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I am truly delighted and honored to share that I have been selected for a Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award in the area of Microsoft 365 Copilot. This recognition is not just an important personal milestone, but a reflection of the incredible community of professionals, learners, and innovators who freely share knowledge to help others achieve more with Microsoft's tools. The Microsoft MVP award is given to individuals who contribute to tech community leadership through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Nearly four years ago when I changed career direction to focus on helping others with Microsoft 365 and other technology, I did so having already benefited from this learning community, inspiring me to make that change! Early in the journey of my new solo business, I set up a YouTube channel, but it took me nearly a year to post my first video as I felt such pressure and conflict in sticking my neck out by demonstrating technical skills or sharing opinions. As I became more confident and deliberate in the routine of creating video content, I also became more aware that in this community everyone is a learner, even those who are the best and most knowledgeable teachers. Now, sharing what I do has become a vital part of my own personal learning and improvement journey, and along the way I found support and alignment from a diverse group of likeminded people from across the world who are interested in Microsoft's technologies. Thank you to Paul Keijzers [MVP] for the nomination, I appreciate your support. Thank you to my wife Kelly, who humors my constant excitement about AI and other tech. Thank you to many of the (now fellow) MVPs who have inspired me over the last few years. And the biggest thank you of all to those who have watched my videos, read my LinkedIn posts, signed up for my training, attended my sessions, asked questions, or contributed in other ways. If you're not familiar with my YouTube channel, where I share content about Copilot, Copilot extensibility, and AI technology more broadly, go check it out (there's a link in the comments). There you can also find my bi-weekly podcast I host with Therman Trotman, Business Boost, focused on helping you achieve more with Microsoft technologies. I look forward to continuing this journey of learning through our AI-powered future.

Are you a creator? Or a cre-paster? One of the favorite topics of AI influencers here on LinkedIn and elsewhere is how to use AI tools like ChatGPT or Copilot to shortcut the process of creating posts or other content. They make it seem really simple. Ask Copilot for a list of topics to write about. Choose one and ask Copilot to write it for you. Use a GPT or some other AI tool to tighten it up for posting. And just copy and paste, and watch the likes roll in. The only problem with this strategy: *You* have created NOTHING! If you have nothing to post about. No story to tell. No insights to share. Then there's an amazing innovative option that's open to everyone - just don't post. Sure, you miss out on some likes, some engagement, the opportunity for your viral moment - but weren't you just stealing ChatGPT's limelight anyhow? I'm not saying you shouldn't use AI. You should. I do. But if your use of AI is just creating content that is pretty much 100% AI and 0% you, then perhaps you should focus on laying the foundations to become someone with ideas or experiences you want to share, and others want to engage with. Using AI authentically is all about it being an amplifier of something else that's original to you that you're bringing to the table. Maybe you have lots of ideas and want to work with ChatGPT to distill them into a logical set of posts. Or maybe you need help with research and fact checking. Or perhaps you have a lot to say but you're not so great at writing, so that's the best place for AI to help. As long as you're the primary driver and AI is the assistant, it's all good. You should use AI to give the things that people want to learn from or about you a leg up in the noisy space that is social media. But if AI is your end-to-end solution, and you're contributing nothing, any benefit you see today will vanish tomorrow. Your early mover advantage of using AI will be eroded by others who jump on this band wagon and can achieve largely similar results. Those who will be most successful in this age of AI are the people who find ways to leverage these tools to enhance what makes them unique, not those who just rely on them as a crutch. How do you use AI in your content creation workflow? Are you a creator or a cre-paster? ?? from ChatGPT

In this week's episode Therman and I discuss the retirement of Delve, and whether its logical successor is Copilot, we also consider the upcoming release of a refreshed web interface for Planner, and whether with all the buzz around Google's NotebookLM, Microsoft is starting to get behind in the AI race against its biggest competitor.

How are you learning to be a great Copilot pilot? With the release of Copilot Academy for all Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed users as part of Viva Learning, there's now a built-in option that you can turn on as part of your deployment. But does it give you everything you need for success?

It's nearly two years since I posted my first video on YouTube, and to celebrate, I'm trying something new, doing a live video Q&A on Copilot, AI, Microsoft 365, or other similar topics audience members would like to ask about. Getting started with YouTube was a fantastic decision. Not only are the videos I post great marketing, but they mean I am constantly learning new things and engaging with new people. Other YouTube creators in this space like Ami Diamond [MVP], Jonathan Edwards, Daniel Anderson, Enea Li?aj, Peter Rising and Scott Brant have been great inspiration or support. And others, like my Business Boost partner Therman Trotman have also joined my circle through this work. If you haven't checked out my YouTube channel yet, please do: https://lnkd.in/g7tDnyzu and if you'd like to submit a question to be answered during the Q&A: https://lnkd.in/gC5fZzRT And please remember to mark your calendar for 4pm Eastern on Friday 9/6 when my live event is scheduled to take place on YouTube.

