Dear Lloyd,It's another year of ups and downs. What do you think is key to having a better year and to thrive in 2025?KierDear Kier,Indeed, it's been another year in the books—one that, in my opinion, is as unique as any other year. Each year, we are presented with challenges—sometimes impossible, often difficult. While we are trained to adjust, some are left hanging, wanting, and asking questions they feel they need an answer to.The good news is, not too many answers are available for people who are not ready for them. Sometimes, we refuse to ask the questions that matter because we are afraid to find the answer we don't like—or doesn't fit our narrative. It's not really the answer that can help us at this time. It's the question we have the courage to ask.What happened? Why did it happen? What did I learn? What have I become in the process?I'm one who always likes to find an answer only to realize that sometimes, a question is an answer to another question. This year, 2024, I've asked: Why is this year starting badly—because I didn't see anything working for me in the first two months? Worse, I've had moments of betrayal from what I thought to be close friends.The answer I got was, 'What are you going to do about it?'Then it became clear to me. I've misspent my time and energy to people and business that are not aligned with either what I believe or what I intend to do. Plus, I got unlucky.The good thing about being unlucky is, it doesn't last very long.In March this year, after I got an offer for a business partnership, I became president of TOL Marketing Corp., the maker of the Veyl brand. We ventured into the sunscreen business and joined the bandwagon of skin care demands. It was a surprising opportunity and a blessing for me. For the first time in many years, I got to be surrounded by mature people in business—those who don't make simple things complicated, instead, make complicated things simple.It's also the blessing that got me introduced to the great game of golf. On March 12, I played golf in the fairways of Veterans Memorial Golf Club for the first time—and became a hobbyist golfer after that. I hadn't imagined playing golf not just in the Philippines but also abroad but it did happen. I was able to play in 1917 Dago Heritage Golf Course in Bandung, Indonesia in September and the Cimarron Golf Resort in California in December.On July 13, I became a commencement speaker during the graduation ceremony at National Bookstore College. This is my third time to speak in graduation rites, one thing that many motivational speakers dream of doing. I'm looking forward to having more.As part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, I've had some great time in the Philippine Air Force. I spoke in our Tactical Operations West in Palawan, the Gender and Development Command, Philippine Air Force Aviation Leadership and Excellence Nexus, Philippine Air Force Officers School, Philippine Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer School, Philippine Air Force Air Logistics Command, PAF 1st Air Reserve Center, and Philippine Air Force Finance Center. I also spoke in the Naval Education, Training, and Doctrine Command in San Antonio, Zambales.I got an opportunity as a motivational speaker to serve the men and women of SM Markets. I got to visit their up-and-coming leaders in Metro Manila, Bacolod City, and Davao City.Also this year, I had to serve the Department of Education and our dear public teachers as they celebrated World Teacher's Day in San Pablo City and Lapu-Lapu City.On September 26-30, my wife and I traveled back to our favorite city of Bandung, Indonesia for our Public Speaking Institute of Indonesia's International Speech Camp 2024 and Registered Public Speaker and Public Speaking Fellow Programs.In December, I'm officially back on television and radio as host of Work-Related, a weekly inspirational show aired on DWIZ 882 AM and shown on ALIW Channel 23 and streamed live on ALIW Online Channels. I also got myself acquainted with the Gonegosyo community again when I attended the year-end thanksgiving party in Bonifacio Global City.Also this month, my family traveled to the United States for the first time for a family reunion. We explored the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palm Springs, and Palm Desert. We also visited Las Vegas, Nevada. In this trip, I was able to add to my professional speaking credential the fourth continent I'm able to speak—North America.Finally, I'm capping the year with an announcement that our family of four is going to be a family of five in 2025—sounds about right.As it turns out, it doesn't matter how bad you're starting. Of course, it's convenient to think you'd do well given a comfortable, favorable start. But an entire calendar year is a marathon, not a sprint. And you must be able to run the distance.2025 is going to be long. With the challenges in technology—the Artificial Intelligence stuff—as well as the midterm elections in the Philippines, we've got to be open for changes—I should say a lot of changes.By the way, I'm still looking at finishing my book about Public Speaking and reviving the Philippine Association of Professional Speakers back to its glory.
