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The Most Important Thing I'll
Do Before The Year Ends.
Music producer Rick Rubin has helped some of the most iconic artists in the world—Adele, Johnny Cash, Jay-Z—tap into their creative genius. But when he talks about how he helps people create something extraordinary, his method isn’t hustle or intensity.
It’s stillness.
“Being present is the key,” he says.
“That’s where all creativity and change lives.”
That idea stuck with me—because it’s true for leadership too.
At the end of every year, I see the same pattern. Leaders push through December trying to finish strong, squeeze in one more goal, and jump straight into planning for the next year.
But what if finishing strong isn’t about doing more?
What if it’s about being present enough to end well?
We love momentum. Leaders thrive on progress and results. But there’s a shadow side to that drive: we can get addicted to motion.
In our push to end well, we often mistake speed for significance. We overfill December with planning sessions, year-end wrap-ups, and “one last sprint” meetings—telling ourselves it’s discipline, when in reality, it’s avoidance.
We avoid stillness because stillness asks hard questions:
What didn’t work? What am I avoiding? What do I need to release?
But if you never stop long enough to ask those questions, you carry the old noise into the new year.
The fatigue, the clutter, the half-finished ideas—all of it follows you into January.
And the truth is, you can’t lead clearly when you’re still running on last year’s adrenaline.
If you want 2026 to start differently, then the way you end 2025 has to be different too.
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Rick Rubin teaches artists to sit in stillness long enough to hear what actually matters.
We can do the same.
Reflection isn’t indulgence—it’s data. It’s where insight, perspective, and emotional clarity finally catch up to our pace.
Instead of rushing into resolutions, I spend the last week of December in quiet reflection—just 30 minutes to answer three grounding questions that help me close the year with clarity:
- What am I quietly, personally proud of from this year?
- What will I not carry into 2026?
- What needs closure—so I can create space for what’s next?
Every time I do this, I’m surprised by what surfaces.
It’s rarely about the big wins. It’s the moments of resilience I almost overlooked. The lessons I wouldn’t have seen if I’d rushed ahead.
So give yourself permission to pause. No planner required. Just your favorite chair, a warm drink, and your honest self.
Presence > Planning.
Reflection > Resolution.
Silence > Strategy.
That’s where real leadership begins again.
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When you close the year with intention, you enter the new one with clarity—and that clarity changes everything.
You start to notice what actually fuels you and what drains you.
You lead meetings differently. You make sharper decisions. You stop saying yes out of guilt and start saying yes from alignment.
And something shifts internally.
You no longer feel like you’re sprinting into January—you’re stepping into it.
Rooted in your values, what actually matters, and a rhythm that sustains you—not just for Q1, but for the long game.
Because leadership isn’t about how fast you move—it’s about how clearly you see.
And clarity begins in the quiet. Isn’t that the kind of leader you want to be in 2026?
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Why It Helps: It helps you release the mental and emotional clutter of the year—and begin the next one grounded, not grasping.
How to Do It:
- Block 30 minutes for a quiet year-end reflection (or make it a family or team ritual).
- Write down: (1) what you’re proud of, (2) what you’re letting go, and (3) what deserves closure.
- Don’t force next-year goals—let clarity rise after you pause.
Bonus: Turn your insights into one limit or boundary you’ll carry into January.
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Ready to Start 2026 Clear and Focused?
Then don’t skip the pause.
Before you plan your Q1, take time to reflect on this season.
And when you’re ready, I’ve got two free tools to help you build momentum in a way that honors what matters most:
Download my FREE 40-Hour CEO Workweek Planning Guide Try the Designing Limits Workbook to create your values-first schedule.
But for now—step away. Log off. Be present.
You don’t have to earn rest.
You just have to honor it.
Wishing you peace, clarity, and deep joy this holiday season.
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“You don’t need more goals. You need more presence.” - Tricia. |
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