The Art of Staying Relevant When the Spotlight Moves On

Dear Lovely Human,

Spotlights are fickle. One moment you’re center stage bathed in applause as a CEO or some leading role at an organization ; the next, the beam shifts and you find yourself standing in the dimness, wondering if anyone is still watching.

One of the things I have learned over the years as a sole founder is that relevance is about carrying your own sunshine wherever you go.

True influence endures when you’re curious enough to keep learning and humble enough to reinvent yourself. This is not the reinvention that comes from desperation; it’s the quiet, steady commitment to growth when nobody’s clapping.

If you’ve ever felt your heart sink as the world looked away, this week’s reflection is for you. Because the most compelling stories are not the ones that burn the brightest for a moment, but those that continue to glow long after the curtain falls.

What is the latest news in AI & Emerging Tech?

1. Perplexity’s new AI tool for patent research
Making patent research a little less… perplexing. Perfect for founders or R&D heads who hate paperwork.

2. Albania’s AI-created ‘minister’ in charge of procurement
A nation officially lets an AI oversee government tenders. Transparency, or a glimpse at bureaucracy 2.0?

3. OpenAI strikes major deal with Microsoft
Biggest AI collaboration yet — a shift toward for-profit models with huge implications for the ecosystem.

4. Introducing: Sora 2 Character Cameos
Pure creative joy — OpenAI’s next move in generative storytelling. A smile into the weekend.

5. Vibe Coding for Business (HeyBoss)
You can now clone entire websites using AI. A wild peek at where product development is heading.

How can I stay ahead in Learning and Development?

1. The Making of Canva — Melanie Perkins’ story
From 100 rejections to a $42B company. A must-watch for anyone building something from scratch.

2. Why relationships feed your brain – Berkeley research
Connection literally rewires your grey matter for resilience and better decision-making.

3. How to scale a business without burning out
A no-fluff walkthrough of what founders miss in step 1 of growth — and how to fix it.

4. Foresee Now Podcast – Ayesha Mubarak Ali from our Community with Eman ‘Falcon’ Khan
Visionary talk blending creativity, grit, and future-thinking. Great for anyone building across art + tech.

10. Jimmy Wales on living in an era of lost trust (BBC Interview)
Wikipedia’s founder on social capital, credibility, and why trust is today’s hardest currency.

 How do I broaden my Global Worldview? This month we explore Albania ( Part 1)

Dawn over the Albanian Riviera

Elira arrived in the early light at Vlora, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet. A soft breeze carried the scent of salt and pine, and fishermen already hauled their nets while beach cafés began to open.

Albania, she realized, is no longer hidden — in 2025 it was named among the standout tourist destinations, with international visitors up sharply this year.

She rented a scooter and followed the coast south to the Albanian Riviera — quiet coves, water clear as glass, olive groves climbing limestone cliffs. At each turn she passed new infrastructure: a newly improved road, an airport expansion, a boutique hotel where yesterday there had been none.

In the evening she joined a small gathering on the beach at Himarë: locals, backpackers and families with toddlers. They lit lanterns and toasted the night. Elira knew she was witnessing a moment: a country rediscovering itself, trading secrecy for welcome.

Here are some common myths about Albania — with the truth behind them, so you can carry more accurate stories forward:

1. Myth: Albania is unsafe / full of crime.
Truth: While Albania does have its challenges, its crime rates have dropped significantly in recent years and many travellers find it to be a welcoming and low-key destination rather than a “danger zone.

2. Myth: It’s still stuck in its communist past and hasn’t changed.
Truth: Although the regime era ended in the early 1990s, Albania has made substantial progress in infrastructure, economy and civil society, and today is actively engaging with Europe and the world.

3. Myth: Everyone in Albania is Muslim / the country is uniformly one religion.
Truth: Albania is religiously diverse — while a majority identify as Muslim, there are many Orthodox and Catholic communities and a strong tradition of religious tolerance.

4. Myth: The roads and infrastructure are terrible / Albania is backwards.
Truth: While some rural areas are still developing, major routes, urban infrastructure and tourist-friendly services have improved greatly in recent years; Albania is no longer the “unknown back-road” it once was in many people’s minds.

5. Myth: Albania is just “cheap tourism” with little to offer besides low cost.
Truth: While affordability attracts many visitors, Albania offers rich culture, fascinating history, beautiful landscapes and significant change — making it more than just a bargain travel destination.

Your worth isn’t measured by who’s watching.

The stage may empty, but the work of becoming never ends.

Nurture a light so steady within that you illuminate others.

And finally…..

🎯 What can I do to Impact, Live Sustainably and Make the World a Better Place?

1. France builds the world’s first wireless-charging road
EVs charging while driving — a world-first near Paris that could change highway infrastructure forever.

2. Spain’s billion-dollar “Sea of Plastic” megaproject
From arid desert to global greenhouse hub — the double-edged impact of agricultural innovation.

3. Jared Kushner’s Albanian resort development
A “strategic investor” project tied to tourism, politics, and power in the Balkans.

4. Island Vibes – Wyclef Jean
A soulful reset. Peace and perspective in one track.


Your fans,
— Sal & the Gleac team

P.S. Meet some of the lovely humans in our Gleac community making waves around the world!