Ben Schorr
@bschorr.bsky.social
I help people be successful with Microsoft 365 and AI. Innovation Strategist at Affinity Consulting. Ex-Microsoft. Dad, husband, author, speaker, Ironman triathlete, battleship historian, football coach.
Opinions are mine, and maybe yours.
Opinions are mine, and maybe yours.
The fact that so many mobile providers will just give you a new phone if you sign up with them tells you a lot about the margins involved and value of your account to them. Nobody's giving you a new phone unless they're making a lot of money on having your business.
December 30, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The fact that so many mobile providers will just give you a new phone if you sign up with them tells you a lot about the margins involved and value of your account to them. Nobody's giving you a new phone unless they're making a lot of money on having your business.
I may be in the minority, but I almost always skip all of the "Best of 2025!" podcast episodes and blog posts. Usually feels just creative packaging for re-runs.
December 29, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I may be in the minority, but I almost always skip all of the "Best of 2025!" podcast episodes and blog posts. Usually feels just creative packaging for re-runs.
This is interesting, and Microsoft played around with this idea for a while with the "virtual commute" a block of transition time at the beginning and end of the workday. Not sure how well it really works for fully remote workers, but worth thinking about.
buff.ly/4GiiPnY
buff.ly/4GiiPnY
December 29, 2025 at 6:03 PM
This is interesting, and Microsoft played around with this idea for a while with the "virtual commute" a block of transition time at the beginning and end of the workday. Not sure how well it really works for fully remote workers, but worth thinking about.
buff.ly/4GiiPnY
buff.ly/4GiiPnY
"With age comes wisdom."
"Eh...sometimes age comes alone."
"Eh...sometimes age comes alone."
December 29, 2025 at 5:36 PM
"With age comes wisdom."
"Eh...sometimes age comes alone."
"Eh...sometimes age comes alone."
One tip if you're looking for ways to sleep better. Put a little pad of paper and a pencil next to your bed. Write down whatever you're thinking about just before bed, any ideas, tasks, or whatever. Get them on paper...then you're not laying there thinking thinking thinking instead of sleeping.
December 29, 2025 at 11:06 AM
One tip if you're looking for ways to sleep better. Put a little pad of paper and a pencil next to your bed. Write down whatever you're thinking about just before bed, any ideas, tasks, or whatever. Get them on paper...then you're not laying there thinking thinking thinking instead of sleeping.
"How do you justify that valuation?"
"We've seen 600% growth since our launch!"
"You have?"
"Umm...yeah, well, at launch we had 1 user. Now we have 6!"
"We've seen 600% growth since our launch!"
"You have?"
"Umm...yeah, well, at launch we had 1 user. Now we have 6!"
December 28, 2025 at 8:58 PM
"How do you justify that valuation?"
"We've seen 600% growth since our launch!"
"You have?"
"Umm...yeah, well, at launch we had 1 user. Now we have 6!"
"We've seen 600% growth since our launch!"
"You have?"
"Umm...yeah, well, at launch we had 1 user. Now we have 6!"
I love these ideas - especially explaining things, thinking "out loud", and checking your confidence. Really powerful techniques for becoming more thoughtful and effective.
A Neuroscientist’s 5-Step Plan to Upgrade Your Brain www.inc.com/jessica-stil...
A Neuroscientist’s 5-Step Plan to Upgrade Your Brain www.inc.com/jessica-stil...
December 28, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I love these ideas - especially explaining things, thinking "out loud", and checking your confidence. Really powerful techniques for becoming more thoughtful and effective.
A Neuroscientist’s 5-Step Plan to Upgrade Your Brain www.inc.com/jessica-stil...
A Neuroscientist’s 5-Step Plan to Upgrade Your Brain www.inc.com/jessica-stil...
Nice way to think about this. #endorse #leadership
December 27, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Nice way to think about this. #endorse #leadership
#AmberAlert in Washington right now.
December 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
#AmberAlert in Washington right now.
This isn't about politics; it's about data science and about being wary of rushing to conclusions when you don't understand how the methodology might be a factor.
"It seems that any huge drop in testosterone levels are likely to do with differences in...
"It seems that any huge drop in testosterone levels are likely to do with differences in...
December 27, 2025 at 1:25 PM
This isn't about politics; it's about data science and about being wary of rushing to conclusions when you don't understand how the methodology might be a factor.
"It seems that any huge drop in testosterone levels are likely to do with differences in...
"It seems that any huge drop in testosterone levels are likely to do with differences in...
Using Microsoft #Forms to collect survey responses from a group of people? Download the responses into an Excel file, then ask #Copilot to look at that file, and identify trends and outliers. You can also ask it questions about the data and have it help you get faster answers.
December 26, 2025 at 9:12 PM
"As the custodians of their clients' sensitive and valuable data, law firms are priority targets for modern-day robbers."
#legaltech #cybersecurity #BeCyberSmart
#legaltech #cybersecurity #BeCyberSmart
December 26, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"As the custodians of their clients' sensitive and valuable data, law firms are priority targets for modern-day robbers."
#legaltech #cybersecurity #BeCyberSmart
#legaltech #cybersecurity #BeCyberSmart
It's fascinating how often my #Android smartphone will check for updates, then even if it says there aren't any, if I immediately check for updates again, it finds more.
Almost like the UX that shows it checking for updates the first time was just performative.
