A Personal Manifesto for Making Work Human
Why the need for a Personal Manifesto? Why Now?
Lately, I’ve been feeling a quiet but persistent tension as I reflect on my career trajectory and the personal mission I want to follow going forward.
The tension isn’t about what I’ve done, but about who I’m becoming next.
I feel incredibly fortunate and deeply blessed. By any conventional measure, I’ve had a successful career in Business and IT.
I started out in the early days as a systems and network engineer, moved into consulting, and then rode the SharePoint wave for nearly twelve years. Where are my SharePoint peeps at?
Along the way, I naturally stepped into leadership roles long before I ever held the formal titles.
Eventually, that leadership was formalized through project/program management and organizational change management work.
More recently, I’ve found myself still applying leadership skills while returning more to my technical roots as a Cybersecurity Program Manager.
From the outside, it looks like steady progression.
From the inside, it has felt more like evolution.
The tension hasn’t come from dissatisfaction or regret. It has come from growth.
Over the last few years, my passion for AI technologies has grown rapidly.
Not just fascination with the tools themselves, but a deeper concern for the impact AI is already having, and will continue to have, on work, on our personal lives, and on humanity as a whole.
That concern is exactly why I chose to call my personal blog and Substack publication Make Work Human.
A Saturday Morning Realization
I love Saturday mornings.
They are my protected time. A space to slow down, reflect, read, think, and engage in my favorite activity: gaining clarity.
On a very cold Chicago morning, staring at the snow-covered ground out my home office window, I gave myself permission to pause and ask a harder question:
What am I actually optimizing for in this next chapter?
Not the next role.
Not the next certification.
Not the next trend.
But alignment.
What emerged from that morning of reflection was something I had never formally articulated before.
A Personal Manifesto. Not as a branding exercise, but as a compass. 🧭
I’m sharing it today because clarity compounds when it is shared. And because as we wrap up 2025, a year marked by rapid innovation, personal change, and global uncertainty, many of us are quietly asking similar questions.
Why a Personal Manifesto Matters Right Now
We live in a time where career paths are no longer linear, AI is reshaping entire industries, and burnout has become normalized.
In moments like this, tactics are not enough. We need orientation.
A manifesto is not a rigid plan.
It is a declaration of intent. A reminder of what matters when choices feel overwhelming.
What follows is mine.
My Personal Manifesto
My Personal Mission
My mission is to help others live better lives in a world reshaped by AI and constant change.
I do this by helping people stay relevant, grounded, healthy, and human as work, technology, and expectations evolve.
I believe meaningful progress does not require burnout, chaos, or perfection. It requires clarity, calm execution, and the courage to choose what truly matters.
I am not here to chase trends or hype.
I am here to guide people through change without losing themselves in the process.
My North Star
To be a trusted guide at the intersection of AI, work, and humanity, helping people navigate the future without sacrificing their health, values, or sense of purpose.
This North Star keeps me oriented when decisions feel complex. It reminds me that my work is not about titles, tools, or noise.
It is about impact, stewardship, and long-term alignment.
It is about staying true to the people I love.
My Core Values
Humanity First ❤️
Technology should serve people, not replace their dignity or well-being. I care deeply about how innovation affects mental, emotional, and relational health. This value keeps my work grounded in empathy and realism, not abstraction.
Calm Over Chaos 🕊️
I value calm productivity over frantic busyness. Progress does not require exhaustion. A steady, intentional pace allows me to think clearly, lead wisely, and protect my health while still moving forward.
Progress Beats Perfection ⏩
I believe in forward motion. Good enough to move on (GETMO) is not compromise.
It is wisdom.
This value allows me to create momentum, unlock early returns, and help others escape paralysis disguised as rigor.
Personal Agency 👱🏻
I believe each person is responsible for their own trajectory.
No boss, title, or system defines my future.
This value drives my commitment to helping others reclaim ownership of their work, skills, and direction.
Family and Presence 👨👩👧👦
Success means nothing if it costs presence with the people I love.
I prioritize family, shared memories, and being fully present in the moments that matter.
This value anchors my definition of a well-lived life.
Lifelong Learning and Curiosity 📚
Curiosity keeps me adaptable and relevant. Learning energizes me and ensures I continue evolving as the world changes.
Responsibility to Guide 🚶🏻♂️➡️
I feel a responsibility to share what I have learned the hard way. Not from theory, but from lived experience. This value compels me to teach, write, and guide others who feel lost, overwhelmed, or behind.
How I Choose to Show Up
I choose clarity over noise.
I choose structure over chaos.
I choose health over hustle.
I choose meaning over appearances.
I choose to build bridges between what is possible and what is sustainable.
My skills and my profession are my vehicle.
My mission is my direction.
I am not late.
I am aligned.
Why I’m Sharing This Now
Writing this Personal Manifesto did not magically resolve all uncertainty. What it did was something far more valuable.
It reduced tension.
It clarified trade-offs.
It reminded me that a career is a vehicle, not an identity.
That technology is powerful, but humanity is foundational.
That progress does not have to come at the expense of health or presence.
Most importantly, it gave me permission to move forward calmly.
An Invitation to You
If you’ve felt pulled in multiple directions.
If your career looks successful but feels unfinished.
If AI excites you and worries you at the same time.
If you sense you are being called to realign rather than restart.
I invite you to write your own Personal Manifesto.
Not for social media.
Not for your resume.
But for yourself.
As 2025 comes to a close, clarity may be the most underrated competitive advantage we have.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for being here.
And thank you for caring about Making Work Human.
