Each year I accumulate stacks of notes from the meetings and events I've attended. I was looking through some recently, and one phrase stopped me: 'Work and personal journeys don't run parallel—they intertwine and influence each other.'

Think about who we are. We're Instructional Designers. Facilitators. Leaders. And as diverse as we are within this talent development industry, our personal journeys have been even more diverse. 

The passion you have for your hobbies, the struggles you face at home, the triumphs you celebrate personally—they all shape the professional you bring to the table.

At our annual holiday event last month, we encouraged attendees to share a personal win that they took into their work life, or a lesson learned at work which they also applied at home.

As we step into 2025, I want to challenge you to keep that spirit alive. Take this mindset back to your offices. Bring your whole self—your unique, diverse journey—into your work every day.

I also invite you to let ATD Orange County intertwine with your work life. Don't let your Chapter be a silo separate from your career. Let the flow go both ways. When you learn a new strategy here, take it back to your teams. When you're facing a tough challenge at work, bring it here to your peers.

Our journeys are diverse and powerful, but only if we share them. So in the year ahead, let's make sure our paths don't just run parallel. Let's ensure they intersect, influence, and elevate each other. That's how we'll make 2026 a year of genuine growth—together.