Looking Back, Moving Forward

Welcome to the 103rd edition of “In Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: “Reflections on 2024 and What’s to Come"

As the curtain falls on 2024, I find myself reflecting on yet another year of deeply personal yet relatable lessons learned and seeds sown for the future. I want to share some of them with you in the hope that they may help you navigate the challenges that will undoubtedly arise over the next 12 months.

Lessons from 2024

1. Stay from Start to Finish This year, I made it a point to attend events from beginning to end, even when I was the final speaker. Why?

• You Learn: Sharing the stage with thought leaders like Ashish Hemrajani, CEO of BookMyShow, was an honour but hearing their wisdom was truly enriching.
• You Adapt: By referring to a former Tata Group Board Member’s address during my own speech – after hearing him mention the same quotation I had planned to use – I showed that I was fully present and relevant.
• You Build Trust: Spending more time with customers builds deeper relationships, paving the way for loyalty and long-term collaboration.

2. Manage Nerves, Leverage Talent At the Elite Neon Football Tournament in Athens, my son Rolando’s nerves overshadowed his talent. This reminded me to:

• Downplay the Pressure: It’s still a game, regardless of where it is being played.
• Play to Your Strengths: Rolando’s motto became “Pass more than you dribble,” a strategy that leveraged his quick thinking and sharp passing ability to benefit his team. By focusing on what we do best, we can turn perceived disadvantages (like his slower pace) into unique advantages.
• Minimize Distractions: Whether on the football pitch or in life, reducing external noise helps us stay focused and perform to our best ability. Rolando’s ability to stay present and concentrate on the game’s essentials enabled his team to achieve some extraordinary results, including a win over two-time champions Red Star Belgrade.

3. Leadership Means Action For many business leaders, managing Gen Z employees can be challenging – they often expect quick results and can give up easily under pressure. On the other hand, they demand authenticity and value leaders who inspire rather than impose. Leaders who are willing to adapt their approach, foster genuine connections and provide consistent guidance will find ways to leverage the strengths of this generation. In contrast, those who rely outdated management methods risk losing the respect – and ultimately, the engagement – of their teams.

4. Real-Time Feedback is a Game-Changer As I noted in InTouch 101, The Kempinski Corvinus Hotel in Budapest showed me the value of asking, “Is there anything we can do for you?” while there is still time to act (in this case, when a guest is still in residence). Proactive feedback fosters loyalty and can have a lasting impact. This hotel’s strategy is one that we can all implement in our lives and businesses.

Plans for 2025

1. Focus on What I Can Control I can’t stop the rain but I can carry an umbrella. Good preparation will remain my cornerstone as I strive to achieve better results.

2. Deepen My Connections Though I may appear to be a one-man show, nothing could be further from the truth. Behind the scenes is a network of professionals, friends and collaborators whose support, critiques and ideas fuel my journey. In 2025, I’ll focus on strengthening these relationships further, knowing that no success is truly a solo effort – it’s built on the trust and contributions of many.

3. Expand My Reach Educational content, in the form of short videos and thought pieces, has amplified my message and brand. I plan to double down on this, creating content that inspires and empowers an even bigger audience.

4. Continue My Lifelong Learning Jeffrey Gitomer’s advice to study for two hours a day still guides me. Whether through books, courses or conversations, I intend to continue sharpening my skills and encouraging others to do the same.

5. Remain Authentic This year, I’ve seen vulnerability used as a tactic to gain ‘likes’ and ‘shares’. I remain convinced that true authenticity – being present, honest and unguarded – creates the most meaningful connections.

A New Year, A New Approach

Each new year brings its own challenges. What will ultimately define it is how we approach those challenges – through our resilience and resolve to overcome them and our courage to learn from them. As we move into 2025, let’s strive not just to make the year better than the last but to make ourselves better – more thoughtful, more authentic and more determined to leave a positive impact.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Wishing you and your loved ones a Happy Christmas and a New Year filled with growth, joy and endless possibilities 🎄

Words of Wisdom

Here’s an inspiring (and anonymous) quotation that I saw many times at the end of last year, with the dates changed for today:

“May the silent battles you fought in 2024 be transformed into your loudest victories in 2025.”

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

Can you share a lesson you learned in 2024 or a goal you’ve set for 2025?

Gratefully yours,

Michael R. Virardi