Lovely Human,
I have often felt that moment most leaders recognize but rarely name.
Being in a room where people are looking to you for certainty, and internally, you know you’re still figuring something out.
We’ve built a strange mythology around leaders: that they are somehow meant to graduate from uncertainty. That growth is something you do on the way to leadership, not something that continues once you “arrive”. For some reason we think thriving organizations aren’t led by people who are still learning.
Being a “work in progress” isn’t a weakness in leadership. The refusal to admit it is. Because leadership was never about being finished. It is about being responsible while unfinished.
So perhaps the question isn’t whether you’re allowed to lead while evolving.
It’s what kind of leadership you produce when you believe you’re not…

“Work in progress” isn’t a weakness in leadership.
Growth doesn’t weaken authority. Silence does.
The work continues, even at the top.

This week I had the privilege of speaking the Global Labor Market Forum in Riyadh. I said it out loud…. not everyone deserves a job in this age of AI. Studies have been screening for decades over 70% of the workforce is disengaged.
Maybe AI is the forcing lever for us to find our strengths, purpose and competitive
advantage and show up fully?

🤖 What is the latest news in AI & Emerging Tech?
1 - Humans vs AI: Copy-Trading Goes Mainstream
Dub lets you copy real investors’ trades or pit them directly against AI-driven strategies. A live experiment in whether human intuition still beats machines with money on the line.
2 - The Startup Powering ChatGPT’s “Human Intelligence”
Mercor, the company supplying human expertise to train AI systems, is now valued at $10B. Behind every “smart” model is a growing human workforce.
3 - The Best Ai Model for Every Request
Perf automatically selects the best AI model per request - optimising cost, speed, and reliability.
4 - Why Most AI Products Fail?
Leaders from OpenAI and Google break down lessons from 50+ real AI deployments.
The biggest failures aren’t technical, they’re organisational.
5 - Hottest Ai Tool: Claude Cowork for Real Business Workflows
Claude Cowork shows how AI shifts from chatbot to embedded teammate.

📚 How Can I Stay Ahead in Learning & Development?
1 - Davos 2026: Mark Carney’s “Principled & Pragmatic” Viral Speech
A rare Davos moment that didn’t sound like Davos. Carney used a simple grocer’s story and a 5-step narrative frame to make global power, pain, and possibility feel human!
2 - How Executives Can Claim Less And Prove More
This article breaks down why leadership credibility no longer depends on how confidently a story is told, but on "operational proof."
3 - A Short History of Greenland — “The Most Valuable Piece of Real Estate on Earth”
This explainer connects history, resources, and power to show how long-term positioning shapes today’s leadership decisions.
Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.
Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

💡 How Do I Broaden my Global Worldview? Zoroastrianism

The Question
If you asked an eight-year-old Zoroastrian boy named Cyrus, "How does the fire stay alive?" he wouldn't say, "Because it’s magic."
He would point to the Mobed (the priest) wearing a white mask over his face so his breath doesn't dim the glow. Cyrus would say:
"The fire stays alive because we promised to never leave it alone."
The "Boring" Hero
Usually, in stories, heroes do one big, brave thing, like fighting a dragon. But the hero of the Zoroastrian fire is a different kind of brave.
He shows up when he’s sleepy: Even at 2:00 AM, the priest walks to the fire.
He does the chores: He sweeps the dust. He brings the special wood.
He doesn't wait for a "feeling": He doesn't wait until he feels like being a priest. He just does the work.
Why does this matter to us?
In the Zoroastrian religion, they believe that to keep the world good, we have to be custodians. That’s a big word that just means "The Caretakers."
Think about your best friend. You don't stay best friends just because you think they are cool. You stay best friends because:
You show up to play even when you're a little tired.
You share your toys even when you'd rather keep them.
You say "I'm sorry" even when it's hard.
The Lesson
The Zoroastrians teach us that the most important things in the world are like that fire. If you don't feed your garden, the plants die. If you don't practice your piano, the music stops. If you don't take care of the people you love, the "fire" of that love goes out.
The fire doesn't need you to believe in it; it needs you to show up for it. ---
🍀 What Can I Do to Impact, Live Sustainably and Make the World a Better Place?
1 - Why Aren’t Deserts Covered in Solar Panels?
Just 4% of the world’s deserts could theoretically power the planet. So why hasn’t it happened?
2 - A New Ocean Is Forming in Africa
Tectonic forces in East Africa are slowly splitting the continent in two. We’re watching the birth of a new ocean in real time.
3 - Gen-X Tai Chi: Strength Without Strain
A simple Tai Chi-inspired workout designed for bodies over 40. Longevity is about moving smarter!
4 - Do Cooling Mattresses Actually Improve Sleep?
Sleep experts review whether cooling mattresses meaningfully improve rest and recovery. Temperature, it turns out, may be the most underrated sleep lever.
5 - How to Drain Your Liver of Fat, Without Extremes
An insulin expert explains practical steps to reduce liver fat and improve metabolic health.
✨ Lovely Human Guest Writer of the Month
Jenson Goh — Singapore
A systems thinker with a storyteller’s instinct.
This week Jenson reflects that many leaders fear that admitting they’re still learning will cost them credibility. He examines how success can quietly harden into certainty and how that certainty becomes a barrier to growth. Through familiar leadership stories and a systems lens, it explores why humility isn’t a soft trait, but a necessary posture in an increasingly complex and unpredictable world.
Your fans,
— Sal & the Gleac team







