Have a great year!
Some of my friends live where a White Christmas is a real option. Locally, we would settle for a not-all-too-wet one. But irrespective of the weather, this time of year triggers memories of last year and invites us to look ahead. This post is to share some of my reflections in both directions.
Personal – looking back
2024 was the year my father passed away, and my mother is now seriously suffering from Alzheimer’s. I used to think of life and death in a binary way. With both my parents, it seems more gradual. Life is getting smaller and, at some point, completely slips away. One should not value a nearly ninety-year lifetime on just the last couple of months or years. We are lucky to have plenty of good memories to look back to.
And we are also creating new memories—great holidays in the Nordics, where we have enjoyed nature and seen the Aurora Borealis. Our house has become more lively with our daughter and two cats moving back in this year.
Professional life
My life as an external consultant and freelancer is still a happy one. I learned many new things in working with a small and successful start-up, finished a multi-year assignment with the CIA (no, not that one), entered the Healthcare sector when supporting a hospital, and just started a new assignment with the Dutch government. Next to that, I was part of making the core of The Sourcing Network a triumvirate, an enjoyable experience from which I learned a lot.
To tick one of the buzzwords-of-the-year boxes, I, like many of you, have started incorporating artificial intelligence into my daily work. With pro accounts for both OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, I can even have them work together; one can help write the prompts for the others. I was thinking about having them play chess with each other, but somebody already did that and thoroughly analysed it.
Last year, I mentioned broadening the 2iQ portfolio, and I am happy to share that 2iQ Sustainability Advice is now a well-established part of the group. We are proud of our new website, especially the updated library and new podcast sections. Any suggestions in both categories are welcome!
Looking ahead
Getting groceries when hungry increases the risk of taking home too much unhealthy food. Something similar is probably true for reflections on a year passed and looking ahead. Doing that after two weeks without sunshine and with all kinds of rain and wind will not highlight the optimistic side. And yes, wars are going on, and we have an unprecedented climate crisis that can’t be solved by ignoring or even denying it. Voters who are scared and feel out of control in their own lives turn to bullies who blame victims and create an us-versus-them narrative. But at the end of the day, the problems need to be addressed, and the conflicts need to be solved. Changing the narrative is something we can all contribute to. There will be a ceasefire at some time in all the conflicts in the world, and the optimists who want to work on solutions will get the upper hand simply because there is no alternative.
In an optimistic spirit, I wish all of you the best possible 2025 for yourself and the people close to you. May health, happiness, and prosperity be yours!
