It’s Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I just wrapped up an incredible week at an HR conference in Porto, Portugal, and the message from the corporate world is loud and clear: AI transformation is no longer a pilot project—it is the main event. But as organizations rush to scale productivity, a massive counter-trend is emerging. Today, we look at the critical role of human leadership in an automated world, the growing backlash against "AI slop," and a personal story about how a single, spontaneous coffee chat years ago turned into a lifelong friendship and an Airbnb co-living setup this week.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I’m sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I’m pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, June 10, 2026, and I am coming to you from a park right outside a stunning castle in the middle of Milan, Italy. Yesterday, I told you about a conference that didn't quite hit the mark, but today is all about the wins. I’m sharing how a little bit of "LinkedIn flirting"—otherwise known as public, professional appreciation—landed me a free, world-class Italian lunch, a phenomenal new network contact, an upcoming podcast guest, and potential business collaborations. Plus, I’m pulling back the curtain on my exact "Conference Capture" AI workflow that allows me to stay 100% present during keynotes.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, June 10, 2026. I’m coming to you from a beautiful park in Milan, Italy, reflecting on a wild, mixed-bag of a trip. Over the last few days, I experienced the absolute peak of cycling freedom at Lake Como and the frustrating reality of a hyped-up international conference that didn’t quite deliver. Today, we’re talking about the "End-of-Life Regret" framework, taking calculated risks on new events, and how to find the silver lining when a business trip goes sideways.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, June 10, 2026. If you’ve noticed a quiet feed for the last few weeks, it’s because I’ve been deep in a transitional period, reimagining the future of my business. Markets change, technologies evolve, and true career ownership means knowing when to pivot. Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my business transition, why I shut down a community I ran for six years, how I’m turning Claude into my bluntest business consultant, and a fun personal milestone with my daughter in Madrid.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Wednesday, May 13, 2026. I’m coming to you from a sun-drenched plaza in Barcelona after a morning of journaling, coffee, and a serendipitous run-in with a friend. Today, we’re talking about "Social Surface Area." Why does living in a walking city feel so different from living in a driving city? We explore the biological spark of the "unplanned encounter" and how to manufacture that feeling even if you’re stuck in suburban traffic.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Tuesday, May 13, 2026. Let’s get real for a second: life doesn’t always go according to the business plan. I’ve been feeling some frustrations lately—business isn't exactly where I want it to be. But today’s reminder is for me as much as it is for you: There are no "good" or "bad" events, only the perspectives we choose to wrap around them. We’re diving into the Stoic discipline of controlling the one thing that can’t be imprisoned: your mindset.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.

It’s Friday in Barcelona, and what started as a social game of paddle (padel) on a rooftop court turned into a masterclass in how the ego can sabotage our own happiness. Today, I’m breaking down a heated altercation that happened between courts and why "standing your ground" often costs you far more than you realize. We’re looking at the literal "math of an argument" and how to recognize when your ego is about to overcharge you.

I hope you enjoy it! As always you can learn more and connect with me on my website (andystorch.com) or LinkedIn. And you can find my books - Own Your Career Own Your Life and Own Your Brand, Own Your Career - on Amazon.