For last year’s end of year reflection blog post, I shared the lyrics of John Lennon’s Imagine, and its messages feel even more urgent this year. I won’t dwell on the grim state of the world with the rise of authoritarianism and the unthinkable harm caused by a small number of men waging brutal wars and other despicable acts. I do want to share a conceptual framework that helps me understand what’s happening in the world right now and my personal motivation to do everything I can to make a better world and to inspire others to do the same.

overton Window

That conceptual framework that I learned this year that provides a understanding of what’s happening in the world is called the Overton Window.

The Overton Window describes the range of ideas and policies that are considered acceptable or normal in public discussion at any given time. Ideas inside the window feel reasonable and mainstream; ideas outside it are seen as extreme, unthinkable, or taboo.

The window isn’t fixed. It shifts gradually or suddenly. Understanding the Overton Window helps explain how societies change, not just for the better, but also in troubling backward directions.

When people say, “someone should do something about that”, I say, “why not me or us”.

I’m so pleased this year that members of Carly and my Habits for a Better World nonprofit have finished laying the technical and logistical foundation for us to have major impact on several world-changing initiatives that will move those initiatives into the Overton Window. I’m also delighted that Mandy Kloppers, MJ Shaar, and Suzanne Joy Clark have joined me a regular co-hosts on my reimagined Life Habits Podcast, now also in video on YouTube, examining evidence-based habits to improve personal life habits that will also have a positive impact on the world.

MAJOR MILESTONES

70 Years on this Earth

I’ve entered my seventies this year. I’ve never celebrated a birthday quite like this one previously and, wow, did my family and friends ever help make it an amazing event.

My brother Harrie, son Elliot, long-time friends Bob and Rick, teaching colleague Michael, and co-founder Carly gave wonderfully heartfelt speeches.

The entire evening was organized by my amazing daughter, Emma, with help from other family members. We rented out Dark Horse Espresso Bar for the night, with catering from the phenomenal plant-based restaurant, Animal Liberation Kitchen. To help guests from different parts of my life connect, Emma worked with me to create a “𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁?” quiz with True or False and write-in questions. To find the answers, people had to talk to others they’d just met—and it worked beautifully. Many said it wasn’t just fun—it was a fantastic way to break the ice and get to know each other. I highly recommend it if you’re planning a similar event. We also played a traditional Dutch game of Sjoelen (shuffleboard), which turned out to be an unexpected hit.

10 YEARS OF TEACHING

I also celebrated a full decade of teaching as an Industry Professor in the McMaster University DeGroote Schools of Business and Medicine.

I developed course material for and taught several programs including the Executive MBA in Digital Transformation program for rising star business leaders, the Emerging Health Leaders program for pre-med, medical students, and early career physicians, the Innovation by Design program for pan-university undergraduate and graduate students from any faculty, the Directors College for members of boards of directors, the Collaborative Health Leadership Governance program for board directors of health organizations, and the National Health Leaders program for top health leaders in Canada.

FIRST YEAR OF SERVING AS A BOARD ADVISOR

I’ve previously been on boards of directors for IBM’s Employee Charitable Fund, the VegTO nonprofit, and I currently serve as the President of the Habits for a Better World nonprofit.

This year I began serving as an advisor to the Food for Climate League nonprofit, a coalition of individuals passionate about democratizing sustainable food culture through innovative, human-centered communications. and also the PRAXXI for profit startup, an AI-powered platform that helps organizations and leaders build adaptive and resilient teams, enhance key capabilities, while empowering individuals to design their careers and lives in a world shaped by AI and constant change.

Both of these organizations are trying to improve the world and I feel fortunate that they trust me to advise their staff in the case of FCL and the leadership team in the case of PRAXXI.

BUILT THE FOUNDATION OF HABITS FOR A BETTER WORLD

I’m so pleased with what Carly and my Habits for a Better World teams accomplished this year and the incredible quality of the work. I’m also so heartened by the heartfelt reflections team members recently shared about what being part of this organizations has meant to them and how the experience has improved their lives in a variety of ways. I love working with this group of diverse highly talented friends from all around the world with a passion to use their skills to create a better world together.

I’m so proud of each of the members of what we call our foundation teams and also of the leaders of those teams which include the following:

Branding—Sofía J. Polette Stubb
Content—Dr. Nicole Engeler
Social Media—Mitali Das
Website—Zeal Sheth
AI Assistant—Olivera Bay
Digital Community—Shambhavi Mehrotra (Polo) & Ashley Kim
On-Site Activation—Jill Dhillon
End-to-End Experience—Mika O'Donovan
Research/Impact—Preston Menke

And of course, I’m forever thankful for my wonderful co-founder and friend, Carly Williams.

THE BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR THAT I RECOMMEND

Lastly, I’d like share some of the books that I read this year in case you haven’t read some of them but would like to. Some of them I thought I should read, a couple I re-read, and yet others, I just read out of sheer interest. I thank the authors and especially those who were kind enough to be on my podcast.

I hope to share at this time next year the second book I’m currently writing, and maybe even a third too in collaboration with some friends.

2025: It was the best and worst of times