Hello Friend,
This week was exciting — the kind of exciting that doesn’t necessarily come from new adventures, but from seeing ideas, conversations, and challenges come to life all at once. It was one of those weeks where things didn’t stop moving, yet still managed to leave space for meaning.
If I had to sum it up, this week felt like a blend of inspiration, overwhelm, and perspective — the messy middle where growth usually happens.
🚀 Endeavour: Human Connection in a Data-Driven World
This week’s highlight was without a doubt the FHRD Annual Conference. Attending with my colleague Bianca, I walked away feeling both inspired and grounded — a combination that doesn’t happen often.
The event was beautifully curated, and I have to give credit to Karen Muscat Baldacchino, Noel Debono, and the entire FHRD team for creating something that felt genuinely relevant.
One of the talks that really stayed with me was Stephanie Cohen’s keynote on “Belonging in the Future of Work.” In a world where hybrid work, AI, and constant connectivity dominate the agenda, she reminded us that belonging isn’t built in systems — it’s built in moments. Small, consistent, human moments. A check-in. A listening ear. A sense of being seen.
Then there was Suzanne de Janasz, who reminded everyone that “people are power.” Her message was simple yet profound: trust and culture drive sustainable success — not metrics alone. It’s about creating environments where people can actually show up as themselves.
And then, of course, Alex Falzon’s gardening analogy. A reminder that growth — whether personal or professional — can’t be rushed. Like plants, people need the right environment, care, and time to flourish. It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget in the rush of quarterly targets and fast-paced change.
Another moment that struck me came from Dragan Donkov, who spoke about psychological safety and social capital. He made it clear that these aren’t “soft” skills — they’re the foundation of team health and collaboration. And Jonathan Camilleri closed the circle by connecting the human and the analytical — showing that data can serve people, not the other way around.
By the end of the day, I left reminded that HR and leadership aren’t about policies or performance indicators. They’re about people. The trust, empathy, and purpose we bring into our work will always matter more than any tool or process we use.
At Endeavour, that’s a principle we’re carrying forward with our End-of-Year Well-Being Programmes — short, powerful interventions designed to help teams reset, reflect, and realign before stepping into 2026. Sometimes all we need is a few hours to pause and take stock before we start running again.
🎙️ GROWTH Schema: Action Over Perfection
This week’s GROWTH Schema podcast episode — “Plan It. Do It. Real Talk with Valeex” — was all about action over overthinking.
Valeex, a real estate consultant and content creator, shared his story of taking risks, building visibility, and learning to tune out the noise. What I appreciated most about this conversation was the honesty — there was no sugarcoating. He spoke about how criticism and negativity are inevitable when you put yourself out there, and how the only real solution is to keep showing up anyway.
That hit home. We all get stuck in planning mode sometimes — waiting for the “perfect” moment, the “perfect” plan, or the “perfect” setup. But the truth is, clarity doesn’t come before action; it comes because of it.
This coming Monday, we’ll also be recording the second FHRD roundtable, focused on Psychological Safety and Inclusion in the Workplace. This topic feels especially important right now. The more conversations I have with leaders, the more I realise that inclusion isn’t a one-off initiative — it’s a daily practice. Creating a space where people feel safe to speak up, make mistakes, and belong is the hardest and most human part of leadership.
⚜️ Scouts: Leadership in Action
This week was quite full on the Scouts side as well.
We had our monthly executive meeting, where I shared updates from my team and joined discussions on upcoming priorities. I also met with a group of youth leaders who are planning a national event later this month and needed some guidance through a few logistical and leadership hurdles.
During the weekend, I dropped by a charity abseiling event organised by the Scout Group my girlfriend is part of — an amazing initiative that combined courage, teamwork, and giving back.
I also supported the Venture Unit from my local group — the section for older teens and young adults — and guided them through some reflection exercises. What I love about scouting is that it’s a constant reminder that leadership isn’t about authority. It’s about presence, trust, and small acts of example.
