ll find this concept.

“Productive procrastination.”

Tasks that feel like they’re moving us forward. But, as this graphic from Janis Ozolins so perfectly illustrates, they secretly get in the way.

What’s so dangerous about these tasks. . .

They feel productive. 

They’re better than Netflix and TikTok. 

So they must be helping us achieve our career goals, right?

———

To get more done, perform a “productive procrastination audit.

Here are the steps:

1️⃣ Identify your tasks.

What work do you need to complete in order to accomplish your goal? Write them down.

2️⃣ Analyze your activities.

Keep a daily log, noting how you spend your time. Be detailed and transparent.

3️⃣ Recognize productive procrastination.

Watch out for tasks like:
- Organizing emails
- Attending unnecessary meetings 
- Updating to-do lists
- Researching

These tasks aren’t always a drag on productivity. But they can quickly turn into a distraction.

4️⃣ Reflect and adjust.

Set time limits. Cut out distracting tasks. And treat the whole process as iterative — a work in progress.

BONUS

5️⃣ Get feedback.

Productive procrastination is tough to spot. Consider pulling in a trusted peer or objective coach.

———

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career development, and productivity.

Professional: "I'm a lifelong learner." 

But also: 
- I only show up when I feel like it
- I stay within my comfort zone
- I don’t seek feedback—too risky
- I binge on content but never practice

Real talk . . . 

A title is worthless. 
Worse, it creates a false sense of progress. 

If you want real growth, turn your title into a daily habit. 

Playbook: 
✓ Show up every day, calendar blocked
✓ Do one thing every day that scares you
✓ Pursue feedback—it's growth fuel
✓ Put your new knowledge to work ASAP

So, are you really learning or just scrolling?

———

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What's more valuable than money? 

Time. Use these tools to invest it wisely👇

(1) Distraction Catcher
(2) Pareto (80/20) Principle
(3) Compounding Effect
(4) Delayed Gratification
(5) Pomodoro Technique

(6) Time-Blocking
(7) Decision Fatigue
(8) Eisenhower Matrix
(9) Bias Towards Action
(10) Reitoff Principle

Graphics: Full credit to the talented Lewis O’Brien.
Follow him for more thought-provoking visuals.

———

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career development, and productivity.

10 images to 10x your productivity

Pop quiz: How much does the average person retain after reading a book? (Here's the shocking answer)👇

<10%

And researchers believe the number is going down as we become more and more reliant on technology. 

I don't know about you . . .

But I don't feel like investing 8+ hours into a book only to remember a few lines. 

So afterward, I do this: 
1 - Organize and store top takeaways
2 - Share takeaways with others
3 - Establish a learning plan part two

For the full breakdown, check out this carousel. 

Happy reading (and retaining)!

———

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📚 Here's your new post-book routine

Feeling the stress today? You're not alone. 

69% of Americans are anxious about the outcome of today's election and 77% worry about the future of the country. 

The result: Lots of distracting thoughts. 

In a recent Fortune article, a trio of psychologists offered a simple playbook to stay grounded and focused on election day. 

Here it is: 

———

1️⃣ Limit News Consumption

It’s easy to get sucked into updates, but constant news-checking fuels anxiety. 

Instead, pick specific times after work to catch up on trusted sources. 

———

2️⃣ Acknowledge, Don’t Engage, with Anxious Thoughts

When a stressful thought pops up, recognize it, then let it drift by. 

Fighting it only makes it stronger.

———

3️⃣ Practice Grounding Techniques

Deep breathing or a quick walk can help calm the body and refocus the mind. 

The more you practice, the easier it gets to switch out of “stress mode” and back to productivity.

———

4️⃣ Set Boundaries in Work Conversations

If political talk with colleagues feels overwhelming, it’s okay to say, “Let’s stick to work topics today.” 

A quick reset goes a long way in reducing tension.

———

5️⃣ Focus on Immediate, Tangible Goals

Ground yourself in work you can control. 

