People Want Respect. Some Demand It. Some Expect It. And to be fair, everyone deserves to feel respected. But here’s what I’ve noticed after mentoring thousands of people. Most people don’t respect themselves.: I can see it in their eyes. In their hesitation. In their questions. In the way they apologise for taking up space. At some point, something happened. A comment. A failure. A betrayal. A moment where confidence quietly leaked away. And respect went with it. Ask yourself this. When did you stop respecting yourself? What did you allow to define you? What story did you accept that was never true? Now try something different. Look at yourself through the eyes of: → Your child → Your mother → Your best friend They don’t see your mistakes. They don’t see your inner critic. They see someone who is enough. Someone worthy. Someone still becoming. Yes, we can all improve behaviours. Yes, we can be more focused, disciplined, consistent, honest. But those are behaviours. They are not who you are. Change behaviours by all means. Set goals. Raise standards. But start with self respect. Because here’s the quiet truth. People take their cue from you. They feel your self respect before they hear your words. It’s hard to respect someone who does not respect themselves. Not because they are unworthy. But because energy speaks louder than language. As Eleanor Roosevelt said: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” And Carl Jung put it even more plainly: “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” Respect does not start with others. It starts with the relationship you have with yourself. That relationship sets the tone for everything else. Take care of it.

When did you last have a proper laugh? Not a polite smile. Not a quick giggle. A laugh you could not stop. A laugh you had to breathe through. A laugh that shook your whole body. Life gets serious. And sometimes life earns the right to be serious. It throws things at us we did not ask for. Did not want. Did not see coming. But here is what we forget. Life is still a beautiful thing. Family is a beautiful thing. Friends are a good thing. And everything is better with a laugh. Not just emotionally. Biologically. When you laugh, your body releases endorphins. Natural pain relief. Natural mood lifters. It boosts serotonin. The chemical linked to emotional balance, sleep, and long term mental health. Something most adults are chronically short of. It increases dopamine. The motivation and focus chemical. The one that helps us feel energised rather than drained. At the same time, laughter lowers cortisol. The stress hormone that drives burnout, anxiety, brain fog, and poor sleep. Your nervous system gets a message. You are safe right now. And when we laugh with other people, oxytocin is released. The bonding chemical. The trust builder. Which is why our best relationships Are with people we laugh with. Our best clients Are the ones we can laugh with. Our best business days Nearly always include a moment of laughter. Laughter is not a luxury. It is not something you earn once life is sorted. It is part of how the body resets itself. If you have not laughed for a while Really laughed Do something simple. → Watch something that once had you in stitches → Look at a photo that brings back a memory → Spend time with the one person who always makes you laugh Never stop laughing. It makes life lighter. It makes people closer. And it makes everything better.

1. You are not your past. Your past is data, not destiny. Stop dragging it into your mornings. Every new day is a reset if you use it. 2. Choose progress over perfection. Perfection is procrastination wearing a suit. Progress is courage in work boots. Move messy, but move. 3. Guard your energy like it is money. Because it is. Stop leaking it into drama, toxic people, and pointless arguments. Protect your peace like your future depends on it. It does. 4. Your thoughts are not the truth. They are suggestions. You decide what stays, what goes, and what gets fed. If you do not control your internal voice, you will rent your life to someone else’s noise. 5. Lead with courage, not comfort. Comfort is a beautiful prison. Courage is the exit door. Do the hard thing first. That is how you build a life you are proud of. 6. Discipline is devotion. Not punishment. Not willpower. Devotion. Daily actions that prove you believe in your future. Consistency turns potential into reality. If you want 2026 to be different, stop hoping. Start declaring. Start choosing. Start building. Your year will not change by accident. It will change by standards.

Quick thought 🙏

Yesterday evening Juls and I were privileged to attend a B&S end of year celebration. ...And it was nothing like any corporate event/dinner I have ever attended. No seating plan. No hierarchy. No 'formal' speeches. ...just fun, friendly, inspirational shares From the cleaner to the founders. Everyone equal. Everyone valued. It was not a business dinner. It was a family dinner... a frienship dinner And suddenly it became crystal clear why this business has gone from one pharmacy to over £500m. ...And why I have zero doubt we will hit/surpass £1bn within 3 years. This business does not talk about values. It lives them. If I had to sum up what I saw, felt and experienced in 5 words, it would be 5 Ps. - People - Passion - Pride - Principles - Processes People first. Not on posters. In behaviour. You could feel it in the room. The ease. The respect. The shared purpose. No airs or graces. No power plays. Just people who matter 'knowing' they matter. Passion that shines through generations. Multiple generations working together. And a genuine commitment to employ future generations of their people too. This is not telling people they are important. This is showing them. Pride in every role. Every customer. Every transaction. Principles that are lived, not laminated. For everyone. At every level. And processes that think beyond today. Not How do we fix this fire? But How do we build a system so it never happens again? Always asking Who is best in the world? What are they doing better? How is the world changing? And how must we change to stay ahead? Samit & Alpa are extraordinary people. Their Children are shining examples continuing that legacy Kish a shining example of that next generation Giving back at scale. Building free schools for hundreds. Growing people as the business grows. Founded on values that are embodied every single day. I do not often call out individual companies on this platform. But this is an outstanding example of how to build something special.