The Art of Network Engineering

Tom Lawrence: Building a Tech Empire by Leading with Value


Listen Later

Send us a text

What happens when a farm kid with a knack for taking things apart discovers computers? Meet Tom Lawrence, the tech polymath behind Lawrence Systems and a YouTube channel with over 375,000 subscribers. In this engaging conversation, Tom reveals how his curiosity-driven journey from 1990s Linux enthusiast to MSP owner and content creator was fueled by a simple philosophy: lead with value.

Tom's approach stands in refreshing contrast to typical marketing strategies. "People remember people who helped them, not people who threw them in a sales funnel," he explains, detailing how his comprehensive, no-holds-barred tutorials naturally generate business leads without ever feeling like advertisements. This generosity extends to his forums, where he freely shares configurations, news sources, and technical solutions with a community of over 80,000 weekly visitors.

The discussion takes fascinating turns through cybersecurity landscapes, self-hosted AI, and the privacy culture within hacker communities. Tom breaks down complex topics with remarkable clarity – from the security implications of passkeys to the advantages of running language models locally rather than relying on cloud services. His practical advice is grounded in real-world experience: "I only do freebies for immediate family," he laughs, offering wisdom on setting boundaries as a tech professional.

Whether you're considering a career in cybersecurity, looking to understand the business side of technology, or simply fascinated by the evolution of computing, Tom's story demonstrates how technical expertise combined with genuine helpfulness creates a formula for success in the digital age. Discover why this self-described "generalist" has become one of the most trusted voices in technical education and what his journey reveals about the future of IT.

This episode has been sponsored by Meter. 

Go to meter.com/aone to book a demo now! 

You can support the show at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2127872/support or from the "Support The Show" link at https://linktr.ee/artofneteng. 

Thanks for listening and for your continued support :)

Support the show

Find everything AONE right here: https://linktr.ee/artofneteng

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Art of Network EngineeringBy Andy and Jeff

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

82 ratings


More shows like The Art of Network Engineering

View all
Security Now (Audio) by TWiT

Security Now (Audio)

1,999 Listeners

Risky Business by Patrick Gray

Risky Business

370 Listeners

Heavy Networking by Packet Pushers

Heavy Networking

325 Listeners

Defensive Security Podcast - Malware, Hacking, Cyber Security & Infosec by Jerry Bell and Andrew Kalat

Defensive Security Podcast - Malware, Hacking, Cyber Security & Infosec

369 Listeners

Darknet Diaries by Jack Rhysider

Darknet Diaries

7,965 Listeners

Cybersecurity Today by Jim Love

Cybersecurity Today

174 Listeners

Defense in Depth by David Spark, Steve Zalewski, Geoff Belknap

Defense in Depth

73 Listeners

The Hedge by Russ White

The Hedge

16 Listeners

2.5 Admins by The Late Night Linux Family

2.5 Admins

98 Listeners

Cyber Security Headlines by CISO Series

Cyber Security Headlines

134 Listeners

Hacker And The Fed by Chris Tarbell & Hector Monsegur

Hacker And The Fed

169 Listeners

Cables2Clouds by Cables2Clouds

Cables2Clouds

11 Listeners

Network Automation Nerds by Packet Pushers

Network Automation Nerds

3 Listeners

Total Network Operations by Packet Pushers

Total Network Operations

3 Listeners

N Is For Networking by Packet Pushers

N Is For Networking

20 Listeners