Lessons from 2025. Direction for 2026.

Welcome to the 129th edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

What I’ve Learned in 2025...

As another year draws to a close, I want to share three lessons that 2025 quietly but consistently reinforced for me over the past 12 months.

Relevance

Breaking through to an audience has never been about performance alone. Before speaking to teams in Malta, Greece, and Portugal, I spent time understanding their organisations, cultures and everyday challenges. Reading, listening, asking questions, and preparing deeply helped me show up not as an expert but as someone who genuinely understood their world. When people feel you understand their reality, they recognise themselves in your message.

Enthusiasm

In the age of AI, enthusiasm remains the one currency that never devalues. This year, more than ever, enthusiasm helped me open rooms, open minds and – many times – open hearts. Whether I was speaking to a large group of leaders, mentoring a single individual or guiding teams, I realised this: people might be impressed by a perfect delivery but what truly touches them is a speaker’s energetic sincerity. When a message is relevant (see above “Relevance” 😉), genuine enthusiasm naturally carries it forward.

Trust

Trust transforms transactions into relationships. It is often the difference between being chosen once… and being chosen again. As Zig Ziglar wisely said, some of the most valuable things in life are the ones money can’t buy — and trust is one of them.

…and Where I’m Heading in 2026

In the year ahead, I am committed to doing fewer things… and doing them better. I want to pass on what I continue to learn, while simplifying my work, my schedule, and my thinking. I do my best work when there is clarity: fewer projects, clearer priorities, and less mental noise. I’m no longer interested in chasing milestones for the sake of progress. Growth, as I see it now, comes from consistency, meaning and genuine interactions.

Words of Wisdom

Relevance

“To know the road ahead, ask those coming back.” Chinese proverb

Enthusiasm

“Where the heart goes, the feet follow.” Author unknown

Trust

“Trust arrives on foot and leaves on horseback.” Old European proverb (often linked to German/Dutch folklore)

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

Is there one lesson that changed you deeply in 2025?

I would love to hear it.