Entering 2026: Reflecting on Values

Holiday Reflections: What are ‘Old Fashioned Values’ in 2026?

Harry Catrakilis takes a step back over the holidays to reflect on life and the people around him, and is reminded of John Walter Wayland’s definition of what it means to be a ‘gentleman.’ He identifies how these old-fashioned values make their appearance in 2026 and how that is seen in business.

“Happy 2026!

One of the unexpected benefits of stepping into a new phase of life is perspective. When you’re no longer “captain on deck” every day, you begin to see things differently. You still care deeply about how businesses operate and how decisions are made, but the constant pressure to be perfectly efficient begins to soften. You approach situations less reactively and more like a consultant; able to step back, observe patterns, and reflect on what matters.

The holidays brought some of that reflection into focus. While remnants of year-end stress still lingered, spending time with family and working alongside people you trust reminded me how grounding it is to step away from the nonstop stream of current events and commentary. Real conversations, real work, and real problems tend to cut through a lot of noise- and it’s been a long time since I was able to, as they say, “stop and smell the roses”.

During the holidays, we spent a few days in Asheville, North Carolina with friends and family, enjoying the countryside and visiting the Biltmore Estate. With fewer distractions and more time simply to observe, I found myself reflecting not just on the scenery, but on the people around me- and particularly a curiosity for what the younger generation had to say. Their conversations were thoughtful. Their positions were articulated with respect and politeness, an attitude that some may considered lost. It felt refreshingly old-fashioned in the best sense of the word.

That experience triggered me down a path of remembering something from years ago. When my son was in college, he joined a fraternity and was asked to learn a creed, a standard for how one should carry oneself. It’s one of the few pieces from his college years that has stuck with me as society changes with time. What’s been especially meaningful is seeing both him and his sister live in ways that align closely with those values today. I may be boasting a little, but it is very rewarding to see your children grow into adults that you are proud of

This is the creed:

The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self-control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others, rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe.

-John Walter Wayland (Virginia 1899)

The passage itself describes a person whose conduct is guided by goodwill, self-control, humility, and respect for others. While written in another era, the message still resonates, and this is what struck me on my break observing how young people talked to each other. That these values haven’t disappeared- that I was in the presence of ‘true gentlemen and ladies’.

In professional circles, I often hear that business ethics and civility have gone by the wayside. But moments like these remind me that many people still aspire to lead with fairness, respect, and accountability, even when the broader culture feels loud or divided.

As we move into 2026, I’m cautiously optimistic. When we slow down enough to reflect, whether through time with family, time away from the noise, or simply paying closer attention- we often rediscover the principles that have quietly guided us all along.” -Harry Catrakilis

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