Articles and Blogs

Over the years I’ve written (and creative directed) many articles about people who use products or services in various ways. Often I’m working with a production crew that’s capturing and editing video and audio of our subjects as well. These five articles were written for Microsoft Store and Microsoft 365, respectively.

Making moves: student uses tech to balance school with side hustle
By Kristopher Kaiyala
Written for Microsoft Store

“A lot of people say I don’t have bones,” says freestyle dancer Wendy Luu. And after viewing her video “The One” on Instagram (@weeendyluu), you may be inclined to think the same. “I’m a very fluid mover,” she says.

“I just go with the sounds, and my body waves with it.”

Fluid mover. It’s a phrase that describes both Wendy’s unique dance style and her near-daily transition from student-by-day to dance-coach-by-night. As an interior design major, Wendy adheres to a strict daytime college curriculum she hopes will pave the way for a vibrant career. “But at night,” she remarks about her side hustle as an urban freestyle dance instructor, “it becomes this free flow of creativity and personality. I get to connect with people who have the same mentality, but also do something I love—and be able to profit off of it.”

As any working student knows, balancing the demands of school and business can be tricky. Wendy credits Microsoft Outlook with keeping her side hustle on track. “I really like how organized it is, how simple the layout is,” she says about the email program. “And that helps me out a lot because if there’s too much going on, then I don’t want to use it.”

“Outlook is my go-to for all my professional emails,” she adds. “I use it as my main source for all of my contacts.”

Indeed, Wendy says technology is her primary way to connect with people—something her side hustle needs to thrive. “I feel like I couldn’t do anything without technology. It has opened new doors for me by exposing me to new platforms and allowing me to work with people I’ve never worked with before. In just one click, the whole world can see what you’re doing.”

“I’m very honest about my personal style,” she continues. “By being real on social media, I end up attracting customers who are going through the same problems in a different context. I feel like the same emotion applies throughout and that’s a human emotion you can’t fake.”

“Instagram is huge for me,” she adds. “I spend probably 98% of my marketing on there just because I use Instagram like a personal blog.”

Dancing has always been a part of Wendy’s life, but developing dance into a business didn’t come automatically. As her style evolved, she posted videos of herself freestyling on social media. “A lot of people were like, ‘Oh wow, what is that?’ And I would never know how to respond to them because I’m literally just moving how I want to move.”

But the questions got her thinking: could she choreograph her freeform style? “That was a huge challenge for me personally,” she says. “But once I was able to choreograph something I enjoyed, and I was able to teach it to a room, the [students’] reaction sparked an interest in me.”

Wendy says that learning to be confident in herself and in her style—that it’s okay to be different and it’s okay to be vulnerable, imperfect even, on social media—have been key to gaining students and expanding her business.

Given how essential connection and expression are to her marketing efforts, it’s not surprising that those are the primary themes of her teaching style, too. In fact, the thing Wendy embraces most is the ability to make a difference in the lives of her students. “When I see one of my students succeed, it makes me feel as if I helped them take a weight off their shoulders, to get a little bit closer to who they want to be—and not who everyone tells them to be.”

In the end, Wendy sees dance as its own kind of language, one that connects universally. “You don’t need to tell people how you’re feeling,” she says, “your body language will tell it for you. I’ve never really enjoyed structured dancing. My class is more of a break in the matrix, just letting people breathe and know that, hey, you’re not going to look just like your neighbor, and that’s completely fine.”

It’s a freeing attitude that helps her students, just like their teacher, take flight.

Half Hour Intern podcaster takes listeners into bizarre work worlds
By Kristopher Kaiyala
Written for Microsoft 365

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a cattle rancher? An opera singer? A chemical engineer? If your career path has veered nowhere near such pursuits, Blake Fletcher is here to satisfy your curiosity. His popular podcast, Half Hour Intern, delves into the muddy, melodious, and sometimes mind-boggling details of the kinds of jobs most people only dream about from the comfort of their cubicles or couches.

Counted among Fletcher’s 200-plus interview subjects (thus far) are also a commercial fishing inspector, a mastectomy tattoo artist, a gemologist, an Australian Special Forces soldier, even a cuddle therapist. In his four years of podcasting, Fletcher has covered just about everything, all in the name of discovering what makes other people tick.

Because he interviews people from all walks of life, and usually not in person, Fletcher needs a program that is both flexible and universally used. “I’ve tried recording interviews over FaceTime and over the phone, but Skype has completely proven to be the best option,” he says. He also adds that it doesn’t matter if the person he’s talking to is tech-savvy, tech-shy, or on-the-go, because Skype’s desktop and app versions are so easy to use. “With Skype, I always get to use the same set-up and know that I will have the same consistent quality on my end.”

