S
stephenlrose
For over 15 years at Microsoft my passion focused on amplifying the voices of our product users. No matter if it was via our EAP (early adopter programs), MVPs, Tech Community members, STEP, MODE, IT, it did not matter because their voices equally and importantly reflected every user. I am still part of the Microsoft Community. I speak onsite at events, participate in online conferences, and post to different tech communities - like this one. That may seem like a lot of time to dedicate to helping others so let me tell you what you get in return. Here are four important things I have learned along the way:
“Together, Apes Strong”- Rise of the Planet of the Apes
aka The Power of the Community
Before joining Microsoft, I was an MVP. I got to see firsthand what happens when people are enthusiastic about a product or service they use every day.
![[Left] 2007 | Vista launch event, my first event as an MVP. With MVP Mark Rosenberg, Daniel Egan, and Lynn Langit (Microsoft Evangelist). [Right] 2008 | My first MVP Summit with Steve Balmer answering MVP questions.](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/617666i4E9DDE2B83118BE1/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "[Left] 2007 | Vista launch event, my first event as an MVP. With MVP Mark Rosenberg, Daniel Egan, and Lynn Langit (Microsoft Evangelist). [Right] 2008 | My first MVP Summit with Steve Balmer answering MVP questions.")
“Together, Apes Strong”- Rise of the Planet of the Apes
aka The Power of the Community
Before joining Microsoft, I was an MVP. I got to see firsthand what happens when people are enthusiastic about a product or service they use every day.
2007 | Vista launch event, my first event as an MVP. With MVP Mark Rosenberg, Daniel Egan, and Lynn Langit (Microsoft Evangelist).
2008 | My first MVP Summit with Steve Balmer answering MVP questions.
Communities have the power to bring people together from all corners of the world, creating a sense of belonging and support. These communities allow individuals to share their experiences, knowledge, and passions with others who have similar interests. This exchange of information allows its members to gain new perspectives and insights from diverse viewpoints.
Additionally, online communities provide a platform for individuals to find support and encouragement, whether they are facing personal challenges or pursuing their goals. Finally, when enough people start to discuss a problem about a product or service, together, their voices are heard, and change happens. Be a change agent within the change agency – the best community in tech.
“Danger Will Robinson, Danger!”- Lost in Space
aka Learning from the Others’ Mistakes
Since starting my own company – StephenLRose.com, I now work with clients across a variety of verticals from finance and pharmaceutical to manufacturing and services. What I have learned: No matter how well versed you are with any product, individuals and organizations have some “unique” way of using a product in a way that no one else has before. One instance was when a company told there users to store all their documents in the Windows sub-folder because it was more secure than in My Documents (what became OneDrive) since hackers “wouldn’t look there.” Sigh.
![[Left] 2011 | Indianapolis, IN - Community exchange sessions from Get On The Bus tour. [Right] 2017 | Interviewing members of the OneDrive engineering team about timelines and top community feature requests.](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/617667i9CDCADFC6BB28D8F/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "[Left] 2011 | Indianapolis, IN - Community exchange sessions from Get On The Bus tour. [Right] 2017 | Interviewing members of the OneDrive engineering team about timelines and top community feature requests.")
Communities have the power to bring people together from all corners of the world, creating a sense of belonging and support. These communities allow individuals to share their experiences, knowledge, and passions with others who have similar interests. This exchange of information allows its members to gain new perspectives and insights from diverse viewpoints.
Additionally, online communities provide a platform for individuals to find support and encouragement, whether they are facing personal challenges or pursuing their goals. Finally, when enough people start to discuss a problem about a product or service, together, their voices are heard, and change happens. Be a change agent within the change agency – the best community in tech.
“Danger Will Robinson, Danger!”- Lost in Space
aka Learning from the Others’ Mistakes
Since starting my own company – StephenLRose.com, I now work with clients across a variety of verticals from finance and pharmaceutical to manufacturing and services. What I have learned: No matter how well versed you are with any product, individuals and organizations have some “unique” way of using a product in a way that no one else has before. One instance was when a company told there users to store all their documents in the Windows sub-folder because it was more secure than in My Documents (what became OneDrive) since hackers “wouldn’t look there.” Sigh.
2011 | Indianapolis, IN - Community exchange sessions from Get On The Bus tour.
2017 | Interviewing members of the OneDrive engineering team about timelines and top community feature requests.
I shared this story with the community to see if there was any president and truth to this but more so, to understand the dangers of doing this. I got a ton of great answers back and provided a more well-balanced answer than I could by myself. To be honest, I was initially gob smacked by this “security practice.” but with insights from the community, I was able to create a coherent “guidance-based” response to them.
I am sure that so many of you have stories, logical and illogical to share with the community that would help them either avoid the mistakes made by others and more so, how to avoid it. I highly encourage sharing your stories. Feel free to at-mention me, or if it’s a juicy, tricky one, “at-mention everyone” (aka, the community) to help you work through it.
