Focus Word
I really like Pat Kua’s work. Whether it’s his blog posts, books, lectures, or newsletter, he always delivers high-quality content, especially for technical leaders.
In one of the first editions of 2026, he proposed an experiment: choosing a word that would define his focus for the year. According to him:
[…] an anchor for the year ahead and a reminder of what really matters when making decisions or prioritising tasks.
And he adds:
I find this especially useful for leaders. When everything feels urgent, a focus word can help you stay aligned with your priorities instead of getting pulled entirely into the day-to-day.
He chose the word “balance” as his focus and explains his decision further in the newsletter.
After spending a few days thinking about it, something that proved to be much more difficult than I imagined, I arrived at my word for 2026: present.
This word has two meanings for me.
The first issue relates to time: I realized I spend a lot of energy thinking about the past (reliving mistakes, wondering how I could have done things differently) and the future (the next tasks, the next calendar item, the next career step). Because of this, I often miss out on enjoying the present, celebrating the achievements I’ve already had, and living in the moment.
And the second meaning is being more present in everything I do. It’s very easy to get distracted, especially by cell phone notifications and other interruptions. I want to be fully present in any commitment, whether it’s spending time with my daughter or doing a work task.
Of course, I’m not going to stop thinking about the future, my career, my daughter’s education, and so on. But the idea is to separate those moments a bit to have more focus.
And you, dear reader? What do you think about doing this exercise? What would be your “focus word” for the year?