A self-professed “informationaholic,” the Phoenix, Arizona resident started his podcast in 2015 after years of enduring a job he didn’t enjoy. “Being a medical devices rep checked so many boxes for me,” he says. “I got to talk to lots of interesting, intelligent people. I could make my own schedule. It paid well. All of these things I loved on paper, and yet year after year the reality was I didn’t enjoy what I was doing. It was like going out on a date with someone where there’s no chemistry.”

And so, like most entrepreneurs, he took the plunge and followed his heart. Fletcher tried to retain the aspects he enjoyed the most—being in charge of his time, leaning on and expanding a network of friends and colleagues—and with the support of his wife, family, and friends, he traded surgical gear for a good microphone and recording software, and got down to the business of creating his own podcast and brand.

Leaving a steady-paying job for the turbulent waters of self-employment proved worrisome at first. “The moment I quit [my previous job] was the most afraid I ever was. What if this doesn’t work and I can never get a good job again?” That feeling quickly diminished as everything started to fall into place right away. Fletcher made a list of the first five jobs/hobbies that he wanted to explore, which included bird watching and archery. When he “randomly” encountered people who did both on the same day, it bolstered his belief that he had chosen correctly, and that there are no accidents or coincidences in life especially for those who pursue what they love.

Four years later, Fletcher’s enthusiasm hasn’t waned one bit. His podcast format is nearly always one to one—host and interviewee—and it’s all done from his desk using Skype and other podcast-friendly programs and audio-editing tools that make it feel like he and his guests are sitting together, even though they’re rarely in the same room, or city. He says interviewing people remotely using Skype yields the best sound quality of all the tools he’s tried, and it allows his subjects to remain wherever they’re most comfortable. Sometimes that means having barking dogs in the background, but as a dog owner and lover himself, he doesn’t mind.

As for how he’s able to connect with so many unique people with unique jobs, Fletcher credits his vast network. “When I first started, I reached out to friends and family to ask if they had anyone they would suggest for the show. After the show launched, I put out that same call to listeners of the show and asked previous guests. It’s pretty much been self-sustaining ever since. Interesting people always know other interesting people.”

And while the people Fletcher interviews come from vastly different corners of the career universe, most have one thing in common: they love what they do. “Money, fame, or other goals weren’t a priority,” he says. “These people simply loved what they do and kept doing it until it inevitably became successful.” In one episode, Fletcher interviews a turtle biologist who so earnestly professes his enjoyment of spending time outside with turtles that you can’t help but think yeah, spending time outside with turtles is kind of awesome. It’s the joy of the dissimilar, the surprise of the off the beaten path, that resounds in each episode.

Fletcher has received plenty of letters from listeners who’ve heard his podcast and decided to change their college major or their life path in some way. It all fits in with Fletcher’s own story of changing things up and reaping the rewards. “Now I get to learn about interesting stuff all the time. I get to ask the important question of ‘why.’ Why do you do this thing? What about it bothers you? Why do you like it?

 “Ultimately, I’ve learned that thinking with your head can only take you so far. I tell people, listen with your heart, listen to your soul. You know a lot more than you give yourself credit for.”

Perfect fit: Microsoft apps and social media drive success for sneaker reseller
By Kristopher Kaiyala
Written for Microsoft Store

Sometimes you know early on what you want in life. For Umair Anees, that came at age 12. “I played basketball when I was younger, and my mom would take me shopping and the first thing I’d buy was sneakers,” he says, excitedly. “I’d have torn shorts and a torn shirt, but I didn’t care as long as my sneakers were nice.”

Fast-forward to 2019. Umair is a busy college student studying Information Business and Information Technology. Textbooks and data dominate his daytime studies, but behind it all, the shoes remain. His sneaker reselling side hustle (@Restock on Instagram) is thriving, in large part due to Umair’s savvy understanding of social media and of tools like Microsoft Excel and Word, but also because of the passion he puts into it.

“It helps me get through the rougher parts of school,” he says. “Especially doing homework. It’s like, ‘Alright, I can finish this homework then I can look at some new sneakers that are coming out!’”

Umair first started reselling shoes in high school, mostly to friends. He had a knack for finding rare and highly desired models and providing an avenue for buying and selling them. At the time, he’d market his inventory the old-school way—by stapling flyers to telephone poles. But not anymore. Online marketplaces are where it’s at nowadays, and Umair has become a leader in the space.

“As the technology grew, the audience grew as well,” says Umair. “Once I found out how to buy and sell sneakers consistently, the first thing I did, because I knew Instagram was the biggest sneaker platform online, was start there. And once I got the @Restock handle, I started posting all the inventory I had.”

That inventory has grown to include t-shirts, hats, hoodies, even consignment items. It’s a lot to keep track of, especially for a full-time student, but Umair’s side hustle is exhibit A of how to run a small business efficiently using digital tools and mobile technology.

