Renewal and Return

It’s a little early, but the robins have come back to set up shop for the year. I think they’re telling us all that it’s never too early to get busy on the future. As I move into 2026 I look forward to the challenges, milestones, and unexpected delights that await.

2025 gave me plenty of time to reflect and project on the role of design and evolution in the world. When I think of models of successful, creative world builders, I’m drawn to things like the writers’ room for The Good Place. This group of people dropped some of the biggest ideas going into the dumbest jokes around. Whether the show is your cup of tea or not, it managed to innovate at a high level and successfully get out into the world. There are many things to learn from a team like this, but it is their first principle that has held my focus lately. It was laid down by the show’s creator and show runner, Mike Schur. Simply put, their guiding star was that the best idea wins.

Like many things that sound simple, making this work isn’t easy. To do it you need to create safe spaces where ideas can be shared without reprisal. You need ways to negotiate and live by definitions of “best”. People who have contributed really good ideas have to root for a different one that measured up to be the best. Building teams and spaces that live by this principle takes commitment and investment in building trust. Building this principle inside ourselves can be even more daunting. For many of us, the toughest critic is inside our minds shredding our best thinking. Living by this principle means that we don’t always choose the safe idea, the practiced idea, or the easy idea. Best ideas don’t always come with the accepted brand or line up to the accepted measuring stick. They don’t always provide externally measurable value beyond the other really good ideas we could have used.

When it’s a habit, living by the best idea raises the quality of all of our ideas and all of our collaboration. Having the safe spaces, strong communication, and belief in better outcomes rather than better credit is how we evolve as individuals and as teams. It is how we maximize our investment in cultural evolution. And it’s just more enjoyable. If you’ve ever tried it, you know.

So this year I strive to let best ideas win in myself and around me. I strive to promote them when I see them. I strive to create and occupy safe spaces that allow best ideas to occur. And to remember that it is the investment and effort that are the reward just as much as the outcome.