Last night, while talking with my wife, Katie, about how tired I’ve been, we started listing out everything that happened this year. The items showed up one after another, each one representing energy, time, focus, and commitment.
Revamping The Citizen.
Opening The Nexus.
Forty-nine weeks of 1 Million Cups.
Four Night Markets.
Artisans at the Avenue.
Business Growth Essentials.
StartUp Fayette meetings.
The Pitch Contest.
Pixel Partner Digital.
Keeping JHD moving through it all.
Seeing the full picture made something very clear. The exhaustion makes sense!
Then, recently a newsletter I’m subscribed to included a line that stayed with me: “What gives you energy, and how can you engineer more time in those areas?” The timing could not have been more aligned. It pushed me to look past the workload and focus instead on what truly fueled me during the year.
Whenever I look back on the moments that strengthened me, four intentions show up repeatedly. Connection, creativity, challenge, and contribution. These are the areas where I feel most like myself, where my work feels meaningful, and where the long hours feel purposeful rather than draining. Any time those intentions were present, my energy stayed steady. Whenever they were absent, the weight of the task/project/to-do felt heavier.
Now, the New Year urges us to create resolutions. These tend to focus on outcomes, volume, and performance. They create pressure to produce more or move faster. I believe the concept of alignment offers something more sustainable. It encourages us to direct time toward the work and relationships that reflect who we are both personally and professionally.
This matters for business leaders who carry multiple roles within their organizations and communities. Many have taken on more than ever before, which creates a sense of acceleration that persists long after the excitement of new opportunities fades. Acknowledging this reality helps create space for better choices and clearer priorities.
Alignment becomes a strategic approach rather than a motivational slogan.
The Business Case for Alignment
Leading into 2026 with intention creates an opportunity to choose work that reflects these personal values and organizational goals.
Connection forms stronger community relationships.
Creativity encourages problem solving and innovation.
Challenge brings growth.
Contribution supports the people and places we care about.
These intentions are not restrictive. They act as a compass that helps direct the year ahead.
This editorial will continue as a multi-part series exploring each of the four intentions.
Connection will focus on the relationships that strengthen business environments. Creativity will revisit the spark that keeps ideas fresh. Challenge will highlight the moments that push us forward. Contribution will center on the impact that extends beyond our individual work.
And, reflection like this helps clarify the next steps for all of us here at JHD and beyond.