Michael Berardo

Author of Meta Moves. Helping people build the habits, relationships & mindset to own their careers.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

In 2026, AI isn't coming for jobs.

It's compressing wages across the board and resetting what "skilled" even means. Credentials? Titles? They're losing their value fast.

The real edge: owning your career through habits, relationships, and mindset. I'm the author of Meta Moves. Here are three moves that will help you claim your future.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

People who stay curious, build relationships, learn from setbacks, and keep showing up tend to encounter more opportunities than people who withdraw.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@Yoda4ever Ha! I think Finnegan will tolerate this.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@IamShajanSamuel Rejection is evidence that you’re getting clearer about your direction.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@Simon_Ingari Or you can help him or her become more self sufficient and note that you’ve mentored a colleague in your annual review. That’s the real meta move.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

This morning I got:

-One rejection.
-One piece of evidence that I'm getting clearer about my direction.

I’ll take the second one.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Sometimes people don’t need advice.

They just need to know someone is thinking about them.

I built Inspiration Seeds to make reaching out feel a little more personal again — thoughtful words wrapped in digital seed packets you can share in seconds.

Available on the App Store:

https://t.co/8DsUkGKff2

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Built something a little different these past few months. 🌱

Not another productivity app.
Not another platform.

Just a simple way to send someone a thoughtful moment.

Inspiration Seeds was inspired by the idea that a small seed of encouragement — courage, forgiveness, love, hope — can quietly change someone’s day.

So I taught myself SwiftUI, survived App Store review, and planted the thing anyway.

Funny enough… this project became a Meta Move in itself:
Create.
Learn.
Ship.
Repeat.

Plant a little encouragement. 🌱

#InspirationSeeds #MetaMoves #Creativity #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #BuildInPublic #AppStore #SwiftUI #Encouragement #HumanCentered

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Say the thing out loud so it doesn’t loop in your head.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Define ‘A-player.’
If it means instant context, perfect networks, and full ramp in 90 days… that’s not talent. That’s teleportation.

Real A-players ask better questions, build trust, and compound impact over time. Some of the best start as ‘B+ with curiosity’ and turn into force multipliers by month 6.

If someone isn’t growing by Day 90, that’s a signal.
But it might say more about onboarding, clarity, or support than their ceiling.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Silence doesn’t mean no. It usually means not yet.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Some of this is real. Some of it is just a new label for old habits with better PR.

Meta moves to stay ahead:
•Follow the work, not the headlines. Where is value actually shifting in your org? Go there.
•Make your impact undeniable. Tie your work to revenue, cost, or risk—loudly and clearly.
•Be AI+ not AI-adjacent. Use it to extend your judgment, not replace it.
•Build your vouch network. Titles change fast—reputation travels faster.

Org charts will keep getting redrawn. Your leverage is staying useful when the ink dries.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@rajshamani But isn’t this the case with every generation? This isn’t new. Gen X and Millennials faced similar challenges. Recessions, job scarcity, and a high cost of living plagued their earning potential.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@AlexHormozi Maybe ‘assertive’ with effort. ‘Aggressive’ can be reckless.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@tailopez “It all comes out in the wash.” 😏

Bad days feel permanent—until they’re not. Sleep on it, zoom out, take the next rep. Most breakthroughs aren’t magic—they’re just yesterday’s mess settling into today’s clarity.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@KevinDeShazo Great teams don’t erase individuality, they use it. The real move:
•Debate hard, decide fast. (Know what’s up for debate vs. not)
•Disagree, then commit. Not before.
•Bring builds and flags. Not just blind buy-in.

It’s not sacrifice; it’s alignment with a backbone.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

@matt_gray_ @janegrismer Slow and steady wins the race.

[Michael Berardo @mberardo72]

Spicy… but a bit over the top. 😏

Competence doesn’t make you a victim. It makes you visible. What happens next is on you.

Be great, and be strategic:
•Say yes with conditions. (“Happy to—what should I deprioritize?”)
•Make work visible, not just yourself. Credit, scope, impact.
•Don’t be the default fixer. Build others up or step back.

It’s not “the system vs. you.” It’s knowing when to lean in and when to stop volunteering as tribute.