The businesses winning in 2026 aren’t working harder — they’re deciding faster. AI-first decision-making is no longer optional. It’s the new baseline for competitive survival.

Leah’s Holiday Note: Holiday energy is still lingering, so keep expectations realistic and conversations light. Protect your peace, stick to your plan, and remember, you’re allowed to log off emotionally, even if you’re still at the table.

Thought #7: Working Backwards If you want 2026 to work, you need a strategy that you can live by every single day, not a glossy vision board that you forget by...

Leah’s Holiday Note: Emotions may still be lingering from the holidays, so lead with calm and keep expectations realistic. A little patience and a lot of boundaries go a long way today.

Wet, brine-coated roads increase stopping distance. I narrowly avoided a collision after a distracted driver ran a stop sign while I tried to brake on a brine-wet bike lane. Excessive brining on dry days creates safety risks rather than preventing them.

As you plan for 2026, don’t start where you are: start where you want to land and reverse-engineer the route like an explorer mapping the exit before the entry. Working backwards means imagining the goal is already achieved...

In 2025, executives aren’t quitting for failure—they’re quitting for purpose. Record burnout, disillusionment with profit‑only roles, and growing desire for impact are driving top leaders toward mission‑driven careers and nonprofit or entrepreneurial work.

Leah’s Holiday Note: Post-Christmas energy is softer, and emotions are settling down. It is time to take advantage of that calm before the New Year’s intensity hits. Lead with grace, listen more than you talk, and remember: how you handle people now sets the tone for all of 2026.