Time for Optimism | M&A Insider | December 2025

M&A

19 Dec

Written By Mark Sainthill - Founding Partner

As we near the end of the year, we wanted to reflect on the year more philosophically.

In Chinese astrology, 2025 has been the Year of the Snake which is symbolised by strategy, wisdom, transformation, and calculated growth.

Those most rewarded have focused on:

🔄 Transformation & Reinvention - snake years often bring “shedding of old skins” and refining value propositions

💰 Financial Prudence & smart investments - avoiding risky / reckless moves

🤝 Selective Partnerships - being cautious who you trust and build fewer high quality alliances

🧩 Power, Influence & Information - building IP, data and protecting your assets

2026 is the Year of the Horse, which suggests a year of growth, building momentum and delivering on ambitious targets - sounds good!

And a thought to leave you with:

“You really do become what you think. If you feed your mind trash, you're gonna feel like trash.

Emotions, they're not problems. They're signals. Anger tells you what boundaries got crossed, and what needs work done.

Anxiety means that you're stuck in the future, and if you're depressed, it's because you're stuck in the past. It's a reminder to come back to the present.

Motivation won't change your life, but habits will. When you change your habits, everything shifts.

Your past, that's a chapter, not your whole story. Learn from it, but don't live there.

When someone triggers you, pause. Because that's a mirror showing you what's still unhealed inside of you.

Control is a total illusion. The only real power that you have in this is you and your choices. And at the end of the day, it's very simple. Your thoughts shape your habits, and those build you, and your choices define you.”