Hi there Reader,
How are things, really?
I'd love to hear from you (seriously, hit reply!).
Have you heard of the "Paradox of Choice"?
It’s the notion that while a few options are good, too many leads too:
A grocery store study showed that customers bought more jam when offered 6 varieties rather than 24.
An abundance of choices doesn't just make us indecisive - but unhappy.
This paradox extends to careers too....
Excessive optionality doesn't just overwhelm us; it obscures our path forward.
This applies to Careers, too...
I wanted to build an audience as a Creator.
After all, audiences are leverage, and leverage amplifies output.
My initial "plan" was to scale a following on Twitter/X...
But 10-11 months in, I found myself with a small library of podcast clips and diminishing returns on X.
When it came to choosing a "niche" - I had TOO many options...
And the path forward got hazy...
I stepped back, assessed my options, and decided to give YouTube a try...
I found someone on Upwork to optimize my channel, and it skyrocketed from ~30 to over 2,200 subscribers in ~10 days.
(That’s 208,600% growth)
Eisenhower nailed it: “Plans are nothing; planning is everything.”
I didn’t plan to focus on YouTube, but PLANNING/executing on my original Twitter/Podcast vision made it possible.
(Sidebar: Some related advice from my friend, Emelie)
Now, over to you:
What steps are you taking to build your career leverage?
How are you setting yourself up for success today, tomorrow, next year, and even the next decade?
Your journey is unique, and I'm here to support it.
If you're looking for strategies to navigate the complex world of career growth or Entrepreneurship - let's chat.
Together, we can plan your next big move.
Here’s to turning plans into action,
-Mike
P.S. Curious about how I achieved such exponential growth?
Let’s discuss this and more during our session. Your next big breakthrough is just a conversation away.
With 17 years of insider experience, I specialize in enhancing university operations and strategic planning through innovative, data-driven solutions. Receive succinct, powerful insights on using analytics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, increase ROI, and make informed strategic decisions. Ideal for C-suite aiming to do more with less and navigate the complexities of modern higher education.
Hi there Reader, This week’s newsletter is a bit of a special edition... More AI volatility, new market signals for campus real estate, and the latest Harvard vs. Trump legal drama. As always: fast takes, second-order insights, and resources to help you navigate Higher Ed’s next moves. 👇 Onward: AI in Flux: New Video Tools, GPT-5 Timeline, Meta’s Talent Wars The AI arms race keeps accelerating: Midjourney launched its first AI video model (V1), turning images into 5-sec clips—extensible to 21...
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Hi there Reader, Here are few updates on the insides, and periphery, of the Academy.... 7 Campuses. One System. A Cautionary Tale. Penn State just approved plans to close 7 of its 24 campuses. While framed as “restructuring,” the real signal here is existential: Low enrollment, mounting deficits, and diminishing local pipelines have pushed even a land-grant flagship into retreat mode. 📉 Translation?This isn’t just a rural problem or a small-school story. The ground is shifting under everyone....