🗣️To Quit or Not to Quit.

🌎 THE CULTURE CODE 🕵🏻‍♂️

The Lowdown - New Year’s Resolutions.

• What are they? Those promises we make to ourselves at midnight every New Year ('No more chocolate for breakfast! This time I’m serious!’)🍫

• Why do we make them? The Babylonians started it 4000 years ago, so blame them. But they also invented writing, geometry, astronomy and huge walls, so maybe they were onto something.

• What resolutions do people make (year after year)? Common ones include saving money, exercising, and spending more time with family. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 And NOT eating chocolate for breakfast! 🍫

• So, everyone improves every year? Nope - about 80% of people quit by February…and only 8% continue for the year.

• Ouch! How can I stick with it? It’s not easy. Common advice from psychologists - remove the temptations!
  Want to save money? Delete those shopping apps.
  Want to stop eating chocolate for breakfast - DON’T BUY IT!’ (or replace it with something healthier.)

Now you know the facts - turn them into conversations 🗣️

Try the following:

• 🙇🏻‍♀️ Prepare:
  - Have an answer ready for when someone asks, ‘What are your New Year’s resolutions this year?’
  Avoid saying, “Nothing special.” It’s a conversation killer.💀

• 🤔 Start the conversation
  - "What are your resolutions for the year?"

•  🔄 Ask follow-up questions
  - When someone tells you their resolution, show interest.
  Say, “That sounds tough! How do you plan on doing it?”

• 😆 Say something funny
  - “I can’t believe it’s been a year since I didn’t become a better person.”

• 💡 Drop trivia
  - “Did you know people have been making resolutions for 4000 years?”

• 🧐 Become an expert on the topic
  - Read these tips here.

Your turn 🎤
How about you? Are you part of the 80% already? 😜
Hit ‘reply’ and tell me how you’re doing. 📩

My resolution this year - to start this newsletter! 🧑🏻‍💻
(And exercise more…again 😅)

🗣️ SPEAKEASY SECRETS 💪🏻

So, you want to level up your conversation skills this year? 🔥
That’s a great resolution 😉

Nervous about talking to new people? Yup, been there. 😳 
English isn't your first language? I understand.

I've got something that really works.

It’s called S.T.A.R.T.🚀

Here's what it'll do for you:

•  ✨Feel confident: No more awkward silences. Just real talk.  

• 👥 Connect easily: Turn strangers into friends. Simple as that.  

• 🙂 Kill that anxiety: Social situations? You'll handle them like a pro.

Want to know how? You can check it out here. (about a six-minute read) 👀

Give it a try! Hit ‘reply’ and let me know. How did it work for you? 🤞🏻

💬 GET INSPIRED! 🚀

"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop."
- Confucious (a very long time ago) 🇨🇳

Can you name the film? 😉 
(One of the funniest sci-fi comedies ever) 🤣
Answer at the end of this issue ⬇️

💥 IDIOM BUSTER 🦸🏻

Quitting vs. Not Quitting

Did you know there are an estimated 25,000 idioms in the English language? 🤯
Let's bust the most common ones for those New Year's resolutions.

Talk about Quitting / Giving up 😓

Sometimes, you’ve just had enough…🏳️

• to call it quits
  “After three days of kale smoothies for breakfast, I called it quits. The chocolate was calling my name…🍫

• to pack it in
  "I tried going to the gym every day, but I packed it in - it turns out Netflix has better opening hours.” 📺

• to throw in the towel
  "I tried yoga for a week, but I threw in the towel—my downward dog looked more like a lazy cat."🐱

Talk about Not Quitting 💪🏻

Let’s stay positive! 😁

• to stick with (it)
  "I'm sticking with my resolution to eat healthier, even though the only thing getting thinner is my will to live.”😵

• to keep at it
  “My alarm clock is now my mortal enemy, but I’m keeping at it with getting up early.” ⏰
  

• And if you want to be supportive and help someone who may be struggling, try saying these:

• Hang in there!

• You can do it.

• I believe in you 🙌

You just might prevent someone from throwing in the towel. 😅

Hit ‘reply’ and share a story about a time you "called it quits" or "stuck with it"!
I'd love to hear from you. 📩

That was five idioms today - only 24,995 to go…😜

🗞️ NEWS YOU CAN USE 🗝️

Even a basic knowledge of world events can make you a more engaging speaker.

Understand, contribute, explain.

Never be left out of the conversation.

Trudeau quits! 🇨🇦

The Canadian PM since 2015 and former ‘golden boy’ of global politics has called it quits.
It’s election year, and his party wants him gone!

Why?

Here are the conversation-ready details:

• 📉 Bad economy - low investment, innovation and productivity.

• 📈 Immigration backlash - High rates of low-skilled workers and foreign students.

• 🏡 Soaring costs - Housing prices and the cost of living are through the roof.

• 🍊Trump Trouble - His weak response to Trump’s tariff threats led to the Deputy PM’s resignation.

• 😲 Scandals - A list longer than Santa’s beard!

