New Year's Targets

Every year I wake up on January 1st with a sense of possibility, opportunity and optimism and this year is no different.

I have always believed that life, and at 50 I hope I’m just about half way through, is filled with experiences and events; good and bad, which are defined by the way you react to them.

I always find January cathartic, a time to audit, recalibrate and move on.

2018 was a tough year. I lost my step-father; a man who had had a profound influence on me since I was 9 years old.

Like many, I have been dismayed by the rise of hate, anger, division and intolerance across society. As I said, I am an optimist though and I am driven by my step-father’s incredible capacity for love and his unshakeable belief in people to do good.

I am convinced that we are on the verge of a new human renaissance. My own children are now 22 and 18 and they are good people, as are their friends. This is not unique to my children and their circle, but to so many of the young people I am fortunate enough to meet across the world.

Every renaissance, throughout history has followed a period of darkness and I truly believe that we are on the verge of a new upward curve, but it requires work and commitment from us all.

My personal targets this year include:

1. The publication of my new book Education: A Manifesto for Change.

2. Three new speech topics: the first based around the new book, the second exploring the power of purpose and finally, Legacy; Developing Future Leaders.

This time next year will bring the first of a new decade and I think that this year should be about laying the groundwork for a decade of purpose, passion and possibility for us all; a new renaissance.