Happy Front-Row Friday—and Happy New Year 🎉 Are you writing New Year’s resolutions this year? If you are, I want to offer you a twist—one that has become a personal tradition for me and one that I think you’ll really like. Instead of (or in addition to) resolutions, write a letter to yourself.

Every year, I sit down and write a letter, address it to myself, seal it up, and tuck it into my Christmas decorations. Then it goes into the garage for the year.

Fast forward to the end of the year when I pull those decorations out again, there’s that letter—waiting for me. It’s a powerful moment. I get to see exactly where I was a year ago and compare my intentions with how life actually unfolded.

This year, I literally started with: “Dear 2025,” And then I focused on three things:

1. What are you grateful for? Before you rush ahead to goals and plans, pause and look back. What did the year give you? One of my biggest highlights in 2025 was being hired by a client to speak in six different cities. That opportunity—and the trust behind it—meant the world to me, and it’s something I was deeply grateful for. Gratitude grounds us. It reminds us that progress is already happening.

2. What surprised you? This question always reveals something interesting. What surprised me most in 2025 was that more than half of my speaking engagements weren’t my Front-Row Success motivational keynotes—they were focused on conflict resolution and effective communication skills. In fact, my Front-Row Friday videos typically reach about 80–100 people on YouTube. But one video took off—73,000 views. The topic of that title? “What do you say when someone insults you?” That told me something important: people are craving tools to communicate better and reduce conflict in both their personal and professional lives. (By the way, the response I shared was simple: When someone insults you, come from curiosity instead of defensiveness and ask, “That sounded like an insult—was that your intent?”) Pay attention to what surprises you. It’s often pointing you toward what truly matters.

3. What are your intentions for the year ahead? Now comes the forward-looking part. For 2026, ask yourself:

What do I want more of?
What do I want less of?
What kind of person do I want to be?
What does my front-row seat look like?

Write it all out. Be honest. Be specific. And remember—no one else gets to define your front-row seat. Only you do.

Seal the letter. Put it away. Let it wait for you.

To keep those intentions alive, I always choose one word for the year. This word becomes a filter for decisions, priorities, and daily choices.

Whenever I’m planning my day, I ask:

Does this bring me closer to my word—or further away from it? My word for 2026 is Inspiration. I want more inspiration in my life. I want to seek out inspiring stories. I want to share them. And I want to be a source of inspiration for my audiences, my friends, and my family.

What’s your word? Put it somewhere you’ll see it every day—and if you’re willing, send me a note or leave a comment and tell me what you chose. I’d love to support you in living it out.

Thank you for being part of my Front-Row community. I’m incredibly grateful for you, and I’m cheering you on as you step into a brand-new year.

Here’s to making sure all your seats in 2026 are in the front-row.

Have a great day—and a great year.