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Hi Friend,
 
That was one long and heavy January. 
 
To be honest, I debated pausing my newsletter for the first time since I published The Monthly Digest four years ago. But then I realized that staying silent wouldn't align with my values – and Valentine’s Day was just around the corner.
 
While some may see February 14 as a cheesy, commercial holiday, I believe that Valentine's Day is a reminder of the love around us, and the opportunity to be love to others.
 
In a time that feels scary and uncertain for many of us, I hold onto this: there is more love than hate in the world, and love will win if we all do the right thing and fight for it.
 
So this month, please reach out to people who you care about. Speak up. Stay curious. Be kind to your neighbors and those you work with. We are in this together.
 
Margie (Thirlby) DuBois
Founder & CEO, The Thirlby Co.
 

IN THIS ISSUE
February 2026
  • Becoming With Margie: What a Football Team Can Teach Us About the High-Performance Zone
  • Five-Star Manager Spotlight: Phil Saksa
  • Book of the Month: Shatterproof by Tasha Eurich
  • Quote of the Month: On Changing Your Mind
  • Celebrating Black History Month

 
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five-star manager spotlight
Phil Saksa, Blue Forest
The Thirlby Company is proud to recognize Phil Saksa, chief program officer and co-founder at Blue Forest, as a Five-Star Manager. 
 
Phil's Five-Star Superpower: Coaching for Growth ⭐️
 
Why Phil is a Standout Manager: Phil was nominated by four members of his team. One colleague mentioned: “Phil understands and models all the integral parts of being a good manager — he listens and empathizes, helps problem solve, and encourages feedback about his own work and that of his team.” Another person shared: “[He has an] ability to truly listen and make you feel heard, recognized, and valued. I feel like I can be my 100 percent my authentic self with Phil, and I come out of every conversation feeling lighter and more optimistic than before."
 
Congratulations, Phil! Thank you for modeling human-centered leadership and creating workplaces where people want to stay.
 
 
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
 
"A sign of intellect is the ability to change your mind in the face of new facts. A mark of wisdom is refusing to let the fear of admitting you were wrong stop you from getting it right. The joy of learning something new eventually exceeds the pain of unlearning something old."
 
- ADAM GRANT
 
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5610 Ward Rd, Suite 300
Arvada, CO 80002, USA