Some weeks remind us that life moves us forward, even as parts of us glance back.
This week held some of the happiest moments and a few touched with sadness, always reminding me that we can be two things at once. These moments stir up a mix of feelings and a little nostalgia. And in the space between what was and what is next, there is often something worth noticing.
LEADERSHIP
Leadership holds a similar tension. It asks us to honor where we have come from while keeping our eyes on where we are going.
Most leaders can name the moments that shaped them. A challenge that stretched us (RIP to the project that took two years of my life). A person who nudged us in the right direction (cheers to the first mentor who believed in us). A season that clarified what matters most (the one where we learned that working hard and playing hard are not mutually exclusive). These moments become the quiet architecture underneath our leadership.
During a recent keynote, a woman said something that stayed with me. “I learned how to be a leader from all the leaders I worked under. That was my leadership training. And let me tell you, there were some good ones and a heck of a lot of bad ones.” Isn’t that the truth for so many of us?
Looking back is not the goal in leadership, but it can strengthen the way we move forward. It can reveal patterns, values, and lessons that still shape our decisions today — both the ones we want to continue and the ones we are ready to outgrow.
As the year winds down, there are two questions worth asking:
- What experiences from this year are worth carrying forward because they sharpened how you lead?
- And what habits or beliefs are ready to be released because they no longer serve the leader you are becoming?
When we give both the past and the future room to speak, we lead with more intention.
LIFE
This week also pulled me into some deep reflection. I went to a visitation for a friend’s dad. I heard news of a few other losses. And then a friend posted a line that stopped me in my tracks. They said that sometimes you feel homesick for a version of life that no longer exists.
It hit me because it is true. One memory can come rushing back and suddenly feel like yesterday, even when everything around us has changed.
Life is constantly moving. People change. Seasons shift. We grow into new roles and grow out of old ones, at work and at home. (I am a mom of teens, which still surprises me daily.) Along the way, we carry this mix of gratitude, grief, nostalgia, hope, and sometimes a little confusion about how it all fits together.
But we are allowed to hold both. To feel nostalgic and excited for what is ahead. To honor what was, even if it was imperfect, and still build what comes next with intention.
As we inch into the final stretch of the year, I keep coming back to this. It is a little like driving while glancing through both the windshield and the rearview mirror. One perspective helps us remember. The other helps us choose where to go. And somewhere in that balance is the reminder that life can hold joy and loss at the same time, and we can keep moving with purpose and gratitude for both.
In either case, we just keep trucking along.
A MILESTONE WORTH CELEBRATING
Since this newsletter already leans into the idea of looking back while looking forward, it feels like the perfect moment to share a milestone that has been years in the making. I am excited to share that I am officially partnering with Kelly Bjorseth, who is stepping in as my Speaker Manager.
It is one of those combination moments that only makes sense when you trace the path backward. The hours spent learning a brand-new industry — because no one magically wakes up knowing how to become a keynote speaker. The events where I was sharing and iterating my message about Good Ripple Effect and leadership. The mistakes that stretched me (looking at you, email snafu). The talks that quietly created opportunities and invitations I never could have predicted. All of it layered together into something bigger than I could see at the time.
In the speaking world, having a Speaker Manager is a milestone. It signals that the work is resonating, the message is in demand, and the business has grown to a point where the next level becomes possible. I am proud of the work that led here and equally humbled and grateful for the chance to keep growing.
Kelly brings fresh eyes, new energy, and the kind of partnership that helps move things from momentum to lift. I am excited for what is ahead and deeply grateful for everyone who has been part of the journey so far. We are just getting started.
And of course, I have to say it.
If you’re starting to map out speaking and programming for 2026, now is the perfect time to reach out. Momentum loves a plan, and I’d love to be part of the conversations you’re shaping for the year ahead.
Cheers to the happy and sad, the past, the present, and the future!
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