The Best the World Has to Offer in the New Year

Every new year is a chance to think about what really makes the world a better place. History shows that big gestures don’t usually lead to success. Instead, it comes from small, steady changes that are shared with many people. These changes include cleaner technologies, greater access to knowledge, and tools that help people work together. In science, education, and business, working together leads to better results, and methods that include everyone make resilience stronger. Research always shows this. Helen Keller, a well-known figure, said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” So, the question isn’t if creativity is important, but how it happens in people’s lives. The best changes happen at all levels, from small towns to the whole world, and are usually focused on people, do what they say they’ll do, and make things better without drawing attention to themselves. This article gives a broad view of the things that are really working and the reasons it is important now.

Local Search Puts Small Businesses Front And Center

Right now, the most exciting thing is how small businesses are finally getting found online. People are using data and some smart SEO tricks to get the local bakery to show up first when you search “bread.” It’s all about making the right information easier to get. Personalized local search is changing everything. The next thing to watch is how AI tools will help people connect online.

Justin Herring, Founder and CEO, YEAH! Local

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Connectivity Erases Geography As Barrier

The fact that anyone can get online from almost anywhere is what gets me. My team has seen people in really remote areas taking classes or calling a doctor for the first time. It’s not about your zip code anymore, it’s about what you want to learn or do. I’ve watched mobile tech for decades, and this shift toward access for everyone, no matter where they are, feels like one of the biggest wins we’ve had.

Branden Shortt, Founder & Consumer Advocate, Cellphones.ca

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Small Exchanges Transform How We See

Our school’s exchange program has been running for six months now, and watching students struggle through Spanish together at lunch reminds me of what matters. Don’t just think about it, get involved. These small interactions are what actually change how you see people, and that’s something we need more of right now.

Carmen Jordan Fernandez, Academic Director, The Spanish Council of Singapore

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Personalized Touch Defines Luxury Transport Service

In my luxury transport work, the biggest shift isn’t just online booking. It’s when a passenger mentions they’re cold, and I already know from their profile to set the heat to 72. The tech disappears, and it just feels like I’m paying attention. That’s the real opportunity – using digital tools to handle the small details so you can actually focus on the person sitting right there.

Nikita Beriozkin, Director of Sales and Marketing, Blue Sky Limo LLC

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Better Tools Spark Real Team Collaboration

I’m seeing technology help teams work together in ways I didn’t expect. At Lusha, when we got new CRM tools, it wasn’t just about efficiency. We started actually listening to each other’s ideas and building on them. It’s not a magic fix, but it made sharing stuff and trying new things so much simpler. That’s one thing the world’s getting right.

Yarden Morgan, Director of Growth, Lusha

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Collaborative Tools Empower Community Problem Solvers

After ten years in SaaS, what I find most exciting is how communities use tech to solve local problems. At my company Oleno, we built a tool that helps creators team up, and it makes a real difference for small groups trying to reach a wider audience. In my experience, the best ideas grow when you use tools that encourage collaboration instead of competition. It might be the shift your team needs.

Daniel Hebert, Founder, Oleno by SalesMVP Lab Inc

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Cloud ERP Unifies Distributed Teams In Real Time

I run marketing at dynares with teams spread across Europe and Southeast Asia. We used to scramble coordinating global campaigns until we switched to a cloud ERP system. Now everyone sees the same data and updates their parts in real time. It took some getting used to, but it’s the only way our distributed teams can actually work together without chaos.

Dan Tabaran, CEO, dynares

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The Internet Connects Makers With Devoted Audiences

It’s been cool watching local makers find their people online. A potter I know used to only sell at weekend markets. Now she ships her mugs all over the country. People aren’t just buying a cup, they’re buying her story. That direct connection is something the internet created for people like her, and it just wasn’t possible ten years ago.

Miguel Salcido, CEO, Organic Media Group

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Shared Craft Builds Community And Meaning

The best thing I’m seeing right now is how people connect through craft. At our events, I watch fans and collectors huddle together, trading stories about their finds and why each piece matters to them. That’s what makes our work feel real. If you’re looking for something good right now, find your creative people. It’s just a solid feeling to be around others who care that much about making stuff.

Tyler Hodgson, Managing Director, Ancient Warrior

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New Tools Fuel Sustainable Small-Business Growth

Honestly, what gets me excited right now is how tech helps small businesses grow. I’ve seen tiny online brands use better SEO and content to find customers they never would have reached before. It comes down to them trying new things and using data to figure out what people actually want. My advice if you’re in business is stay open to it. These new tools can lead to real, lasting growth.