Almost like the UX that shows it checking for updates the first time was just performative.
December 26, 2025 at 12:05 AM
It's fascinating how often my #Android smartphone will check for updates, then even if it says there aren't any, if I immediately check for updates again, it finds more.
Almost like the UX that shows it checking for updates the first time was just performative.
Almost like the UX that shows it checking for updates the first time was just performative.
Do you have an AI policy in place that lets your people know which tools they can & can't use at work, and what they should/shouldn't do with those tools?
If so, do you enforce it?
If not, have you planned what to do when Bob puts confidential work product into a free, consumer-grade, AI? #risk
If so, do you enforce it?
If not, have you planned what to do when Bob puts confidential work product into a free, consumer-grade, AI? #risk
December 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Do you have an AI policy in place that lets your people know which tools they can & can't use at work, and what they should/shouldn't do with those tools?
If so, do you enforce it?
If not, have you planned what to do when Bob puts confidential work product into a free, consumer-grade, AI? #risk
If so, do you enforce it?
If not, have you planned what to do when Bob puts confidential work product into a free, consumer-grade, AI? #risk
Wife yells down to her husband: "Are you feeling any sharp pains in your back, as if somebody was stabbing a voodoo doll of you?"
Husband: "No."
Wife: "How about now?"
Husband: "No."
Wife: "How about now?"
December 25, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Wife yells down to her husband: "Are you feeling any sharp pains in your back, as if somebody was stabbing a voodoo doll of you?"
Husband: "No."
Wife: "How about now?"
Husband: "No."
Wife: "How about now?"
I'm not so sure about ANYTHING in 7 sessions, but I'm encouraged, nonetheless. Never stop learning.
Want to Learn "Anything You Want"? Neuroscience Says 7 Sessions Is All It Takes www.inc.com/jeff-haden/w...
Want to Learn "Anything You Want"? Neuroscience Says 7 Sessions Is All It Takes www.inc.com/jeff-haden/w...
December 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I'm not so sure about ANYTHING in 7 sessions, but I'm encouraged, nonetheless. Never stop learning.
Want to Learn "Anything You Want"? Neuroscience Says 7 Sessions Is All It Takes www.inc.com/jeff-haden/w...
Want to Learn "Anything You Want"? Neuroscience Says 7 Sessions Is All It Takes www.inc.com/jeff-haden/w...
Lot of truth here, though with regards to #4 there can be just as many (if not more) distractions at home. Your mileage may vary. #ADHD
5 Ways to Help People With ADHD Thrive at Work www.inc.com/kaylawebster...
5 Ways to Help People With ADHD Thrive at Work www.inc.com/kaylawebster...
December 25, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Lot of truth here, though with regards to #4 there can be just as many (if not more) distractions at home. Your mileage may vary. #ADHD
5 Ways to Help People With ADHD Thrive at Work www.inc.com/kaylawebster...
5 Ways to Help People With ADHD Thrive at Work www.inc.com/kaylawebster...
“Americans pay $634.35 for their phone on average – significantly less than the cost of the most premium smartphones.” -Reviews.org
I wonder how/if all those new mobile plans that promise you a "free iPhone" factor in. Seems like those people are (at least directly) paying $0 for their phones.
I wonder how/if all those new mobile plans that promise you a "free iPhone" factor in. Seems like those people are (at least directly) paying $0 for their phones.
December 24, 2025 at 4:55 PM
“Americans pay $634.35 for their phone on average – significantly less than the cost of the most premium smartphones.” -Reviews.org
I wonder how/if all those new mobile plans that promise you a "free iPhone" factor in. Seems like those people are (at least directly) paying $0 for their phones.
I wonder how/if all those new mobile plans that promise you a "free iPhone" factor in. Seems like those people are (at least directly) paying $0 for their phones.
OK, you're either trolling me or you let AI write your email for you. 🤣 Either way, might not be the best way to start a sales pitch. Just sayin'....
December 24, 2025 at 2:19 PM
OK, you're either trolling me or you let AI write your email for you. 🤣 Either way, might not be the best way to start a sales pitch. Just sayin'....
I hate that #Microsoft #Teams personal (the home version) always starts with the background blurred and gives us no option to turn that default off. Every week on our grandparents call they can't see their grandkids until I go into camera settings and fix it.
December 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM
I hate that #Microsoft #Teams personal (the home version) always starts with the background blurred and gives us no option to turn that default off. Every week on our grandparents call they can't see their grandkids until I go into camera settings and fix it.
Nothing in any of the parenting books I've read prepared me for how often my toddlers were going to head-butt me. Like 3 times a week I get concussed because a 3-year-old suddenly slams her head into mine without warning.
December 24, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Nothing in any of the parenting books I've read prepared me for how often my toddlers were going to head-butt me. Like 3 times a week I get concussed because a 3-year-old suddenly slams her head into mine without warning.
Getting a lot of approaches on LinkedIn from "recruiters" with vague pitches promising "their employer" will get back to me with the details if I'm interested. If I politely reply that I'm not looking to make a change right now they invariably respond with basically the same pitch again, as if...
December 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Getting a lot of approaches on LinkedIn from "recruiters" with vague pitches promising "their employer" will get back to me with the details if I'm interested. If I politely reply that I'm not looking to make a change right now they invariably respond with basically the same pitch again, as if...