Small, achievable tasks can be a helpful distraction and give a sense of progress, helping you steer through the uncertainty.

———

How are you managing stress today?

P.S. This is a post about reducing political anxiety, so no politically-charged comments please. There are plenty of other places for that.

The old definition of “expert” is broken.

And it’s why so many careers are stalling out.

———

Here's the deal: 

Many of the words we use to describe knowledge and skills are out-of-date. They come from a time when markets moved at a glacial pace and “knowing it all” was the end goal. 

But we don't live in that world anymore. 

- New data, tools, and insights are being generated at lightning speed.
- Industries are transforming faster than ever. 
- By the time you "master" something, it’s already evolving.

Yet we still cling to this outdated definition of expert: "One with the special skill or knowledge representing mastery of a particular subject." (Webster)

It's time for an upgrade. 

———

What's true expertise in 2024? 

It's a journey, not a destination. And the real experts aren't resting on past successes — they’re relentlessly learning, adapting, and staying curious. 

Here’s how to embrace the new definition of expertise:

1️⃣ Set clear learning goals.

Identify the skills or knowledge areas that will keep you ahead in your field. Be specific and intentional about what you want to learn next.

2️⃣ Make learning a habit.

Block time every week to explore new ideas, attend a webinar, read industry reports, or take a course. Continuous learning needs to be part of your routine, not an afterthought.

3️⃣ Seek out feedback.

Don’t wait for formal reviews. Ask for input from colleagues, mentors, and peers to identify areas where you can improve and grow.

4️⃣ Experiment and adapt.

Apply what you learn as quickly as possible. Test new strategies, embrace failure as a learning tool, and keep iterating on your approach.

5️⃣ Stay curious.

Follow emerging trends, subscribe to newsletters, listen to podcasts, and always be on the lookout for what’s next. Curiosity is the fuel that keeps your growth going.

———

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Even "Captain America" falls sometimes. 

It's called being human. 

This is Christian Pulisic, captain of the U.S. Men's Soccer Team. At 26, he's already the most successful U.S. soccer player ever. 

His highlight reel: 
- Won the Concacaf Nations League
- Won the UEFA Champions League
- Youngest captain of the U.S. Men's Team
- 91 goals and 62 assists

He’s worth $50 million, according to Transfermarkt, and top teams like Liverpool and Manchester United are chasing him.

In short… he’s really good at soccer.

That's why this video makes me so happy. 
👉 Because even the best slip up sometimes.

So, the next time you trip, remember: even “Captain America” hits the ground. 

What matters is getting up and going again.

———

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Yesterday, I dragged myself up 1,300 feet of mountain. 

The goal: break out of a mental rut. 

Hiking has been my go-to mindset activity for years. Why? Because it perfectly mirrors real, messy growth.

- Your foot slips on gravel
- Your legs start to feel like dead weight
- Your mind questions every step

And, more often than not, the peak is nowhere in sight.

But that’s the point . . . 
Growth isn’t supposed to feel comfortable. 

Stumbling up Camelback reminds me: 
 
1 - To keep going when motivation fades
2 - To slow down if I want to go further
3 - To embrace the view from the top

How do you shake yourself out of a rut?

———

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Not sure what to learn next? That’s career-limiting.

NextLearn GPT fixes it in 60 seconds.👇

———

The #1 challenge holding professionals back . . . 

It's not ability. Or access. 
It's direction and a plan. 

Without this, pros miss out on the career-boosting benefits of sharp skills and cutting-edge knowledge. 

No thanks. 

So, I spent 20+ hours building a GPT to make sure this never happens again (at least for Develop Daily folks). 

🔥 It's called NextLearn GPT. 

Answer 5 simple questions and you get: 
- A tailored 30-day learning plan
- A list of curated resources w/ links
- A tracker you can use to measure progress

———

Want NextLearn GPT?

Do this: 

1️⃣ Send me a connect request (if we're not connected). 
2️⃣ Comment "NextLearn GPT" below. 