Sean Chaudhary, Founder, AlchemyLeads

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Accessible Fitness Builds Stronger Social Communities

My favorite trend is how fitness is becoming so accessible. At Hire Fitness, we watch communities form around shared equipment. Suddenly it’s not just about health, it’s about people talking and getting to know each other while they work out. Making fitness easy and social is how people are getting stronger, not just at the gym but in their lives too.

Paul Healey, Managing Director, Hire Fitness

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AI With Heart Reaches People Who Need It

I’ve seen AI help treatment centers reach people who really need support, which makes me feel like tech is finally getting it right. It’s not about efficiency, it’s about reaching out to people at the right time. My background’s in mental health marketing, and I know the best tools aren’t the shiny ones, but the ones that actually connect with people. So for the new year, I hope people put heart into their online work. It just hits different when people feel understood.

Vince Tint, Founder, 12 Steps Marketing

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Global Collaboration Turns Talent Into Shared Progress

As we head into the New Year, I believe global collaboration represents the best the world has to offer: from scientists sharing research to communities embracing refugees to companies collaborating on sustainability. These significant challenges are solved by people working together. What stands out about collaboration is how it takes individual talents and makes those talents meaningful; collaboration shows that progress and kindness are strongest when shared.

Rafael Sarim Oezdemir, Head of Growth, EZContacts

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Collaborative Science Accelerates Solutions For Humanity

As we begin our engines toward 2026, I’d say the best hope of humanity right now is Collaborative Science. Now we have a gigantic lever for change, from the grudging sharing of data by countries and businesses instead of mere competition to respond to primitive-level problems (like feeding ourselves), and it’s coronavirus, which is uniting science and some leaders, while toughening others.

You can observe this in advances that have arisen already this year: AI has been used to design cures for rare diseases and new “green nitrogen” tech that purifies agriculture. It’s proof of this: When we combine our intellects, it’s that much easier for us to fix the planet and get better than we ever dreamed possible.

Pavel Khaykin, Founder & SEO Consultant, Pasha Digital Solutions

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Meditation Apps Unite Creativity And Calm

I’ve been impressed by some apps that mix meditation with collaborative drawing. People from different places can log on, relax together, and then make something. Out of all the online tools I’ve tried for work, these are the only ones that actually help our community slow down and connect. It just makes things feel more personal.

Selene Luk, Customer Care manager, Spanish Cultural Association of Hong Kong

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Meaningful Recognition Elevates Everyday Community Heroes

I think we’re missing something big by not recognizing teachers, caregivers, and volunteers more often. At Bennett Awards, I see it all the time. A hand-crafted award does something an email thank you never can. It gives someone real pride in their work. When people feel that way, it changes everything about how they show up for each other.

Graham Bennett, COO, Bennett Awards

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Committed Mentorship Multiplies Team Growth

Here’s what I’ve seen work best: leaders who actually take mentoring seriously. It’s not just about creating better managers. I watched a junior developer, after getting regular coaching from his boss, start mentoring a new hire himself. Soon the whole team was sharing knowledge more freely. It just changes how everyone shows up to work each day.

Matthew Reeves, CEO & Co-founder, Together Software

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Inclusive Stories Enrich Classroom Dialogue

What actually made a difference was when we started including stories from different cultural backgrounds in our curriculum. Students suddenly began sharing their own experiences. The class discussions got way more real because kids could see themselves reflected. Of all the curriculum updates we tried, this was the only one that truly changed how students interacted with each other.

Yoan Amselem, Managing Director, German Cultural Association of Hong Kong

Have Your Say

• What gives you the most hope heading into the new year?
• Where have you seen meaningful progress recently?
• What should the world focus on improving next?

Alignment with the UN SDGs

• SDG 3 Good health
• SDG 4 Quality education
• SDG 9 Industry innovation
• SDG 17 Partnerships for goals

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Note: The views and opinions expressed in the content provided on this page are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organizations mentioned. The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as professional advice. Readers should consult with relevant experts or professionals for guidance specific to their circumstances. The examples used are for illustrative purposes and results may vary depending on various factors. Any external links provided are for convenience, and we do not endorse or take responsibility for the content, products, or services available through these links.

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