🎓 Lectures: Rebalancing the Load
This week I also started lecturing a new module — Work Psychology — something that feels naturally aligned with my work at Endeavour. I’m also currently teaching Research Methods, which means I’ve been lecturing almost every day. It’s rewarding, but it’s also exhausting.
That’s why I’ve made a conscious decision: after this semester, I’ll start reducing the number of modules I take on and focus on the ones that truly align with my strengths and interests. Sometimes growth means doing more — but sometimes, it means doing less with more intention.
💭 Personal Reflections: The Reverse Mountain
If I had to describe this week, it would be like climbing the Reverse Mountain — a reference from the anime One Piece. (This might be my first anime reference here, but it fits perfectly.)
In One Piece, the Reverse Mountain is a passage of water that flows upward before leading into the “Grand Line” — the most unpredictable, challenging, and rewarding part of the journey. The climb isn’t easy; it’s chaotic, disorienting, and often feels like the current is against you. But once you make it to the top, you find yourself in a completely new world — one that’s full of potential and possibility.
That’s what this week felt like.
Not impossible, not unbearable — just uphill.
There wasn’t one big crisis or event, but rather a collection of small, unplanned things that stacked up until they felt heavy. A few extra meetings. A side project that needed attention. Some scouting work that came in unexpectedly. Long days that blended into even longer nights. And on top of it all, I wasn’t sleeping well.
There’s something sneaky about this kind of exhaustion — it creeps in quietly. You think you’re fine, you tell yourself you’re managing, until you catch yourself staring blankly at your laptop at 11:30 p.m. wondering where your focus went.
And that’s what I found myself doing this week — trying to push through a current that kept pulling back.
But here’s the part I’m learning to hold onto: not every week needs to be a breakthrough. Some weeks are just about getting through. Showing up when your energy isn’t at its peak. Keeping promises to yourself even when your motivation is thin. Adjusting your pace instead of abandoning your path.
This week was one of those.
I’m on a calorie deficit at the moment, so my energy levels fluctuate. My sleep hasn’t been great, and while my workouts started off strong, my physio sessions later in the week were slower. It’s frustrating — I like progress, momentum, movement. But healing (whether physical or emotional) rarely moves in a straight line.
By Friday, I was running on fumes — mentally sharp in moments, then completely drained in others. That inconsistency used to bother me. It still does, to be honest. I like being reliable, consistent, “on it.” But lately, I’m realising that reliability isn’t about never running low — it’s about knowing when to pause, recharge, and restart.
There’s something humbling about weeks like this. They remind me that discipline isn’t glamorous — it’s quiet, repetitive, and sometimes messy. It’s not the 5 a.m. wake-ups or the motivational quotes; it’s choosing to try again on a Thursday night when your to-do list feels heavier than you’d like to admit.
It’s also about perspective. The “Reverse Mountain” reminds me that progress doesn’t always feel like progress. Sometimes, it feels like resistance. But that resistance — the uphill climb — is what builds capacity.
When I think about it, I’ve had many Reverse Mountain weeks before. Weeks where I doubted whether the effort was worth it, where the current seemed to undo everything I’d built. Yet, every single time, something shifted afterward. I either grew stronger, clearer, or simply more grounded.
And maybe that’s the real lesson here — to trust the climb even when the direction feels wrong.
Not every struggle is a sign of failure. Sometimes it’s a sign of movement — proof that you’re heading somewhere meaningful, even if you can’t see the view yet.
So if you find yourself in your own Reverse Mountain moment — feeling like you’re paddling against a current that won’t let up — remember this:
Keep going. Rest when you must, pause if you need to, but don’t confuse resistance with regression.
Because sometimes, the toughest climbs lead to the most breathtaking views — not just around you, but within you.
👉 Final Reflection
Some weeks teach you through success. Others teach you through the struggle. This one did a bit of both.
If anything, this week reminded me that we grow not only through breakthroughs but through follow-throughs. Through showing up, through small moments of courage, and through giving ourselves grace when things aren’t perfect.
What about you?
How do you manage the “Reverse Mountain” moments in your life — the weeks that feel like an uphill flow of tasks, emotions, and expectations?
Until next week, Grow Beyond.