MoxieMen Incorporated

12/06/2025

This week I posted on LinkedIn like I normally do. The response was anything but normal. Here are a few things I learned from an accidentally viral(ish) post.

First - for context, the premise of the post was that AI chatbots are going to give birth to personalized learning on a scale never seen before, and the role of teachers is going to fundamentally change forever. To be fair, using the term 'obsolete' may have been a little over-the-top and probably contributed to the attention the post received.

(by 'viral-ish' I mean 200+ comments and 11,000 impressions as of now. I don't know if that's impressive or not - since I really don't have much to compare it to.)

• A surprising number of people responded to arguments I never made in the first place. Entire threads spun out from points that existed only in their imagination.

• The emotional range was… broad. Some were articulate and posted thoughtful comments while others reeked of pseudo-intellectual lectures, self-righteous indignation, outright hostility, and of course there was also some genuinely respectful debate. Maybe half of the submissions actually contributed to the discussion.

• I now understand why people use the phrase “LinkedIn Lunatics.”

• Almost everyone who interacted was a 3rd connection. That means LinkedIn deliberately pushed the post to people far outside my network — mostly educators and academics, which is funny, because I’m a marketing guy.

• Agreement was quiet. Disagreement wrote novels and often devolved into personal attacks.

Controversy is interesting. I didn’t write my original post to troll anyone, but it turns out that articulating a viewpoint people can easily oppose is one of the fastest ways to attract attention on this platform. Apparently, vanilla topics written in vanilla language - no matter how useful or articulate don’t travel far. LinkedIn seems to reward tension, debate, and anything that riles people up a little.

Whether that’s good or bad is another discussion entirely - but if this week's experience is any indication, it's definitely how the algorithm behaves.

11/19/2025

Never take advice from someone you wouldn't trade places with.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP4Y7KigYiD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

11/11/2025

Warren's farewell letter will get plenty of deserved attention today. Something in his remarks jumped out at me that isn't often talked about as much as I think it should be - and that's to acknowledge your luck. Among many things, he said:

“I was born in 1930 healthy, reasonably intelligent, white, male and in America. Wow! Thank you, Lady Luck.”

Here's the thing. I've been lucky more times than I can count. From the parents I was fortunately enough to have been born to, to meaningful relationships that started decades ago as poker buddies, to the fact that I make a living using a new technology that presented a perfect opportunity I neither earned nor created on my own. The old adage that 'it's better to be lucky than good' might be overstated, but there's definitely some truth to it.

Sure, I worked hard and developed a skillset and built meaningful relationships the right way, but it would be disingenuous to glaze over the fact that luck was a significant catalyst in all of that.

I also think it's important to point out that the acknowledgement of luck isn't an attempt to downplay all I've accomplished. It doesn't cheapen the effort - it just adds perspective and hopefully inspires gratitude. After all, there's always someone out there who's smarter, works harder and is hustling more than you are. But for whatever reason they haven't the same opportunities - and luck plays a part in that. So be grateful for those opportunities that presented themselves just because you were in the right place at the right time, or because you happened to be looking in the right direction at exactly the right moment. Don't worry - you're still justified to take pride in the fact that you took it and ran with it.

The Berkshire CEO is a widely followed investor, and his letters are closely read.

10/14/2025

I'm super excited for you to check out this episode of The MoxieMen Podcast!

Dan DeWard co-founded Studio D2D, scaled to three venues, ran margins in the 25 to 33 percent range, and sold the business at a 4x net multiple. We talk first-gen internet stories, why businesses fail, the 5 Ps that guided his decisions, how he kept costs tight, and why he is launching Full Circle Weddings and a new podcast.

Oh - and he's also a top realtor in West Michigan.

What you’ll learn
• How a DJ side hustle became a multi-line wedding business
• The 5 Ps framework: People, Product, Process, Productivity, Profit
• Calculated risk vs blind risk and why exit planning matters
• How to decide when a client is a bad fit
• Why micro weddings changed the market after the pandemic
• Building referral flywheels when your venue is its own megaphone

08/11/2025

At just 22 years old, Parker DeKubber has built a marketing agency bigger than most — and he’s only getting started.

In this episode, Parker opens up about the sacrifices most people never see: long nights, missed events, and the reality that family often won’t understand, and friends won’t either. From pushing through doubt to dealing with tough clients, Parker shares what it really takes to break through when you’re building something young.

You’ll hear how he went from high school projects to running Prime Edge Media, the lessons he’s learned so far, and why being underestimated can be a powerful advantage.

Whether you’re starting out or already on the path, this conversation is packed with real-world insight about resilience, growth, and building a business that lasts.

08/05/2025

Retention Starts with Recruiting: Keeping Good People in a Job Hopping World. Fascinating conversation with MoxieMen client Nicole Rumery from Modular Transportation.

07/26/2025

What do you get when you mix an ER nurse, a reality TV spotlight, and a friendship with THE Mike Tyson? Meet the other Mike Tyson, a guy whose name turns heads and whose stories are just as unforgettable.

In this episode, we talk about the chaos of working in the ER during COVID, what it's really like being on national television, and how sharing a name with one of the most famous boxers on the planet can lead to some pretty wild moments.

Be sure to stick around until the end for over 2 minutes of outtakes at the - including some moments we probably shouldn't have kept in.

07/21/2025

She helps therapists stay sharp, avoid burnout, and build sustainable practices. Dr. Lavonne Schaafsma joins me for a wide-ranging talk on the future of therapy (AI, ketamine, consultation communities), why client alliance beats fancy techniques, and how being underestimated at the poker table became an unexpected superpower. Smart, candid, funny - and way more useful than your average talking head. Drop a comment with your take or a question for Dr. Lavonne!

Also, be sure to watch until the end for some fun outtakes ;)

07/20/2025

Freedom is my love language.

In this 7-minute diatribe disguised as wisdom, I explain why traditional employment and I are on permanently different life paths. No corporate trauma dumping here—just the story of how freelancing snowballed into a business, and why “just get a job” was never going to be the play.

If you’ve ever felt weirdly proud of not having a boss, or found yourself Googling “how to never go back to an office again,” this one’s for you.

07/18/2025

How satirical Craigslist ads led to a career in marketing and SEO.

07/18/2025

Big words are a salesperson's worst enemy

07/18/2025

How satirical Craigslist ads led to a career in marketing and SEO.