True View: Welcome to 2026 — Curation Over Common
Welcome to 2026.
Each year, I try to identify a theme that unifies both my professional and personal life. That’s often easier said than done. Finding a concept that genuinely applies to how we live and how we work isn’t always obvious.
This year, the theme is curation over common.
Let me be clear — this idea isn’t new. It’s been written about, spoken about, hashtagged, and quoted endlessly. But timeless ideas have a way of resurfacing when they matter most. And right now, this one feels particularly relevant.
“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” — Henry David Thoreau
A Personal Reset
On a personal level, this theme hit home like a sledgehammer.
I’ll admit it — I’m an expert Amazon dupe shopper. I appreciate efficiency, convenience, and a good find. But the truth is, I don’t need 18 different bags that almost do the job when one truly great bag would do it better.
It’s time to treat my wardrobe more like a wine collection — focusing on craftsmanship that improves with time, and rehoming the impulse buys to friends who can give them a second life.
One thoughtfully chosen piece.
One item that lasts.
One purchase that supports a small business, real craftsmanship, or true quality.
Less clutter. More intention.
Fewer things — better things.
What I’ve found is that this mindset creates more calm, more focus, and honestly, more joy.
And it doesn’t stop with possessions.
Curation also applies to how we spend our time, where we invest our energy, and the relationships we choose to nurture.
The Professional Elevation
As we head into 2026, this idea of curation over common perfectly mirrors how I’m thinking about our business — and specifically, how we’re expanding Christie’s brand presence and our agent community.
Growth for the sake of growth has never been the goal.
Bigger isn’t always better.
More isn’t always smarter.
And fast doesn’t always mean strong.
What does matter is who we grow with, how we grow, and why we grow.
At Christie’s, we are hyper-focused on:
Expanding our brand presence with purpose
Partnering with agents who share our values, standards, and vision
Building something sustainable, elevated, and enduring
This isn’t about filling seats. It’s about building a culture.
It’s not about volume. It’s about meaningful growth.
It’s not about being everywhere. It’s about delivering impact where we are.
Less, Done Better
In real estate — especially in today’s market — the pressure to do more is incessant:
More marketing.
More platforms.
More leads.
Just more.
But thriving agents are often the ones who simplify. They do less, better.
They build deep relationships instead of meaningless contacts.
They prioritize authentic reputations over reach.
They deliver curated advice, service, and experiences.
This approach is future-proof.
The opportunity is unlimited.
And it’s exactly what our team is building.
Our 2026 Mindset
My encouragement as we step into the year ahead is simple:
Choose intention over excess.
Seek depth over scale.
Curate your relationships, your work, your business — and your life.
Because better beats bigger every single time.
Here’s to a year of clarity, purpose, and curation.
— Melissa