“Darmok, whose arms were wide”- Star Trek Next Generation (S5 Ep.2)
aka The Value of Sharing Your Knowledge
I am old. I remember using 56k x2 modems, PCMCIA slots, IOMEGA disks, Cheetah Fastback and using DC PROMO in the Terminal to promote a Server from BDC (Backup Domain Controller) to PDC (Primary Domain Controller). But with that comes years of experience and understanding. I can comfortably contribute to a chat with everyone from the CEO to the Backup to the Assistant Administrator because I have done all their jobs. Just like in a restaurant, the manager who has worked at every job and every station in the restaurant gets respect because they have been there.
![[Top left] A group of pros sharing a moment at the Springboard Party in 2014. [Top right] During our Get On The Bus South America Tour in 2012 - got to connect with amazing community members in Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. [Bottom left > right] Well known Microsoft employees and community supporters, Rick Claus (left) and DJ Joey Snow (right) - at the Springboard Party in New Orleans.](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/617668i0F45A702321658DC/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "[Top left] A group of pros sharing a moment at the Springboard Party in 2014. [Top right] During our Get On The Bus South America Tour in 2012 - got to connect with amazing community members in Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. [Bottom left > right] Well known Microsoft employees and community supporters, Rick Claus (left) and DJ Joey Snow (right) - at the Springboard Party in New Orleans.")
[Top left] A group of pros sharing a moment at the Springboard Party in 2014. [Top right] During our Get On The Bus South America Tour in 2012 - got to connect with amazing community members in Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. [Bottom left > right] Well known Microsoft employees and community supporters, Rick Claus (left) and DJ Joey Snow (right) - at the Springboard Party in New Orleans.
Sharing your knowledge is so important to build a strong community. That can be through writing a blog, doing a podcast, doing a talk at a local user group, a larger M365 or TechCon365 Conference or in the Tech Community support forums. You are the ones whose jobs depend on knowing these software packages inside and out. This is your chance to help others become successful and in return, be there for you when you need help with a new product because, as Ferris Buller once said, “Life moves pretty fast.”
“By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Worvan, you shall be avenged!”- Galaxy Quest
aka Community has your back
At conferences I like to create and attend after-hours meet-ups with names like Copilot Lessons Learned, Adoption: Share Your Tales or Terror, or my personal favorite, Have A Cigar/Share Your Frustration Meet-Up. Find opportunities to share; the community loves when you share your story.
![[Left] 2010 | In Chicago with Michael Bender and Marco Russinovitch. [Right] After a long day at TechEd EMEA in Berlin sharing stories with Steve Campbell, Michael Niehaus, Jeremy Chapman, Melissa Batham, Liberty Munson, and me.](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/617669i755A426853FBCD3A/image-size/large?v=v2&px=999 "[Left] 2010 | In Chicago with Michael Bender and Marco Russinovitch. [Right] After a long day at TechEd EMEA in Berlin sharing stories with Steve Campbell, Michael Niehaus, Jeremy Chapman, Melissa Batham, Liberty Munson, and me.")
I shared this story with the community to see if there was any president and truth to this but more so, to understand the dangers of doing this. I got a ton of great answers back and provided a more well-balanced answer than I could by myself. To be honest, I was initially gob smacked by this “security practice.” but with insights from the community, I was able to create a coherent “guidance-based” response to them.
I am sure that so many of you have stories, logical and illogical to share with the community that would help them either avoid the mistakes made by others and more so, how to avoid it. I highly encourage sharing your stories. Feel free to at-mention me, or if it’s a juicy, tricky one, “at-mention everyone” (aka, the community) to help you work through it.
“Darmok, whose arms were wide”- Star Trek Next Generation (S5 Ep.2)
aka The Value of Sharing Your Knowledge
I am old. I remember using 56k x2 modems, PCMCIA slots, IOMEGA disks, Cheetah Fastback and using DC PROMO in the Terminal to promote a Server from BDC (Backup Domain Controller) to PDC (Primary Domain Controller). But with that comes years of experience and understanding. I can comfortably contribute to a chat with everyone from the CEO to the Backup to the Assistant Administrator because I have done all their jobs. Just like in a restaurant, the manager who has worked at every job and every station in the restaurant gets respect because they have been there.
Sharing your knowledge is so important to build a strong community. That can be through writing a blog, doing a podcast, doing a talk at a local user group, a larger M365 or TechCon365 Conference or in the Tech Community support forums. You are the ones whose jobs depend on knowing these software packages inside and out. This is your chance to help others become successful and in return, be there for you when you need help with a new product because, as Ferris Buller once said, “Life moves pretty fast.”
“By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Worvan, you shall be avenged!”- Galaxy Quest
aka Community has your back
At conferences I like to create and attend after-hours meet-ups with names like Copilot Lessons Learned, Adoption: Share Your Tales or Terror, or my personal favorite, Have A Cigar/Share Your Frustration Meet-Up. Find opportunities to share; the community loves when you share your story.
