Front-Row Friday: The 10-Year Tap on the Shoulder

I recently heard a speaker ask a question that stopped me in my tracks: Do you even remember what you were doing 10 years ago? Then he followed it with this: Because 2036 will be here before you know it.

That one question sent me straight to my phone. I scrolled back to my photos from 2016, and something unexpected—and honestly, magical—happened. There were photos of friends I adore. Clients who trusted me with their stages. Speaker bureaus who believed in my message. Moments, events, laughter, and milestones I had completely forgotten… but clearly mattered.

And then something even better happened. Instead of just smiling and scrolling, I reached out. I sent those photos back to the people in them with a simple note: “Can you believe this was 10 years ago?” “Wow—look at us!” “I wonder what the next 10 years will bring.” And here’s what I discovered… Connection beats intention—every time.

So many people say, especially this time of year, that they want to be more connected. More present. More intentional with friends, family, clients, colleagues. But intention without action is just a wish. And in a world where AI is moving fast and automating so much of what we do, there’s one thing it can never replace:

Human connection.
One-on-one.
Heart-to-heart.

AI can write emails. AI can generate ideas. AI can even sound human. But it can’t send a photo from 10 years ago and say, “You mattered to me then—and you still do.”

Your Front-Row Challenge This Week Start with one simple place: 2016. Scroll through your photos. Find a few moments that made you smile. Pick the people who shared those moments with you. Then do the easiest, most meaningful thing: Send the photo. Add a short note. Let them know you’re thinking of them. No agenda. No pitch. No pressure. Just connection. Because here’s the truth: You don’t always know whose day you’ll make. You don’t always see the ripple effect. But you will feel it when they write back.

Your Front-Row friends matter, so let them know with a photo from the past.

Happy Front-Row Friday,