• 🧔🏻‍♂️ The Beard Theory - Remember when he grew that beard? Beards and politics don’t mix 😜

The result? 73% of Canadians want him out! ⤵️

What to say to sound clever: 🧐

“Do you think there is a growing global trend to move away from progressive governments to more right-wing populism?” 🧐

What not to say (especially to Canadians): 😡

“Who cares? America will soon make Canada its 51st state anyway.” 🫨

What do you think? 💭
Is Trudeau’s resignation part of a larger political trend? 🌏
Or was it that beard? 😜

Hit ‘reply’, and let me know your thoughts. 📩

😎 ICONIC - A BRITISH SUPERSTAR 🌟

This Week Marks 9 Years Without David Bowie 🪦

I still remember seeing him on TV for the first time when I was 9 years old, singing “Ashes to Ashes” as his most famous character, Ziggy Stardust, and it blew my mind. 🤯💥
I’ve loved his music ever since. 🎧

Even when he was diagnosed with cancer, he kept it secret and never threw in the towel.
He continued creating, dying only three days after the release of his 27th album.

In honour of his memory, here are some things you may not know about one of the most iconic British artists ever:

• 👁️ The Eye: His distinctive “two-coloured” eyes were caused by a permanently dilated pupil—a souvenir from a fight over a girl when he was 15.

• 🏳️‍🌈 Trailblazer: In 1972, Bowie came out as gay and later bisexual, making him one of the first major artists to discuss sexuality openly.

• 💿 Musician: With an estimated 140 million albums sold, he is in the top 40 best-selling artists ever.

• 🎬 Actor: Bowie starred in 27 films, including cult classics Labyrinth and The Hunger.

• 👑 A Rebel, Even to Royalty: In 2003, Bowie declined a knighthood from the Queen.

• 💻 Digital Pioneer: In 1996, he became the first major artist to release a downloadable song online. (It took 11 minutes to download!)

• 🚀 Spaceman: 'Space Oddity' was playing in the Tesla Elon Musk launched into space in 2018.

David Bowie - a true cultural icon. 😎
Rest In Peace.

🎵 Got a Bowie story or favourite song?
Share it with me - I'd love to hear it. 📩

🤖 BECAUSE THE ROBOTS ARE COMING 🌎

AI was everywhere in 2024, and it looks like 2025 will be no different!

But for every cool application of AI (more Nazca Lines!), there were piles of pointless ones. (AI shoes?! Even the video was made by AI…😮‍💨)

So here’s a question for you:

What’s your biggest fear of AI?

I mean, apart from it killing us all and taking over the world…🤖💥

How about our jobs? 😱

The World Economic Forum released its 2025 Future of Jobs Report, and the news is a mixed bag…

The Bad News 🚨

• 41% of employers are planning on reducing their workforce to use AI automation 😨

• The biggest losers? Postal service clerks, bank tellers, and data entry workers. 📭📉

But there’s Good News 🎉

• AI isn’t just taking jobs—it’s creating them, too! 🚀

• 70% of companies plan to hire workers to develop and enhance AI tools.

• 62% of companies are hiring for roles that collaborate with AI.

• Jobs like big data specialists, FinTech engineers, and electric vehicle specialists are set to soar. 👨🏽‍💻📈

What do you think?
Is AI a friend, a foe, or something in between?
Vote below and let me know your thoughts!

🗣️ DID YOU SEE…? 👀

Lunch break or Happy Hour - Stories that stick.

• 🐟 Monster Fish: A massive 608 lbs (276kg) bluefin tuna sold for $1.3 million at Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo. That’s as big as a bear or a horse! Or a motorbike. 🏍️ It was bought for a sushi chain…yum. 🍣

• 🥛 Moo-ve Over Cancer: Want to reduce your chances of bowel cancer by 17%? Then, drink a glass of milk a day, according to new research.

• 😵‍💫 Tech That Turned: A man got trapped driving in circles in a malfunctioning self-driving taxi in the US. The experience left him ‘dizzy.’ 

• 🏆 Watch and Talk: Golden Globes Big TV winners at the 82nd Golden Globes were ‘Shogun’ (Disney+) and ‘Baby Reindeer’ (Netflix.)
  I watched them both - they were excellent!👍🏻

Reactions? What story sticks the most? 🤔

Hit ‘reply’ and share your thoughts! 📩 
I'm always up for a chat. 🗣️

🧠 BRAIN BREAKS 🤸🏽‍♂️

Want stimulation (and a great little time-waster?) 😜

Then give this click-based game a try - it may hurt your eyes 👀, and your hand 🖐️, but it sucks you in... 😵‍💫
Once you start clicking, it's hard to stop.💥
(Better on a big screen)

Have you played any other addictive online games lately?
Hit ‘reply’ and share your recommendations!

🤔 ANSWER 🧩

The movie title:
Galaxy Quest (1999…25 years ago!! Where has my life gone?! 😫)

It’s a very funny film with a great cast (Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman!)
Have you seen it? 🎥

👋🏻THIS IS THE END✌🏼

That's all for this week, folks!
I hope you enjoyed this first issue of SpeakEasy.

I’m here to make Speak Easy even better for you, so your feedback means the world to me.
Got questions or comments? Hit ‘reply’ - I read every email!

Let me know:

• What you loved 😄

• What you want more of 😆 (or less of 😕)

First time reading? You can subscribe here for free👇

Know someone who’d enjoy this newsletter?
Forward it to them and make them part of the conversation. 📩 
Sharing is caring!

Until next time, keep speakin’ easy 🗣️🌎

P.S. Missed an issue? 🫤
You can read them all in the archive 😃

P.P.S. Not your cup of tea?
You can unsubscribe below.👇
But I hope you stick around - the world is too big for only small talk.