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Photo by GeoJango Maps on Unsplash

Sunday, February 8th, 2026 

Dearly beloved,

It has been a hectic start to 2026, so just a short letter today. At least, I think it is. You be the judge.

Thanks for sharing the joy of my dad winning two meat tray raffles (click here if you missed it) over the Christmas and new year period. While Dad is quite humble, he is still very proud of the achievement. I’m even prouder now, and I’ve dined out on the story a few times since — it’s a classic in its simplicity and in how perfectly it captures him.

We went to the wedding of my nephew, Matt (dad's grandson) at my brother's farm in Bonnie Doon (made famous by the movie The Castle), and he now wants to take some dancing lessons after seeing a few us own the dancefloor. I'll let you know how it goes.

Photo Credit: thezebra.org

Need some Direction?

Bonnie Doon’s a bit of a trek from Melbourne — especially when you “accidentally” add a detour via Yarck for lunch at Buck’s Bakehouse (do yourself a favour).

And every time the GPS does that calm, no-drama recalculating after an unscheduled turn-off, I have the same thought: I’ve got no idea who we actually have to thank for this everyday magic. Not Google Maps — the people behind the maths and science stuff that make GPS possible in the first place.

Which is how I ended up stumbling across the story of Dr Gladys West, a mathematician whose work helped lay the foundations for modern GPS. Born into poverty in Jim Crow–era Virginia, she ended up spending decades doing highly technical, painstaking work - modelling the shape of the Earth — isn’t it round? — and refining the calculations that make satellite navigation accurate. Quiet work. Serious precision. World-changing impact. And for a long time, almost no-one knew her name.

And I couldn’t stop thinking about the human side of that: the patience, the grit, the discipline… and also what it’s like to contribute to something huge - thrilling, daunting, and important - while being largely unseen. There’s a lesson in there about how we navigate - not just roads, but people, and even ourselves.

Lunar New Year

Photo Credit: My wife, Kate

The See Yup Temple — a Chinese temple just in the next street from me — has been through a lot. Sadly, it suffered severe fire damage on the eve of the 2024 Lunar New Year. Since then, people have been working tirelessly to repair and restore it. Big gig. And even with the scaffolding and the works still underway, this time of year remains a big deal for the temple and the neighbourhood — lots of people coming through, paying respects, and receiving a blessing for the year ahead.

And in case you’ve been living under a red envelope lately (which, honestly, sounds pretty ideal — red envelopes are all about good luck), it’s the Year of the Horse.

If you’re a Horse, you’re typically known for being:

Energetic and enthusiastic — fuelled by passion and momentum

Independent and free-spirited — you value freedom and don’t love being boxed in

Sociable and talented — a natural connector, often charming and persuasive

Driven — motivated, goal-oriented, and keen to make things happen

And to level it up, 2026 is a Fire Horse year — dynamic energy, ambition, and a strong pull toward forward motion… with a quiet reminder in the background: balance speed with patience.

A Little Horse, A Big Truth

Photo Credit: The Guardian newspaper

I stumbled across a story recently about a little toy that’s gone properly viral: the “Cry-Cry Horse”. It’s basically a horse plush that was meant to look happy… but a small stitching mistake turned the smile into a frown. And instead of being rejected, it became the one everyone wanted.

The internet loves two things: a cute animal and emotional truth wrapped in felt.

People didn’t see a manufacturing defect. They saw a mood. It’s the face of “I’m fine” — said by someone who definitely isn’t fine. The “I’ve got this” energy with a tiny crack in the façade.

It accidentally captured something very human. 

So, let's take a look at the Year of the Horse for a moment — not in the astrology sense, but how it ties to emotional intelligence.

The Horse represents forward motion: energy, drive, independence, sociability. The “Fire Horse” theme adds even more fuel — ambition, momentum, let’s go. Which is great… right up until you’re moving so fast you don’t notice you’re tense, reactive, or running on fumes. (Also known as: “being busy”.)

So here’s the link: the Year of the Horse brings a bit of wind at your back — energy and momentum. The skill is knowing what’s going on inside you as you move. Dan Goleman calls that inner focus: being aware of your feelings, values and intuitions, and managing yourself well. RocheMartin translates that into four Inner Focus competencies:

Self-Knowing – the dashboard lights.
It’s the ability to notice what’s happening inside you before it spills out of you. The Cry-Cry Horse works because we instantly attach meaning to a face. We do the same at work: a tone, a look, a pause — and our brain starts writing the whole screenplay. Self-Knowing is catching yourself mid-scene: “Right. I’m telling myself a story here.”

Self-Control – the braking system.
Not because you want to slow everything down forever, but because you’d prefer not to crash into things. Fire Horse energy can be brilliant for getting things done… and also a fast track to the 9:47pm email you regret by 9:49pm (and then frantically try to recall). Self-Control is the pause button that turns a reaction into a response. Same engine, better handling.

Self-Confidence – staying steady in the saddle.
This is the inner steadiness that says, “I can handle this,” without needing to pretend you’re perfect. The Cry-Cry Horse is “wrong” in a technical sense, but it’s loved because it’s real. That’s a good reminder: confidence isn’t flawless. It’s grounded. It’s being able to cop feedback, admit a mistake, and still stay upright — without turning one moment into a story about your worth.

Self-Reliance – holding the reins.
It’s making the call, backing your judgement, and owning the outcome. Horse energy naturally wants freedom — which is a strength when it’s mature agency, and a weakness when it turns into “fine, I’ll do it myself.” Self-Reliance is independence without stubbornness. Agency without ego. The reins are still in your hands, but you’re not dragging the horse (or the team) behind you.

So yes — Happy Lunar New Year. And if the Year of the Horse is bringing pace and momentum, maybe this is the little nudge to bring the inner skills along for the ride.

Because anyone can go fast. The people who lead well can go fast and stay in control.

Refining Your Approach: Three Actions for the week ahead

If the Cry-Cry Horse has been making a few cameo appearances lately, consider this your gentle cue to pause and recalibrate — EQ is often just a series of small, quieter choices. With a bit of Fire Horse energy in the air (and a nod to Gladys West–style behind-the-scenes excellence), here are three simple prompts to try this week:

Horse energy, but with a handbrake

Fire Horse energy is great… until it turns into fast answers and fractured attention.
Try this: before you say “yes”, ask: “What do I need to say no to if I say yes to this?”

Thank a Gladys

We’re pretty good at thanking the loud stuff. Less good at noticing the Gladys work.
This week: message one person who does the behind-the-scenes, make-it-work stuff. Specific praise only, not just pat on the back and a Mars Bar.

The “signal vs noise” question

Cry-Cry Horse is usually a symptom, not the problem.
Ask: What’s the real signal here — fatigue, frustration, fear, or just too much on my plate?

Curious about how to work through your own Cry Cry horse or need to calibrate your GPS?

Send me a message or hit reply, and let’s start your benchmark for 2026.

Guest Post

Our regular good friend of this letter, Paul Edwards, has had alot on his plate these past couple of months, so you will see him again next month.

Expecting more?

There is so much more to write on each letter I send, but I appreciate limited attention spans and other commitments. I know you would like more, so get in touch and I am happy to chat. 

I like to think we are all little cheer squads for each other in this world and our default position is that we all want each other to succeed in business and in life, so feedback and ideas are always welcome. I know it is coming from a good place. I am even open to a ‘letter to the editor’, if you are inspired to write.

Thanks for reading this far. 

Write back and let me know what breakthrough you have had after reading this letter. What thoughts you had. Just a sentence (or longer, if you like).

Write to you next month.

Rich

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