This week, we're adding more pages to our Spellbook. Here's what we'll be talking about:

One big idea we’ve learned each week, shaped into words you can carry forward.

The team was moving. Work was steady. Projects were flowing.
But something inside me felt heavier than usual.
Every small problem felt big.
Every tiny mistake felt personal.
Every conversation felt like a reminder that I was not leading the way I used to.

I kept trying to appreciate people, but the words did not come out easily.
It felt like my leadership voice was buried under a corporate shell I did not mean to grow.
Too many meetings.
Too many expectations.
Too many moments where I forgot to pause and see the small wins.

I could feel the distance growing, even when I stood right next to them.

What’s happening to me?

Trust does not break in one day.
It stretches and returns.
It dips and rises.
Just like us.

Ups and downs are normal in any team.
But when you are the leader, the downs feel personal.
You start thinking the whole ship depends on your mood, your clarity, your energy.
You start believing you are failing everyone when a problem appears.

But that is not the truth.
A team is stronger than the leader’s emotions.
Everyone wants to solve things together.
Everyone wants to move forward.
Everyone loves the work more than the mistakes that come with it.

The only person who doubted that was me.

During Umrah, everything slowed down.
No meetings.
No deadlines.
No notifications.

The team was kind enough to put up a strict rule not to bother Amal and I, they wanted us to have a break.

Just a quiet space where the mind has nowhere to hide.

One evening, I realised that problems only felt big because I kept giving them a big shape.

I held them too close.
Looked at them too long.
Treated every ripple like a storm.

But in that silence, I saw how small they were.
Not because they were easy,
but because I finally allowed myself to breathe before thinking.

Why was I rushing to fix things in the first place?
Is it the desire to make things perfect,
or the desire to not feel like a failure?

Simon Sinek said, “The quality of a leader is reflected in the tone of their questions, not just the strength of their answers.”

My questions had become heavy.
My answers became even heavier.

But the moment I saw problems as they were, not as I feared them to be, everything softened.

I found myself discovering answers that took months to figure out in a matter of a few sips of Karak Tea.

When I returned, the team was still the team.
Still trying.
Still showing up.
Still wanting to solve things together.

Nothing was broken.
Nothing was lost.
Only my clarity had been missing.

I realised something simple.
A problem does not mean we have failed everyone.
A problem is just a place to think.
A moment to breathe.
A chance to grow closer instead of apart.

Leadership is not about being perfect.
It is about coming back to yourself again and again.

And to do that, we must first take care of the inner place where our thoughts begin.

We must make space to care for ourselves, and only then we will have the space and capacity to care for the team.

Small problems can stay small when the heart is calm.
Teams grow through honesty.
Leaders grow through humility.

Everyone wants to move forward.

And we can be better, not by being harder on ourselves,
but by seeing the truth with softer eyes and heart.

We wish to be better.
We are learning to be better.
And we will get there, together.

Snapshots from our week — the work, the people, and the little victories worth sharing.

We were honoured to be invited by Maisarah Nguyen, founder of Rattan House and SEATCE, to attend the Southeast Asia Craft Workshop. Over two inspiring days, we learned from craft experts across Southeast Asia and gained valuable insights into the region’s rich craft traditions.

The office has been extra warm lately, and between a faulty gate and a long-overdue plumbing issue, it felt like the universe was testing us. We finally got the maintenance team in to sort everything out — from fixing the air conditioners and plumbing to getting our gate back in working order.

Turns out, the gate malfunction was caused by an unfortunate (and very unexpected) cicak incident in the motor… may it rest in peace. All systems are now back up and running, and the office is officially functional again.

We’re giving our LinkedIn page a little revival, and Nuur Batrisyia Ali has been leading the charge by sharing highlights from the team and our work. A few posts are already live, do take a look, you might just find your next dose of inspiration there.

It was a really slow day for us, with half the team either being out for shoot, on holiday or just down with a sickness. Iman Shamsuddin decided it was a great time to bring back the mobility break and we danced to a couple of songs to get our body and energy flowing!

Things we’re loving lately, because inspiration hides where you least expect them.

Imamull Qhaeer and Amal Osmera swear by the ASICS GEL-KAYANO 32, especially if you have flat feet. With solid arch support, stability cushioning, and long-wear comfort, it’s a great everyday and walking shoe.

During rehearsals, Iman Shamsuddin often pushes herself to the point of exhaustion — but this drink has been her go-to pick-me-up when she needs it most. She says it helps her feel normal again almost instantly, though it’s definitely on the sweeter side and not something she’d reach for on a regular day. Think of it as her personal alternative to energy drinks like Red Bull (which she doesn’t usually drink).

If you want to read the previous pages, head over to this link right here:

That’s all for this week. See you on the next page of the Spellbook.

At AICREATIVV, we aim to make everyone who engages with us 1% better—from clients to community. Public Victory, always.

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