2025 didn't go as planned...

We ended the last newsletter with a simple truth: failure is part of the journey.

Whatever plan you make for 2026, a few things will go very differently than expected—worse than expected.

This year proved that to me.

2025 was hard. The pro-democracy and government space lost resources, which meant I lost several clients. I had to let some people go. The plan I made at the start of the year didn’t survive contact with reality.

It was difficult.

However, nothing teaches you quite like a challenge you are forced to wrestle with. Despite the struggles, I am ending 2025 with significant wins. I restructured my business to depend less on big contracts. I launched several new courses. I co-founded a new AI company. I spoke at more conferences than ever before. I gained more than I lost at the end

I finally see light at the end of the tunnel. And honestly? Some of the crises I went through might have been necessary for me (and my work) to grow into what it needs to become.

Here’s what 2025 taught me—and what I want you to take into 2026 👇

1. Habits carry you when motivation disappears

Motivation fluctuates. This year, mine crashed more times than I can count—especially after moments when I’d done everything “right” and still lost a client or a contract. That kind of failure hits hard.

What kept me moving wasn’t inspiration. It was a few non-negotiable habits:

• Daily meditation (5–15 minutes, simple breathing)

• Daily reflection (journaling 5–30 minutes)

  • This helped me process anxiety, self-doubt, and fear—until I could name the real issue and choose a next step

• Daily reading (10–30 minutes)

  • New ideas = fresh oxygen

• Weekly + daily planning

  • If a task took longer than 60 minutes, I had to break it down

Even when my morale was at rock bottom, I would automatically start the day with these habits. It wasn’t always fast, and the focus wasn’t always perfect, but the momentum carried me.

Your Turn: Commit to one non-negotiable habit (e.g., 5 minutes of journaling) for the next 30 days, regardless of how you feel.

2. Purpose keeps you steady in chaos

When things became difficult, I had to return to the core question: “Why am I even doing this?”

I grew up witnessing the effects of authoritarianism in Serbia. I saw how it crushed society and human potential. My devotion to fighting that dark side—and enabling others to release their full potential—is not just a job; it is a mission. I was lucky to co-found an organization that became a force for change in Serbia, which eventually led me to Harvard and opportunities I never dreamed of. I have experienced both the trap of oppression and the freedom of opportunity.

I want to create that opportunity for others. I want to completely redesign how we teach leadership (human) skills on the global level.

Going back to clarify my purpose helped me see my challenges not as dead ends, but as bumps in the road. I know where I am going, and I know why. Because the cause is meaningful, the struggle along the path is worth it.

Your Turn: The Question that I keep asking myself is “What is the greatest good I can imagine that I want to contribute to?

3. Gratitude anchors you in the possibility of the present

I end my journaling every day with one sentence about what I am grateful for. This year, this habit proved to be more vital than I ever imagined.

Sometimes I would write about my beautiful family, my wife and kids, or the amazing friends surrounding me. But surprisingly often, I wrote that I was grateful for the challenge hitting me right then and there. I found an entry from earlier this year that sums it up:

"I am grateful for the struggle I have because it will teach me a lot, and it will be another story to share when I overcome it."

Often, I was simply grateful to be alive and in the game. I highly recommend reading Man’s Search for Meaning and The Last Lecture—they helped anchor me in the possibility of "now."

Your Turn: Tonight, write down one difficult thing you are facing, and finish this sentence: "I am grateful for this challenge because..."

4. Action is the best antidote to anxiety

The most useful mindset I used this year was shifting my internal dialogue from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What can I do?"

I refused to enter the victim narrative. I refused to pity myself. Instead, I asked:

• What’s in my control?

• What do I need to change?

• What do I need to learn?

That mindset pushed a major pivot: moving away from a business model dependent on a few big contracts, toward serving more individuals—you.

It also pushed me to experiment relentlessly. I noticed people consistently loved the simulations and lived experiences I design. So I doubled down: improved my Georgetown class, built more interactive programs, and am launching a new community early next year featuring LeadUp AI-enhanced simulations.

When you feel stuck, do not freeze. Experiment. Meet new people. Try new approaches. Nothing beats action & reflection.

Your Turn: Identify one area where you feel "stuck." Define one tiny action (that takes less than 10 minutes) you can take immediately to move the needle.

5. Your environment determines your resilience

I am lucky to have my wife, Merissa, who is also my thought partner. If you aim high, the internal & external demons you meet will be scary. You need someone in your corner who knows you, loves you, and reminds you of who you are.

You are who you are surrounded by.

I am grateful to be surrounded by entrepreneurs, activists, dissidents, and academics—people who are deeply anchored in the fight for freedom. My friends are fighting vicious autocracies, solving "impossible" problems, and building global movements. A single conversation with one of them often gave me the burst of hope I needed to face my next challenge.

Your Turn: Look at the five people you spend the most time with. Do they fuel your fire or drain your energy? Schedule a coffee or call this week with the most inspiring person you know.

6. Self-compassion is a discipline, not an indulgence

Throughout 2025, I learned to treat myself with the kindness I’d offer a friend.

When I doubted myself, I didn't spiral into self-criticism. Instead, I told myself: "Be kind to yourself—you're learning, not failing." I permitted myself to be imperfect and to rest when exhausted.

Being gentler with myself didn't make me weaker; it made me more resilient. Self-compassion is not about lowering your standards. It is about recognizing that you are a human being who deserves kindness. When you aren't constantly fighting yourself, you have much more energy to fight the actual challenges ahead.

Your Turn: We are often our own worst critics. Catch your negative self-talk today. When you hear it, pause and rephrase it as if you were speaking to a dear friend.

🏟️ Enter the Arena

As we look toward 2026, I want to leave you with this: You do not need to have it all figured out to move forward.

If you are waiting for the fear to vanish before you take action, you will be waiting forever. If you are waiting for the perfect plan before you start, you will never leave the starting line.

The real victory isn't in avoiding the struggle; it is in refusing to let the struggle stop you.

My wish for you in the coming year is not that you avoid challenges, but that you meet them with the deep knowledge that you have the tools to overcome them. Build your habits. Anchor into your purpose. Lean on your community. Be kind to yourself when you stumble.

But most importantly: Stay in the arena. Live a life of adventure, cos that is the life worth living ✊

PS: If you are interested in receiving a free coaching session with me and exploring if you qualify to join our Leadership Accelerator program, hit reply!