And if you think this would benefit others in your network, please share. 

Happy learning!

Sometimes, I dive headfirst into (literally) whatever catches my interest. No hesitation.

Instead of directing pent-up learning energy toward the obvious outlets — career-boosting information, skill-building insights, and the like — I dive deep into something totally off-script.

In the past, these rabbit holes have included:
- Obsessing over cooking techniques and wine production
- Exploring U.S. National Parks (and the stories behind them)
- Studying the techniques behind great works of art

And recently it’s been history. Lots of history.

———

I might feel guilty taking these side roads.

Isn’t there something more productive I could be doing with my time?

But as the hours of exploration stack up, I’m starting to see (once again) how shaking up learning routines can introduce new ideas and hidden benefits.

Here are my three favorites.👇

[Check out the latest Develop Daily newsletter for 3 benefits of shaking up your learning routines.]

———

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3 benefits of shaking up your learning routines Sometimes, I dive headfirst into whatever catches my interest. Instead of directing pent-up learning e

Open article: Go Ahead, Let Your Curiosities Run Wild 🔍 by Stephen Mostrom • 3 min read

Stephen Mostrom on LinkedIn • 3 min read

Go Ahead, Let Your Curiosities Run Wild 🔍

Tired of forgetting 95% of what you learn?

Check out this research👇

Professors at LSU and Central Missouri analyzed the note-taking systems of college students. Then, they used a simple test to measure retention. 

Can you guess the difference between students who took strong notes and those who didn't take any?

Notes: 34% retention. 
No Notes: 5% retention. 

———

Taking notes is one of the simplest ways to improve any career development activity.

- Books and articles
- Courses and conferences
- Podcasts and more

Reach for these 3 tools: 
1️⃣ Pen + Paper (Seriously)
2️⃣ The Cornell Note-Taking System
3️⃣ AI-Powered Recording Tools

💭 What's your favorite note-taking tip?

———

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👉 The easiest way to retain more info

Every night, we share one thing we’re grateful for.

It started as an experiment with my wife and two kiddos — a quick way to inject some positivity into our daily routine. What surprised me was how quickly it stuck. 

Now, this simple two-minute practice feels essential. If we skip it, the evening feels incomplete.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I want to devote this edition of the Develop Daily newsletter to gratitude.

Not just because it’s the season for it, but because gratitude works.

This small, consistent practice has become an essential part of our daily routine.

Want to add it to yours? 
Here’s how to get started. 👇

———

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
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A simple gratitude practice elevates your mood and reduces stress Every day at bedtime, we share one thing we’re grateful for. It started as an experi

Open article: The Secret to Feeling 10% Happier 😄 by Stephen Mostrom • 3 min read

Learning is a criminally underrated career advantage.

Check out these 6 data-backed benefits👇 



1️⃣ 65% of professionals grew their network.

Learning expands your circle as you rub shoulders with peers and mentors. 

A single connection could unlock your next opportunity.

———

2️⃣ 87% of professionals felt more confident.

Walk into every meeting with strong insights and fresh ideas. 

When you know your stuff, you don’t just sit at the table — you add serious value.

———

3️⃣ 47% of professionals landed a promotion.

Continuous learning proves you’re ready for the next step up.

When you bring knowledge and skills to the table, you set yourself apart as the go-to person for solutions.

———

4️⃣ 69% of professionals opened new perspectives on life. 

Learning beyond your role gives you a creative edge. 

Whether it’s a new language or business strategy, diverse knowledge helps you think outside the box.

———

5️⃣ 29% of professionals found a new job. 

Today’s job market rewards adaptability and cutting-edge skills. 

By constantly updating your resume, you’re always ready when the right opportunity comes along.

———

6️⃣ 58% of professionals felt more connected to others. 

Learning together builds bonds — whether it’s a workshop, book club, or online group. 

Shared goals and growth spark connections that last.

———

So, what's your next learning move?

♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network.
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