Now, says Umair, when he encounters a new item, he takes a picture and posts it on the spot. Boom, instant availability. “Mobile technology helps my business because I can keep track of inventory, reach customers anywhere, take pictures, post straight to Instagram, make money pretty much anywhere.”

“Technology helps me reach a wider audience in a shorter amount of time,” he adds. “It gets a lot of eyes on items, so it’s easier to grow and sell things quicker.”

To keep his business on track, Umair turns to Microsoft Excel. “It’s my lifesaver. Inventory lists, sales, price, what they sold for... There’s algorithms to find out totals real quick. I don’t have to keep adding them up. Excel spreadsheets are the way to go.”

“Once you get the spreadsheets going,” he summarizes, “it’s easy.” And, he says, having the Word app on his phone is a huge timesaver. “It’s just less information that I have to carry around in my head. Having the Word app, I can save a file and then look at it when I get back to the store. It makes my business mobile.”

All of which gives him the extra time he needs to focus on other important things, like connecting with his customers—both online and at his retail location. “One of the main reasons I opened the business was so I could have a platform to connect with the sneaker community. They can come to the store and hang out, talk sneakers, and just chill.”

Umair has big dreams. He talks about opening a bigger store, maybe a chain. Yet he admits he has a lot to learn and a long way to go. He speaks humbly about his role in the community. “I wouldn’t call myself an expert on sneakers. I’m still young and there are a lot of people who know more than me. But I always try and share what I know, and how I know it, so other people can be just as successful as I am.”

As far as where his side hustle ranks in priority, that much is clear. “Work is number two and school is number one. My mom, my parents are strict like that. They’re like, you gotta go to school. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing.”

Something tells us that the mom who took Umair shopping for shoes in the first place is pretty proud of his success—and all the success that is to come.

The sweet life with Jocelyn Delk Adams
By Kristopher Kaiyala
Written for Microsoft 365 Blog

When you’re a successful food blogger, cookbook author, TV celebrity, world traveler, devoted wife, expecting mother, and occasional tap dancer, life starts to stack up like a seven-layer cake. Jocelyn Delk Adams’ personal goal through all of it? Keep things as sweet as possible.

The mastermind behind the popular baking blog Grandbaby Cakes, Adams is a lightning bolt of activity. In addition to creating and cultivating a rapidly growing brand and loyal fan base, the energetic 30-something racks up frequent flyer miles like they’re going out of style, jetting to appear live on programs like The Today Show or The Cooking Channel’s Unique Sweets.

Yet even with her busy lifestyle, Adams’ favorite place is still in her own kitchen creating and testing recipes, most of which are based on techniques and tastes handed down to her from generations past. Adams says she relies on Office 365 apps in a variety of ways to stay on top of it all. For instance, she keeps track of her many food creations in Excel, using the Sort feature to quickly find what she’s looking for. And she says the Review feature in Word is indispensable for writing and editing the wealth of content she publishes on her blog, her website, and other brand outlets. (More on this below.)

As a young girl growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Adams had plenty of influences in the kitchen. Her mother and aunt taught her the basics of cooking and baking at an early age. Her father, seeing his daughter’s rapidly growing culinary interest, encouraged her talent by purchasing whatever she wanted at the grocery store each week, so she could make meals for herself and the family. She also says her uncle, BB, is one of the best cooks in the family. “He seriously gets down,” she proclaims.

Yet Adams’ biggest education took place during visits to her grandmother Maggie’s home in Mississippi. It was there, alongside her “Big Mama” as the family affectionately (or should we say “confectionately”) calls Maggie, that a lifelong love of creating cakes and other dessert treats took hold. It was Big Mama’s original recipes and stories that formed the inspiration behind Adams’ book Grandbaby Cakes, published in 2015.

Adams feels a big reason for the book’s popularity is the strong connection it makes between her Southern-inspired recipes and her strong family roots. “It was an opportunity to truly share my story,” she says. “I’m so glad readers connected with that.”

Family is what got Adams started in the baking business, and it’s what keeps her motivated today. Yet as a young adult, baking wasn’t always in her career sights. Her first fulltime job out of college was as a TV production assistant on the Judge Mathis show. From there she freelanced in casting for several big-budget films before eventually landing at an arts college, where she oversaw the production of a huge annual arts festival in downtown Chicago.

Through it all, however, were her grandmother’s recipes. And a natural entrepreneurial spirit. When Adams decided to pair her production experience with her unique kitchen history, Grandbaby Cakes was born. “Having a brand where family is central to its purpose really makes so much sense for me,” she says. “I’m so glad that I get to incorporate them into my first love and career in such a special way.” And while Adams’ recipes are based on Big Mama’s original creations, she likes to experiment as well, “adding new life to family recipes that could use a little spruce.”

Finding success in the crowded blogosphere and celebrity baking world requires exceptional dedication and organization. The elusive dividing line between work and life can be blurry at best, something Adams remains philosophical about. “When I realized that balance didn’t truly exist, I was finally able to prioritize and manage my schedule much better,” she says. “I believe in changing hats when I need to.”

