A Year That Shaped Me – Reflections on 2025
There are years that simply happen to us. And then there are years that require conscious presence, attention, and continuous reflection. For me, 2025 clearly belonged to the latter. It was not loud, nor spectacular in every moment – yet it consistently shaped me, both as a professional and as a human being. As the year draws to a close, I would like to look back, month by month, on the journey I have taken.
January – Planning, a Compass, and Silence
The beginning of the year is always about slowing down for me. In January, I deliberately set aside time to plan the twelve months ahead. I didn't just write task lists; I asked myself deeper questions: In what ways do I want to grow? What is it that I want to pass on to others? This groundwork accompanied me throughout the entire year.
February – Coaching and Artificial Intelligence
February marked a professional milestone: my article "Coaching and AI – The Path to Excellence" was published in the 2025/1 issue of Magyar Coachszemle, Hungary's leading coaching journal. Taking part in the online launch of the issue was a great opportunity to initiate dialogue around a topic that is both exciting and challenging: how coaching can authentically connect to technological development.
March – International Dialogue
In March, an English-language interview with me on the topic of mentoring was published in the GILE Journal of Skills Development, this respected international academic journal. It was a particularly meaningful experience to see local professional insights placed into an international context. This reinforced my belief that the core principles of mentoring transcend cultures.
April – The "April Theory"
In April, I shared a blog post about something many of us intuitively feel: spring activates not only nature, but also our inner energy. The "April Theory" suggests that if New Year's resolutions have stalled, spring can be an ideal moment for a fresh start – with more realistic goals and greater self-acceptance.
May – Inspiring Professional Encounters
May was especially rich in events. At the University of Szeged, during the MelLearn 2025 Conference, I gave a lecture on the deeper layers of the coaching mindset. In the same month, at ELTE, as part of the event "Higher Education Innovations for Sustainability," I presented my talk titled "Your Life. Your Way." Both occasions confirmed that there is a genuine demand for value-based thinking.
June – International Experience and Professional Dialogue
In June, I spent nearly a week in Newcastle, United Kingdom, exploring international practices in coaching and business development. During the same month, I also participated in the 28th Spring Wind Conference in Budapest. A weekend filled with intensive exchanges, professional depth, and quiet realizations – especially about how much power lies in curiosity.
July – Connecting Past, Present, and Future
In July, personal relationships took precedence over professional commitments. Time spent with family and a 25-year high school class reunion on Margaret Island reminded me where we started and how much we have changed. These moments help put the journey into perspective.
August – Community and Giving Back
In August, I wanted to give something back to those who follow my work. Through a Facebook giveaway, participants could win books I had personally translated. It was both a playful initiative and a meaningful gesture – a celebration of shared thinking.
September – National Recognition
In September, I received the Mentor Oscar Award. Recognition always feels good, but this time it served mainly as confirmation: consistent, long-term work truly matters, and sooner or later others will recognize the value it creates.
October – Sharing Knowledge
In October, my article "Developing Entrepreneurial Competencies with Coaching Tools" was published in Magyar Coachszemle, followed shortly by my participation in the online launch of the issue. It was rewarding to further explore methodological questions at the intersection of coaching and entrepreneurial development within a professional community.
November – Academic Reflection
In November, my article on innovative teaching roles and the application of the coaching mindset was published in the journal Vezetéstudomány. This publication is especially important to me, as it reflects a way of thinking in which education, entrepreneurial mindset, and coaching are not separate domains, but mutually reinforcing systems.
December – International Recognition & A Year-End Surprise
To close the year, I had the opportunity to attend the QS Reimagine Education Award finals in London, where our mentoring program placed in the Top 20% out of more than 1,600 projects worldwide. What I wish I knew when I was 20 – my book translation, originally published in 2019, returned to Libri Publishing's Lifestyle & Health bestseller list by the end of the year.
It was a fitting conclusion to a conscious and steadily building year.
Looking back on 2025, I feel deep gratitude for this year – for the opportunities, the encounters, the questions, and the answers alike. With persistent and committed effort, I will continue my professional work in the coming year as well, knowing that the journey itself shapes us just as much as the destination.
Friendly regards,
Károly Vizdák
lifestyle change & career coach
self-awareness mentor
www.karolyvizdakcoach.hu/en
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