[AI SPRINT] The Gift of Discomfort

2025 was an uncomfortable year for many of us.

Between the relentless pace of technological change, the pressure of AI adoption, and ongoing economic and political uncertainty, I think a lot of people are ready to leave this year behind.

But here’s the part that matters: discomfort creates the conditions for change.

No one rethinks how they work, lead, or build when things feel fine. Real change only happens when staying the same stops working. That’s one of the reasons I’m optimistic about 2026.

The other reason is simpler.

We now have tools that give ordinary people extraordinary leverage.

Technology that helps us learn faster, build smarter, and improve systems that once felt fixed. Technology that turns ideas into products in days instead of months. Technology that lets small teams compete with companies ten times their size.

And when you have both discomfort and capability, something interesting happens.

People start innovating.

I’m watching it happen right now. Entrepreneurs testing ideas they shelved for years. Local businesses reaching customers in ways that once required massive budgets. Manufacturers rethinking decades-old processes. Teams across industries learning how to experiment again—cheaply, quickly, and with far less risk.

The discomfort of 2025 wasn’t wasted. It forced us to question assumptions, look for better ways, and get uncomfortable enough to actually change.

So as we close out this year, here’s my ask:

Don’t just turn the page on 2025. Use what it taught you.

In 2026, take action. Innovate your way forward. Use every tool at your disposal to build a better career, a stronger company, and a more resilient community than the one you inherited.

The conditions are right. The tools are ready. The only question is whether you’ll act on it.

I’ll be here to help.

Before I sign off, I want to say thank you.

To our customers, for trusting us to help navigate a new era.
To our partners, for showing up with care and quality.
To my friends in the speaking community, for extending both reach and impact.
To every audience member, for listening—and more importantly, for taking action afterward.
And to everyone using these tools to create positive change in the world.

Your questions, challenges, and willingness to explore what’s next are a big part of why this work matters.

I hope the coming weeks give you time to slow down, spend time with people who matter, and step into the new year rested and ready.

Happy holidays, and here’s to building something better together in 2026.

-Trent

About Trent: Trent Gillespie is an AI Keynote Speaker, CEO of Stellis AI, former Amazon leader, and advisor on building AI-Native, AI-Enabled businesses. Book Trent to speak to your group or book a call to discuss using AI within your business.

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