Five Lessons I’m Bringing into 2026
As I take a moment to look back on the terrain I’ve walked this year, both physically and inwardly, I find myself returning to reflections from my Everest Base Camp journey.
Probably at least partially because the healing from an injury revealed when I was training for that trip still continues.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to share them with you in the coming weeks and I hope they bring you comfort and grounding as we close out this year and eagerly prepare for the next.
The Mountain Chooses You
The day after hiking Mt. Elbert at 14,400 ft, I sat in agony on a flight from Denver to Seattle, unable to sit comfortably or find any relief. A sharp, radiating pain shot out urgently and unceasingly from my right hip. Later diagnosed as piriformis syndrome, this pain made even walking difficult.
Physical therapy.
No hiking for six weeks.
BUT - our Everest departure was in six weeks!
Certain that my trek was but over, I called Deepak, the owner of Trekking Planner Nepal: “Deepak, we need a new plan.”
His response was calm and seemed almost amused as he said, “No problem. But remember — you do not choose the mountain. The mountain chooses you.” You must surrender things you cannot control.
2025 has been a year of transition for me. I have been drawn into the world of public speaking and am excited to expand the impact of my coaching practice by taking the next natural step onto the big stage.
On a personal level, my son got married this summer, which was an incredible experience for my whole family and our extended community. But in the process, I had to surrender. I had to give up my idea of the perfect wedding so that my son and his new wife could have their own.
Through all of this change and personal surrender, it was helpful to remember that the mountain chooses you.
Reflection Prompt:
Are there areas of your life where you can surrender control?
🎙️ Build Mental Resilience with Tissa Richards
What if everything you've been told about resilience… is wrong?
In this episode, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author Tissa Richards joins Anu to redefine resilience as a daily, intentional practice that shapes how you lead and innovate.
Tissa's new book, Rethinking Resilience: Fueling Your Competitive Advantage, challenges the old "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" narrative and the pressure to always "bounce back."
Instead, she introduces intentional resilience: a proactive, learnable preparedness muscle you build in micro-moments long before things get hard.
Together, Anu and Tissa explore:
Why traditional, reactive crisis resilience keeps us stuck in survival mode
How to move from "Why is this happening to me?" to "What can happen through me?" and reclaim your agency
The flywheel of intentional resilience and the key elements that resilient leaders and teams share
How values, innovation, and resilience are tightly linked—and why organizations that know what they stand for are better prepared for disruption
The Circle of Control exercise: separating what you can control, influence, or release as noise
Why documenting wins, asking better questions, and pausing before reacting are powerful micro practices you can start today
Tissa Richards is an executive coach and former tech founder who helps senior leaders and teams build clarity, conviction, and resilience so they can lead with impact and integrity. She works with global organizations, executive teams, and boards, and is the author of Rethinking Resilience: Fueling Your Competitive Advantage.
Learn more about Tissa and her work: