The beginning of a new year—fiscal or otherwise—is not just a calendar reset. It is an invitation.
An invitation to recommit to what matters.
To realign with your values.
To choose, once more, how you want to show up.
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Right now, I’m surrounded by beginnings.
- A new E-rate funding year just launched.
- School districts across the country are preparing next year’s budgets.
- At Funds For Learning, we’re locking in goals and client service plans.
- And personally, I’m stepping into a new role on the EO Global Board of Directors.
It’s easy to jump straight into planning. Set the goals. Build the roadmap. Chase the outcomes.
But sometimes the most important step is to pause and get clear:
- Clear on what matters.
- Clear on how we want to lead.
- Clear on what this season is really about.
Before we move forward, it helps to ask:
- What is this beginning inviting me to do?
- Where is realignment needed?
- What tone do I want to set—for others and for myself?
The way we begin sets the pace. It shapes how people feel, how they trust, and how they engage. It defines whether we are just checking boxes or doing work that truly transforms.
In every leadership role I serve, whether in business, education, or volunteer service, I’ve seen that beginnings are not just about getting started. They are about setting intention.
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So as this new season begins, whether it’s a funding cycle, a role shift, or a personal transition, may we all begin with presence, purpose, and people in mind.
Not just a new beginning. A meaningful one.
