Viewpoint BY BARRY GOTTLIEB HUMANITY MATTERS


THE FLORAL BUSINESS AUTHORITY JULY/AUGUST 2026 | VOLUME 43 | NUMBER 3


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> I have lived through extraordinary change. Over the course of my life, I have


experienced both deep personal chal- lenges and meaningful professional success. At 25 years old, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and told I had only months to live. That experience forever changed my perspective on time, grati- tude, purpose and what truly matters. Life continued to teach me about


change in other ways as well. I have rein- vented myself multiple times throughout my journey and learned firsthand that growth often requires us to step into uncertainty. And through all of it, one lesson has


remained remarkably consistent: The world will continue to change. The challenge is not learning how to


stop change. The challenge is learning how to remain grounded while navigat- ing it. Perhaps that is why today’s con-


versations about artificial intelligence interest me so deeply. Much of the discussion revolves


around automation, productivity, speed and disruption. AI is unquestionably trans- forming the world in remarkable ways, and I believe it will continue to do so. For many people, the speed of


change today feels both exciting and overwhelming. But beneath all the noise and predictions, I believe there is a much deeper question we should be asking ourselves: As technology becomes more powerful, what does it mean to remain deeply human? To me, that is the real leadership question of our time. Wisdom still comes from human


experience. Empathy still comes from the heart. Integrity still requires choice. And leadership still requires the ability to inspire, encourage, guide and genuinely connect with other people. Technology can help us move faster.


But only values help us move wisely. The leaders who will thrive in the


years ahead will not necessarily be the ones who know the most about tech- nology. They will be the ones who know how to combine innovation with wisdom, adaptability with integrity, and progress with humanity.


2 FLORAL MANAGEMENT | July/August 2026 | WWW.SAFNOW.ORG


Because while the world continues to


evolve, certain principles remain timeless. Kindness matters. Character matters.


Curiosity matters. Emotional intelligence matters. Authenticity matters. Human connection matters. And perhaps now more than ever, gratitude matters. Technology may help us accomplish


more, but it cannot tell us what is truly meaningful. People still want to feel valued. People still need encouragement. People still long for connection, trust, meaning and hope. And no technology will ever replace


those deeply human needs. The tools will continue to evolve.


Artificial intelligence will continue to advance. But kindness will never become


obsolete. Integrity will never become outdated. Gratitude will never lose its value. And genuine human connection will always matter. Stay curious enough to learn. Wise


enough to adapt. And grounded enough to remain human through it all. Because in the end, staying human


may become our greatest advantage of all. Just a little old dog wisdom.


Barry Gottlieb is an author, speaker, coach and former business leader whose work focuses on leadership, personal growth, gratitude and purposeful living. He will deliver a keynote at SAF Amelia Island 2026, challenging attendees to identify new opportunities in a rapidly evolving business landscape.


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