Adams says she credits Excel for keeping her organized. “I have millions of spreadsheets devoted to everything from recipe ideas arranged by month or season to recipe test results to project budgets. Whether I’m making new seasonal recipe lists or invite lists for brand events, I can alphabetically sort—or sort by certain data. Talk about efficiency!” She also says she uses the Formulas feature in Excel constantly, for budgets and processing payments. “Formulas automatically calculate totals for me, which means I can concentrate on so many other things.”

As far as writing goes, she says she keeps all her recipes and chapters of her cookbook organized in Word. “The Comments feature is particularly useful for receiving edits from my publisher. We can implement Track Changes, which helps us keep tabs on any edits we make. It has totally revolutionized how I edit my transcripts.” Adams notes that for her, the ability to customize the Spelling & Grammar feature in Word is key. “I have some settings that automatically update words that I use frequently in my posts. This is such a time saver.”

The next chapter in the Grandbaby Cakes story may be the most exciting—the impending arrival of her “little BabyCakes” this winter. “My family and I are beyond excited. Because I’m having a girl, I can’t wait to get her in the kitchen and get her baking with her family,” says Adams. “We truly believe in passing down our traditions, so this will be no exception.”

No doubt adding a new family member will make a busy life even busier. But for now, Adams is taking it all in stride. “Family is always number one for me. And while I’m a super hard worker that constantly challenges myself to grow and soar more and more each year, my family comes before everything, and they totally should.”

That sounds like something that would make Big Mama proud.

Daily planning made simple with Emily Ley
By Kristopher Kaiyala
Written for Microsoft 365 Blog

Emily Ley believes perfect is overrated. When life gets overly busy, rather than strive in vain to check every box every day, Ley’s approach is to scale back. Simplify. Make intentional choices. Plan purposefully. And don’t be afraid to fail.

These are the principles that drive Ley’s daily life as well as her namesake business. What started in South Florida in 2008 as a small design shop has blossomed into a thriving boutique brand that now ships artfully designed organizational products to eager customers worldwide—everything from planning tools to stationery, office necessities, small storage items, and more.

Her signature product, The Simplified Planner, got off the ground after her first son was born in 2011. Ley says she went in search of the perfect planner but was left dissatisfied. “Everything I found was full of extra checklists and other features I didn’t need,” she says. “All those boxes that went unchecked or empty everyday made me feel even more like I wasn’t measuring up. What I desperately wanted was a fresh start every morning. A place to plan my day, keep track of my to-dos, and keep track of dinners. I just wanted something simple. So, I set out to create my own. With a sharpie and blank paper in hand, The Simplified Planner was born.”

In addition to her own organizational products, Ley uses the productivity tools in Office 365 to keep her day-to-day creative activities on track. She says she and her team use Word to draft creative briefs and production plans—including things like what files need to be created, who’s responsible for what, and, of course, deadlines. “The Review features in Word are fantastic,” says Ley, who also wrote her two books—Grace Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy (2016), and A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living (2017)—in Word. “They really help my editor and her team streamline the process of editing and proofreading.”

Excel also plays a crucial role in her daily life. In addition to using Excel as the family address book and to keep track of annual family budgets, Ley uses it to manage the manufacturing, ordering, and importing of her products. “With multiple manufacturers and multiple shipments—each on its own production, shipment, receiving deadlines—things can get complicated quickly. The features in Excel really help to keep track of both the overarching view of things, as well as the details of each shipment,” says Ley.

She also notes the importance of being able to customize Excel sheets to make them more visual. “Being able to manipulate formulas as well as colors, borders, and the sizes of each cell helps to create spreadsheets that are dynamic as well as visually organized. This is especially helpful in a fast-paced industry. [You can] set it up once and use that template for future projects.”

Speaking of future projects, when asked how her growing family has informed the way she designs new items, the answer is surprising—or perhaps not, given Ley’s plan-purposefully philosophy. “As my family life has gotten busier, The Simplified Planner has gotten simpler. Every year, we look at its pages and examine each feature and each mark on the pages. ‘Does this absolutely need to be here?’ Or, ‘Could we simplify the page in an intentional way, making white space or margin for what really matters?’”

What really matters: it’s something Ley learned at an early age from her parents, and she tries to carry it through all aspects of her life today. She says the secret to staying organized is in focusing on the right things and in using the right tools—and in not trying to be perfect. “I really see mistakes and mess-ups as opportunities for great things. If we don’t let ourselves off the hook for being imperfect, then what fun is life?

“We often think about pursuing dreams as being really, really complicated or big. But the truth is, pursuing our passions is quite simple: one foot in front of the other. Little by little, our tiny decisions and actions can produce great joy in our lives.”