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Author: Michael Cruse

I live in Orange County, California with my wife and two wonderful daughters. My eldest is now off to college in Arizona. I started in IT, have led IT groups, Data Warehouse teams, overseen Facilities, and Sales Operations groups. I am now moving my career into Corporate Operations where I can bring all these experiences together.
Passionately Flawed and a Historical Hero: Yes, It Is Both

Passionately Flawed and a Historical Hero: Yes, It Is Both

Who leads your “heroes” or “most admired” list? Some of the most popular selections are Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jesus, Buddha, Nelson Mandela, and Abraham Lincoln. These historical greats are not superhuman but come with all the greatness and flaws of the human condition. Unfortunately, the human side of historical heroes is rarely discussed in popular media and books, movies, and is rarely taught before graduate school. As a result, we often find out later in life…

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Free Thorns of a vine
Let Little Things Be Little Things

Let Little Things Be Little Things

It started like any other monthly call with a vendor, partner, or customer. Then, a small comment or slip by the other party happens, and the frustration wells up and erupts. This particular incident was nothing in itself, but it was one more thing in a series of minor events. It was the last straw, and the dam had burst. Now, they are in scramble mode because they were not aware our frustrations had been building. As I think back,…

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Sharing the blame and lessons learned

Sharing the blame and lessons learned

I do not comment much about politics as it is considered the third rail for a reason. So little is gained by talking about politics or religion at work or with extended family. These topics are central to peoples’ identities, and I liken it to debating with a drunk. It is impossible to win, and the best you can hope for is a bad headache the following day and mumbled promises never to do that again. With that being said,…

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coffee beans
A little walk and talk, but no coffee

A little walk and talk, but no coffee

As I was walking this morning with Anh, we were in idle chit-chat and enjoying being together and outdoors. It was a lovely morning with the air still crisp before the day’s heat set in. We crested the small hill by our house and looked back at the little nestled rows of track homes built into this little pocket formed by a few low ridge lines. It was the picture-perfect moment of suburbia. As we continued our walk and casual…

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