During COVID many students had to leave campus and go home. And 'home' could be anywhere in the world.
There was a time when I owned IvyLeagueCoders.com (ILC) which was basically kids (can I still call them kids?) who went to Ivy League Schools, but were now living in Asia or Africa or anywhere. Just no longer on campus. They had to go home - due to the pandemic. This is around the time when Zoom became a verb.
When the pandemic was under control, ILC became STRATUSstaff.com which became our NYDLA digital agency. Brilliant people, living all around the world. People who work in teams of three (PODS) to create time zone and geographic redundancy. Each POD-mate lives in a different time zone.
PODS: Professonal, Organized, Dedicated Support. Or On-Demand support. We flip-flop on that. Now in 2026 STRATUSstaff.com can be found on the main menu bar of the NYDLA.org website. It has become a DLA member benefit (30% discount).
Launching a product? Hire a POD. Running a campaign? Hire a POD. Have an E-commerce store? Let a POD run it for you. Got a very complex project? Hire a SUPER POD - a team of 5.
And over time, PODS can be broken apart, so that 3 become 9. And 9 can become 27. POD-LEADERS teaching POD-mates how to become POD-LEADERS. PODS forming new PODS. The ultimate train the trainer model.
STRATUSstaffers are Zoom Certified, BigCommerce Certified, Basecamp Certified, HubSpot Certified. The list is long. If we use it we sell it - and if we sell it we use it - with mastery. Now all STRATUSstaffers are becoming AI Certified. So we are PODS of HUMANS with AI Mastery. Think Luke Skywalker PLUS R2-D2. A team.
STRATUSstaff.com was a happy accident. If there was no COVID, there would be no STRATUSstaff today. Basecamp was also a happy accident. 20 years ago, Basecamp was an internal tool of 37signals.com which they used to build websites for paying customers. They never really built it to sell it. They did not even have a name for it. Basecamp.com just happened. Thankfully!
STRATUSstaffers 'live' in the BasecampDojo.com (I own that one, too). It is now 2026. I own 51% of STRATUSstaff and I allow all STRATUSstaffers to own the rest. Fractional Ownership is a path forward for all. When someone wants to join STRATUSstaff.com we give them paid work as a test. Around 5% of applicants last our 30 day paid probation period. But if they last for 30 days they can be here for 30 years. As owners.
We tell people who have been with STRATUSstaff for a few months: if you find something better - go! Life is short. But we worked very hard to make STRATUSstaff.com be your best possible career path. Rewarding work on interesting projects, with a clear path to fractional ownership. Profit sharing. So, if you do find something better... you should go. With a clear conscience.
About Thomas A. Capone | CEO | NYDLA.org | TAC-USA.com
About: Thomas A. Capone Servicing 300+ of the Fortune 1000 Since 1983 in all areas of AI, voice, data, wireless and wireline services. Specialties: Audio, Web, Videoconferencing, Voice, Cloud, Data, VoIP, TEM, Managed Services, BPO, SaaS, Wireless, eCommerce, SEO, Hosting, Security, Consulting, Social Media, Mobility.
Key Specialties: AI, SaaS, IoT, mobility, cloud solutions, solution selling, commercial and enterprise sales, channel development, strategic partnerships, global market experience, collaboration solutions, commercial and large volume sales programs, product planning, target marketing and segmentation, market development; project operations, launch strategies, lead generation, client satisfaction and performance based leadership. Email: CEO@NYDLA.org