2010 | In Chicago with Michael Bender and Marco Russinovitch.
After a long day at TechEd EMEA in Berlin sharing stories with Steve Campbell, Michael Niehaus, Jeremy Chapman, Melissa Batham, Liberty Munson, and me.
Its evenings like this I am reassured that the community is alive for the right reasons. When one of us shares their secret sauce, it encourages others to do the same. I can’t tell you how many times people have been surprised when they have asked me to share something on social for them. Maybe it’s asking if I can speak to their 50-person user group on the East coast via Teams or be a guest on their podcast. I love doing this and doing this in return for others. Why, because we have each other’s back. If a troll comes after one of us, we will respond in vast numbers and push them under the bridge from whence they came! If you have a session at a conference, we will help fill those seats and share decks we have done in the past to help accelerate and reaffirm.
“And may the force be with you, always”- Star Wars – A New Hope
The day I left Microsoft after 15 years was a hard one for me. After posting my thoughts and thank you’s on LinkedIn, I was amazed at how many people thanked me for helping them on their journey to success through my talks, one to one time with them, my blogs or webcasts. It really helped during a tough time. Then it was those same folks reach out to help me to connect and even offer me projects. Community had my back after all those years of being there for them. And I am eternally grateful.
Like Luke and Han getting a medal, it was a moment that made me reflect on my journey. The lifelong friendships I have made, community members we’ve lost that we think of everyday and the feeling that I got this because so many people have got me.
Thank you, all my friends, and may the force be with you, always.
-- Stephen Rose
About Stephen
Stephen has been helping with companies all over the world to plan, pilot, deploy, manage, secure, and adopt products including Microsoft 365, Teams, and Copilot as well as a variety of AI tools and 3rd party products.
Stephen was a business owner for many years and an MCT and MVP before he became part of Microsoft in 2009. While working there, he oversaw IT pro training and content for Windows, OneDrive, Office, Teams, and Copilot until he left in 2023.
Currently he is consulting with a variety of customers, helping them manage change and new work methods by showing companies how to use the tools they have today more effectively and get ready for the AI tools they will need to stay ahead.
Check out all the great videos featuring members of our community on his website at StephenLRose.com/videos. Here’s a sample from Stephen’s show, UnplugIT, "Unlocking AI's Potential in SharePoint: A Conversation with Richard Harbridge (CTO at 2toLead)":
Visit StephenLRose.com to learn more:
• Find him on X: @StephenLRose
• LinkedIn: linkedin/in/StephenLRose
Continue reading...
Its evenings like this I am reassured that the community is alive for the right reasons. When one of us shares their secret sauce, it encourages others to do the same. I can’t tell you how many times people have been surprised when they have asked me to share something on social for them. Maybe it’s asking if I can speak to their 50-person user group on the East coast via Teams or be a guest on their podcast. I love doing this and doing this in return for others. Why, because we have each other’s back. If a troll comes after one of us, we will respond in vast numbers and push them under the bridge from whence they came! If you have a session at a conference, we will help fill those seats and share decks we have done in the past to help accelerate and reaffirm.
“And may the force be with you, always”- Star Wars – A New Hope
The day I left Microsoft after 15 years was a hard one for me. After posting my thoughts and thank you’s on LinkedIn, I was amazed at how many people thanked me for helping them on their journey to success through my talks, one to one time with them, my blogs or webcasts. It really helped during a tough time. Then it was those same folks reach out to help me to connect and even offer me projects. Community had my back after all those years of being there for them. And I am eternally grateful.
Like Luke and Han getting a medal, it was a moment that made me reflect on my journey. The lifelong friendships I have made, community members we’ve lost that we think of everyday and the feeling that I got this because so many people have got me.
Thank you, all my friends, and may the force be with you, always.
-- Stephen Rose
About Stephen
Stephen has been helping with companies all over the world to plan, pilot, deploy, manage, secure, and adopt products including Microsoft 365, Teams, and Copilot as well as a variety of AI tools and 3rd party products.
Stephen was a business owner for many years and an MCT and MVP before he became part of Microsoft in 2009. While working there, he oversaw IT pro training and content for Windows, OneDrive, Office, Teams, and Copilot until he left in 2023.
Currently he is consulting with a variety of customers, helping them manage change and new work methods by showing companies how to use the tools they have today more effectively and get ready for the AI tools they will need to stay ahead.
Check out all the great videos featuring members of our community on his website at StephenLRose.com/videos. Here’s a sample from Stephen’s show, UnplugIT, "Unlocking AI's Potential in SharePoint: A Conversation with Richard Harbridge (CTO at 2toLead)":
Visit StephenLRose.com to learn more:
• Find him on X: @StephenLRose
• LinkedIn: linkedin/in/StephenLRose
Continue reading...