Some of the most important breakthroughs I have witnessed started with someone saying, “I do not think that is right.” That sentence can be an extraordinary gift. It can also begin a destructive argument. The difference is what happens next. I have spent much of my career building companies, leading teams, and solving difficult problemsContinue reading “Conflict vs. Constructive Friction: The Difference Between Breaking and Building”
Author Archives: Matthew E. Porter
Withings Wants $100 a Year to Move My Own Data
The author critiques Withings’ new subscription policy requiring new customers to pay $100 annually for syncing health data to third-party apps, emphasizing that health measurements should empower users, not restrict them. The decision contradicts the company’s stated mission and could undermine long-term customer trust while highlighting the need for valuable, innovative services instead of monetizing basic functions.
A Dozen
The author reflects on twelve years since their multiple sclerosis diagnosis, sharing the challenges and transformations experienced during this time. Initially perceived as a loss, the diagnosis led to a deeper understanding of life, vulnerability, and connections with loved ones, particularly through shared struggles with chronic illness.
Then We Choose Again
My children taught me how to spell love: T-I-M-E. A wedding, an ordinary Tuesday, and a diagnosis, and the one second inside each of them where you decide. Then you have to decide again.
Beyond Limits: Legacy of Resilience & Gratitude for MS
For Pete’s fortieth birthday, I made a movie about his life. I interviewed a plethora of people. Family, friends from every era, people who had known him far longer than I had. Near the end of every interview, I asked a version of the same question. Did he ever complain? Did he ever ask, “WhyContinue reading “Beyond Limits: Legacy of Resilience & Gratitude for MS”
Hundreds of Memories Shared: A Journey of Trust
Reflections on the significance of memories shared through OurMemoryBook.com, emphasizing that the value lies in the connections and trust created. Hundreds of memories have been preserved, enriching lives and honoring loved ones. Gratitude for users’ trust is profound, motivating a commitment to uphold this responsibility.
Buildings Last. Stories Live.
The post discusses the importance of leaving a legacy through storytelling rather than just physical monuments. While names on buildings symbolize generosity, personal stories carry deeper wisdom and emotional context. The author reflects on their own experiences and urges others to document stories from loved ones, emphasizing that these narratives are essential for future generations.
The CIO Role Is Broken. AI Is Why.
For decades, the Chief Information Officer has been the person who keeps the lights on. Infrastructure, security, vendor management, and the annual budget cycle for laptops and licenses. It is a critical role, and most CIOs do it well. But “doing it well” no longer means what it used to. The arrival of AI hasContinue reading “The CIO Role Is Broken. AI Is Why.”
What Culture Taught Us About AI Governance
For decades, culture did not matter. Or rather, we behaved as if it did not matter. I stupidly did, especially in the early days of Contegix. Culture was the invisible hand shaping organizations while leadership focused on strategy, revenue, and operations. We wrote mission statements and framed core values on lobby walls, then wondered whyContinue reading “What Culture Taught Us About AI Governance”
Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail: The Priority Dilemma
It is January 13th. Four days ago was Quitter’s Day. You may not have heard of it by name, but you have felt it. Strava, the fitness tracking company, coined the term in 2019 after analyzing millions of users and discovering a pattern: by the second Friday of January, 80% of people who made NewContinue reading “Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail: The Priority Dilemma”