Howdy in 2025? Part 2

What's In, What's Out, What's New and What Remains To Be True (Note: This Newsletter is not AI-written/generated.)

Outline:
What’s In, What’s Out

Announcements

Testimonials

Survey

What’s New and What Remains To Be True

Impact Insights for Busy Changemakers

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What’s In and What’s Out

So, I asked you last time if your early-year convictions (how early? a few months into the year to give you enough cover) remain and what % would that be? For me last year, was a bit of a huge downtime from a personal issue for the first quarter. Having had that, I didn’t expect much of my business to roll. But, to my surprise, I was able to accomplish most of my plans and do more.

My biggest take-away is spending time for self-care is a career/business investment. It made me more productive, proactive, and intentional in using my time/energy resources.

My answer to my question is more or less: 60-40, 60% of what I envisioned changed/modified while 40% was accomplished as planned. I have pivoted in more ways than one last year. I won’t blame or judge you or myself: the marketplace with which we operate is in steady flux.

Just recently, we heard President Trump announced a global aid freeze pending further reviews. I just saw on LinkedIn, that organizations working in humanitarian/aid/community development are feeling the pinch this policy is having on their programs/projects as well as the lives of humanitarian beneficiaries and service professionals (dependent on this field being well-resourced) whose work has dried up instantaneously. There is more reason to be agile and adaptive, less focus on rules, but strategic and opportunistic. You can’t use a rigid framework in a fluid environment. But you can use your common sense, which is free! but not common after-all .

To make way for the new things, we need to discard the old, the ineffective, and the passé. I’m reflecting broadly here, you can add your comments too.

Outs:

• The focus on rules, frameworks, and playbook which do not account for the fluidity of the local, regional, national, and international environments and changing trends and norms;

• Ideological DEI/JEDI/IDEA policies of companies who got on the bandwagon after the #ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER to look good/get funding/get popular.

• The “S” in ESG is too loosely articulated, measured, and invested in;

• AI/ChatGPT scare or the “great replacement of blue-collar workers by robots” scare

• Freebies

Ins for 2025

• DEI/JEDI/IDEA that helps companies/organizations and employees be more accountable, humane, and innovative;

• Consistency in virtuousness whether online or in-person;

• Long-termism in business and in personal growth areas centering on health and well-being

• Virtual Reality is in as in the race to get AI understood much less, incorporated in all relevant (and appropriate) business functions

• Businesses at the forefront of solving global challenges; not the third sector (which is who by now in 2025?)

• Premium on human-generated content, products, and services as opposed to creations/products that are AI-generated/written.

• For content creators, it’s always the quality, not the volume.

Announcements

• If you’re looking for a Speaker for your International Women’s Day event, look no further. Please see my Speaker profile here.

• Pick my Brain Service- I'm extending this indefinitely for executives and leaders grappling with a particular question/decision-making dilemma regarding their strategies and change efforts. There are so many hot-button issues within purpose-driven organizations that need to be addressed this year. Contact me.

• The Sentimental Provocateur is open for subscription. If you’re reading this but not subscribed, do so and pick the option that works for you. The Paid Subscriber (Annual) will also receive….”drum roll”… 1-on-1 coaching/advisory support scheduled 2x a year as your needs arise. We get on a Zoom/Google Meet and discuss practical solutions to painful problems or innovations whether as an individual changemaker or as part of your organization’s leadership. This is a non-metered, subscriber-initiated, and solutions-orientated coaching program. You can bank it for future use too.

• Your paid subscription entitles you to have full access to the archives. I’ve been writing for the past 6 years and and yes the archives are available.

• Global Voices for Peace, A Peace Anthology authored by Susan Hartley and contributed by yours truly and other distinguished Rotary Peace Fellows and Rotarians as well as peace luminaries is ready for Pre-order.

  The release is anticipated to be in spring.

• As a celebration of International Development Week #IDW 2025 in Canada this week, I am making my Provocateur’s Self-Assessment Tool available. Please DM me for a free copy, no strings attached. The tool will enhance your understanding on the gaps of your provocateur-leadership in social impact sectors in relation to the 5Ps Framework- Passion, Purpose, Provision, Practice, and Paradigm. Great for just starting with their careers, also good for mid-level professionals evolving their practices based on new paradigms and dilemmas.

Where Am I Speaking /Writing Next?

• Startup Canada Podcast (online), to be released in April

• The Life by the Page Podcast (online), Feb 21

• The Above the Bar Podcast (online), Feb 12

• Banff Systems Summit, Banff, Alberta, Canada (TBA)

• ??? - This could be your organization/network/university/Board Group/retreat event

News and Opportunities

• Apply for UNLEASH Hack Canada for 18-35 years old changemakers residing in Circumpolar North

• Free Elevator Pitch Training, The Brand Arrow, starting Jan. 30th up to February 2025

• Apply for the 2025 Fellowship Program, In-Sight Collaborative

• Apply for the 2025 Rotary Peace Fellowship Program, Rotary International (if you’re serious, I can help)

• Register to the 2025 Rotary Calgary Convention

• Apply for the 2025 AsiaGlobal Fellows Program, The University of Hong Kong

Newest Testimonials from Berlin and Paris

As a Mentor of Social Venture Founders

Marisa Manrique, Co-Founder, My Migrant Mama, Berlin

Thank you for sharing your power and knowledge. What stays with me in particular are your two points "Be you, be the only you and be the best of who you are" as well as "Make your own metrics system, what is important to you?"

I wish you a great day from Berlin..

Laurent AMICE, Le Directeur général, Mines Paris Executive Education Program-PSL, Paris

I had the opportunity to call on the services of Maiden Manzanal-Frank as part of the learning expedition that Mines Paris - PSL Executive Education organised in Manchester from 23 to 27 September 2024 on behalf of Bouygues Construction. Maiden gave a talk on Provocateur Leadership, which was unanimously appreciated by the Directors of very large BYC projects who attended. An innovative approach to leadership that inspired the whole audience. I look forward to working with Maiden again.

While You’re Here And Scrolling Down, I’d like to know more about your motivations..

Thank you, Dhanyabad, Shukran, Merci Beaucoup, Gomawoyo, Salamat po~

What’s New and What Remains To Be True