Copilot in OneDrive has now started to arrive, and offers a new surface to gain value from AI for Copilot for Microsoft 365. But, in my opinion, the most exciting aspects of what was originally announced for OneDrive’s Copilot are (hopefully) still to come.

Do unexpected inconsistencies in the software we use negatively impact user adoption? Take this example. Two Copilots, one the Edge Copilot sidecar and the other the one at copilot.microsoft.com. On the surface, both appear to offer exactly the same experience. But one can find Loop components as a grounding option for a prompt, the other cannot (your mileage may vary). Inconsistencies like this make Copilot for Microsoft 365 more of an adoption challenge than would otherwise be the case, as while being a really powerful tool, there are also a bunch of unexpected gotchas depending on what you're trying to do. Hopefully, these will be inconsistencies that Microsoft seeks to reduce or eliminate over time. Remember that these Copilot experiences are early versions of a brand-new type of product. In the meantime, for businesses adopting this technology, emphasis should be placed both on active adoption communication and on ongoing experimentation. You want to avoid users opting out of using Copilot because they run into problems that can be easily mitigated - getting the habit of using Copilot is one of the most important aspects of successful use. It's also a product where ongoing adoption support and end-user training can be really beneficial. Even if just as a forum to compare notes on how to find content you created in Loop for your prompts. If you are deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 in a smaller business and need help with this process, reach out for a chat.

Last year, when Microsoft announced Copilot for Microsoft 365, I was immediately excited about the opportunities it offered. But in discussing this potential with clients and others, I found the same basic questions about the technology and what its role in business will be kept coming up. This led me to write my first book, "Who's in the Copilot's Seat?", focusing in on how smaller businesses should think about AI and get value from it. By the time I finished writing, I had only had a short opportunity to actually get hands on with Copilot for Microsoft 365. Now, over half a year later, and with Copilot in many business users' hands, the initial direction I settled on to focus in on the fundamentals of generative AI, safe usage, and the "why" of AI, has proven to be an effective foundation for many of the clients I work with on Copilot adoption. I continue to believe that the opportunities generative AI tools like Copilot offer to smaller businesses are particularly important; in the book I wrote: "AI offers a wide range of benefits for businesses of all sizes, but for smaller businesses that find ways to engage with these technologies there is a potential significant upside of leveling the playing field against larger enterprises." Whether you're a business of 1, or 10, or 100, it can be challenging to divert resources to the possibilities of new technologies versus the capacity of big players to invest time and energy in trying new things. However, tools like Copilot offer massive potential that should not be ignored. I'm currently considering how best to deal with the practical usage lessons of the first year of Copilot, whether it be a second edition, a new book, or something else entirely. But certainly, the foundational lessons describing the "why" of AI that was my focus last year continues to be relevant for everyone who's getting started. If you're interested in getting a copy, check out the link in the comments.

I almost missed this milestone, but a couple of weeks ago, my YouTube channel surpassed 500,000 views! While this might be a small achievement in the grand scheme of YouTube viewing stats, it means a lot to me. Over the past year and a half, creating videos has not only been enjoyable but also a fantastic way to connect with people, grow new skills, and also promote my business. Throughout this journey, I've had the pleasure of connecting with, interacting with, and being inspired by numerous incredible individuals and true tech experts. These include Therman Trotman, Ami Diamond [MVP], Suhail Sayed, Daniel Anderson, Jaime López, Kevin McDonnell, Lisa Crosbie, Jonathan Edwards, Scott Brant, Darrell Webster, Andy Malone MVP, Szymon Bochniak, Paul Keijzers [MVP], Femke Cornelissen, Zoe Wilson, Craig White, Peter Rising and many others who have inspired me with what they've shared or offered support in some other way. What I love most about making YouTube videos is the challenge it brings—pushing me to improve my technology skills and focus on what truly matters in helping others understand often complex topics. When I decided to pivot my career to tech in 2021, it took almost a year to find the courage to publish my first video. But I've discovered that many people genuinely appreciate those who share their knowledge and perspectives on various topics. It’s a rewarding way to connect with others and enhance your skills. If you’d like to see what I’m up to, I’ll share the link to my channel in the comments. Also, be sure to check out the amazing content from the people I’ve mentioned. Thank you all for your support!

With Copilot for Microsoft 365 available to all businesses, more and more are choosing to take advantage of this groundbreaking set of products. But understanding those products and the technology they are built on is essential to getting the best from them. What are the top 3 adoption errors or misunderstandings I keep seeing? In this video I'll give you some insights on things you should focus on either as the person leading Copilot's adoption or an end-user to ensure you can get the best value from these tools in the safest possible way.