“Every mountain looks impossible until you take the first step." – Lance Burdett.
Your load shapes you but it doesn’t have to define you forever!
Every culture has a moment in time that marks a new beginning. A time to pause, reflect, and to reset.
For many of us, the New Year is that point. It’s not just a date on the calendar; it’s a psychological anchor, a starting line that says – You can begin again.
But let’s be honest, starting fresh is never easy when you’re dragging baggage behind you.
For Christmas, I received this sculpture (refer image) of a person climbing a mountain, pulling a heavy weight. It struck me deeply. Because isn’t that life? We all carry burdens, some more heavy than others.
Most of us have faced a significant challenge in our life, often more than one.
Sometimes, that weight feels unbearable. Yet, if we keep moving, something remarkable happens: the load becomes lighter.
Not because it disappears, but because we grow stronger. Those struggles shape us into who we are today.
Most often it’s when the weight feels crushing that we realise something must change.
A new year offers that moment, a chance to say: It’s time to move forward.
We need not wait until we hit rock bottom, we can start to make a change before that time.
And when we decide to make the change, the load may remain, but it doesn’t have to define us forever.
Some will say, “You can change anytime.” True, but those who say this do not know what it’s like to carry your load.
For many, a symbolic point in time such as the start of a new year, can ignite that first spark of change.
So, here’s my challenge for 2026 to you - Make one small change. Then another. And another.
Small steps completed consistently create massive transformation.
Your mountain may be steep. Your weight may be heavy. Yet you’ve already proven something, you are still climbing.
Happy New Year. Let’s make 2026 the year of forward movement.
Let’s talk!
An Early Start: A Sign of Good Things Ahead
Yesterday marked my first day back at work for 2026 and what an amazing start it was!
I provided a range of coping skills to Newey Transport, a large trucking company in Northland, at their Safe Start Breakfast event.
This is the earliest start to our year since WARN International began 11 years ago. And with bookings confirmed into April, the year ahead looks very promising.
Of course, none of us can predict how a year will unfold.
Yet, after speaking with many business leaders, one thing is clear: the last five years have been tough with the last two exceptionally challenging.
Burnout became common last year. Not necessarily because people were overwhelmed with work, because they were overwhelmed trying to find work.
A major cause of burnout is a lack of control. The American Psychological Association defines burnout as physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others.
It’s the result of prolonged stress and tension, often from extreme exertion or an overburdening workload. In short: exhaustion leads to cynicism and feelings of ineffectiveness.
But here’s the good news: we shouldn’t fear a busy year if the last few years were spent simply trying to stay afloat.
At WARN International, we promote a balance of being busy with purpose with setting boundaries, managing stress effectively, making work more enjoyable and aligning work with personal values.
2026 feels different, there's a positive vibe, almost as though we have all said - enough is enough!
I am reluctant to say that this is going to be a great year, how many of us have said that for the last few years?
Perhaps 2026 is a year of rebuilding, of reconnecting, and of finding our way forward.
Let’s make 2026 count.
What’s your outlook for 2026. Are you feeling optimistic, cautious, or somewhere in between?
Let’s talk!
“Every mountain looks impossible until you take the first step." – Lance Burdett.
Your load shapes you but it doesn’t have to define you forever!
Every culture has a moment in time that marks a new beginning. A time to pause, reflect, and to reset.
For many of us, the New Year is that point. It’s not just a date on the calendar; it’s a psychological anchor, a starting line that says – You can begin again.
But let’s be honest, starting fresh is never easy when you’re dragging baggage behind you.
For Christmas, I received this sculpture (refer image) of a person climbing a mountain, pulling a heavy weight. It struck me deeply. Because isn’t that life? We all carry burdens, some more heavy than others.
Most of us have faced a significant challenge in our life, often more than one.
Sometimes, that weight feels unbearable. Yet, if we keep moving, something remarkable happens: the load becomes lighter.
Not because it disappears, but because we grow stronger. Those struggles shape us into who we are today.
Most often it’s when the weight feels crushing that we realise something must change. A new year offers that moment, a chance to say: It’s time to move forward.
We need not wait until we hit rock bottom, we can start to make a change before that time.
And when we decide to make the change, the load may remain but it doesn’t have to define us forever.
Some will say, “You can change anytime.” True, but those who say this do not know what it’s like to carry your load. For many, a symbolic point in time such as the start of a new year, can ignite that first spark of change.
So here’s my challenge for 2026 - Make one small change. Then another. And another.
Small steps done consistently create massive transformation.
Your mountain may be steep. Your weight may be heavy. Yet you’ve already proven something, you are still climbing.
Happy New Year. Let’s make 2026 the year of forward movement.
Let’s talk!