On December 29, 2025, I published my personal manifesto for 2026: “Open to Work. Open to Learn”. It was a personal reflection on 2025 — and more importantly, a declaration of intent for the years ahead.

It wasn’t about job searching. It wasn’t a signal of availability. And it certainly wasn’t about a lack of commitment.

I’m a Microsoft fan. I always will be.

The manifesto was about something deeper: staying curious, adaptable, and relevant — and committing to continuous reinvention. A reminder that relevance is a choice. That AI is raising the bar for all of us. And that leadership today requires a balance between experience and openness to new perspectives.

Leadership today requires a balance between experience and openness to new perspectives.

So, imagine my surprise — and genuine delight — when Microsoft and LinkedIn announced the upcoming book “Open to Work: How to Get Ahead in the Age of AI” by LinkedIn's CEO Ryan Roslansky and Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman … just sixteen days later.

Sometimes timing isn’t just timing — it’s alignment.

A Copilot-Powered Comparison Worth Sharing

Using M365 Copilot, I compared my personal manifesto with the themes from the newly announced book. The overlap was remarkable.

Both perspectives reinforce that:

• “Open to Work” is no longer about employment status. It’s a mindset rooted in adaptability, learning, and personal agency.

• AI is reshaping work, but humans remain at the center. AI amplifies our strengths when we choose to evolve with it.

• Career durability now depends on curiosity and continuous skill-building.

• Leadership is being redefined — not by hierarchy or tenure alone, but by the ability to reinvent, guide, and thrive amid constant change.

Seeing these parallels confirmed something important: The world of work is shifting — and those who embrace openness are shifting with it.

This isn’t a coincidence. It’s the direction the future of work is heading.

Relearning Starts Earlier Than We Think

There was another detail that I genuinely loved: the book was announced in a kids’ bookstore.

That choice matters.

For years, I’ve been telling myself and my teams that the real challenge isn’t learning something new — it’s relearning. Unlearning assumptions. Letting go of mental models that once worked but no longer serve us.

That moment took me back to an article I wrote on November 30, 2014, titled “Relearn to Innovate”. In it, I quoted a conversation between Yoda and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back:

[Yoda] You always say it can’t be done. Don’t you hear anything I’m telling you?

[Luke] Master, moving stones is one thing, but this is completely different.

[Yoda] No, it’s not different. It’s only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.

That lesson is timeless.

Innovation doesn’t start with more knowledge — it starts with the willingness to let go of what we think we know. Children do this naturally. Leaders must do it intentionally.

In the age of AI, relearning isn’t optional. It’s the prerequisite for staying relevant.

AI doesn’t replace experience. It amplifies it — when paired with curiosity, humility, and responsibility.

And above all, the message is clear: Humans remain at the center.

Technology creates opportunity only when people choose to evolve with it.

Conclusion: The Frontier Mindset

One line from the announcement resonated deeply with me:

For leaders, it’s about rethinking how work gets organized and cultivating a Frontier mindset: the conviction that the most important innovations happen at the edges, where uncertainty is highest and the opportunity to shape what comes next is greatest.

I couldn’t agree more.

Being open to work means intentionally stepping into those edges. It means embracing uncertainty as fuel — not fear. It means leading not from what we already know, but from our willingness to explore what we CAN know.

This is where innovation happens. This is where careers evolve. This is where leadership is forged.

And yes — of course — I already pre-ordered the book. And I sincerely hope to have it signed by Ryan and Aneesh when the opportunity arrives.

Because staying open isn’t just a mindset. It’s a movement.

And I’m all in.

Vamos!!!