When I started my consulting practice 5 years ago, I knew it was risky to name my company Ai Inclusion. Ai means love. I wondered if the name would be off-putting or even viewed as frivolous. After all, I work with corporate clients, primarily in the US, where love, kindness, and compassion sometimes seem at odds with KPIs, OKRs, and ROI. 

Yet, in all my years working in and with successful businesses, I've learned that love, kindness, and compassion have the greatest ROI of all. People produce more and higher-quality products in workplaces where they are valued and loved for being exactly who they are. 

It's a simple formula: When we feel valued and loved, we do more.

We live in a time when divisions and tensions between people and ideas are running high in the US and in many countries around the world. Fear of the unknown, fear of difference, and fear of scarcity drive us to separate further into our own camps. Fear all too easily devolves into hate of the "other," and already marginalized groups become further targeted. 

We know that we and everyone around us are happier and healthier when we live in communities where we are valued and loved for being exactly who we truly are. When we get to know each other, we learn that our commonalities connect us and our differences make us stronger.

In this time of deepening divisions, finding love in our hearts and communities is essential before it becomes a truly existential crisis.

Even though we know deep down in our hearts that love is essential to life, it’s not always easy to tap into that love – love for ourselves, others, our communities, and our planet.

This year, please join me for 52 weeks of exploring how to bring more love into our lives. Love requires participation. Love requires sharing. Love requires action. Love requires commitment.

It’s nice when you read a blog.

It’s great when you give it a like.

It’s impactful when you comment or share.

It's world-changing when you take action.

Each week, we'll explore topics that will bring more LOVE to ourselves, our family and friends, our communities, and our planet. I'll ask you to share your experiences and insights and commit to putting LOVE into action. 

We start next week. Until then, as we kick off the new year, please reflect on where you would like to bring more love into your life.

With gratitude,

Joyce Aiko

(yes, love is actually my middle name)