The Rush of December (and Why We Need to Pause)
December arrives with its usual rhythm —
the rush, the deadlines, the pressure to “finish strong,”
and the silent expectation to pretend we’re not exhausted.
But before we get swept into the fast, frantic final stretch,
I want to invite you to pause with me.
Because 2025 hasn’t been easy.
Not for leaders.
Not for teams.
Not for families.
Not for the world.
And whether you’ve spoken it aloud or carried it quietly…
you’ve been under strain — at work and at home — in ways most people will never see.
What This Year Asked of You
This year stretched many leaders far beyond their edges.
It asked you to hold responsibility in one hand and uncertainty in the other.
It asked you to protect your people while navigating systems that weren’t supporting you.
It asked you to stay steady while the world — at times — felt anything but.
And still… you showed up.
Maybe imperfectly.
Maybe shakily.
Maybe with doubt circling your mind.
But you showed up.
You Showed Up — Even When It Was Hard
I’ve seen leaders:
- carrying weight they never voice
- supporting exhausted teams while quietly battling their own fatigue
- restoring culture one difficult conversation at a time
- questioning their identity, their purpose, and their impact
- managing pressure at work while holding pressure at home
- navigating financial strain, personal loss, or health challenges
- staying responsible even when they felt completely alone in their efforts
This year tested hearts and stretched spirits — and if you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed, or a little worn down, nothing is wrong with you.
It simply means you’ve been feeling deeply in a year that demanded more of your humanity, courage, and care than most people will ever understand.
And beneath all the complexity, one truth remains:
👉 Risk starts and ends with people.
The Human Weight of Leadership
This is why it is critical — non-negotiable — for leaders to have safe zones too.
Because we understand how you carry your teams and fight battles on every front.
So before December fills with busyness,
before we sprint toward the finish line,
before we collapse into the holiday break…
I want to offer you something I remind myself of often:
Clarity is born in stillness — not in the sprint.
We aren’t meant to run at full speed until the second the year ends.
We are not machines.
We are not meant to grind ourselves down to prove our worth.
We are meant to slow.
Reflect.
Breathe.
Reconnect with ourselves.
Explore what the year has taken — and what it has offered.
Acknowledge what we’ve carried — both the wins and the wounds.
And honour what we’ve persevered through… or even survived.
Because reflection isn’t indulgent.
It is leadership.
It is wisdom.
It is how we restore our centre — or soften the noise of the insecurities that surfaced under strain — and how we prepare for a better year ahead.
A Different Kind of December
December doesn’t have to be the pressure cooker we inherited.
It doesn’t have to be a month we “push through.”
It can be a month of softening.
A gentle reset.
A month where we dare to bring in lightness, humour, even a bit of festive cheekiness.
(Trust me — I’m already plotting some Risk Rebel Christmas mischief. 😉🎄)
We can create pockets of joy.
We can release the strain.
We can choose to stop carrying what hurts.
We can decide that December will not break us —
it will prepare us.
These are all choices… your choices.
Looking Ahead to 2026
2026 can be extraordinary.
But only if we enter it consciously.
Intentionally.
With the energy, mindset, and alignment we want to carry.
And I’ll say this wholeheartedly:
2026 will be an amazing year — I will even say, one of my best years ever — because I am choosing to meet it that way.
For me, 2026 is about execution.
And if you’d like a little insight into why it’s such an exciting year, then let me share:
- My new book is in full writing mode, with a release planned for late 2026.
- The Executive Edition of the PROTECT The House workshop is ready.
- In-house executive pathways for PROTECT The House are opening.
- The new website is live.
- My creative energy is overflowing.
- And I know there will be leaders who are “brave enough to start a conversation that matters.”
I’m stepping into 2026 with intention, clarity, and excitement.
And I wish the same for you.
A Risk Rebel Invitation
Before December accelerates and gets away from you:
Pause.
Reflect.
Breathe.
Ask yourself:
- What did I carry this year?
- What did I hold together that no one saw?
- What did I learn?
- What do I want to release before 2026?
- What do I want to feel next year?
- Who am I becoming?
Your courage this year deserves recognition.
Your efforts deserve honour.
And your heart deserves rest and nourishment.
This December, give yourself the gift of reflection — the space to hear your own wisdom again.
Because clarity is waiting for you.
Hope is waiting for you.
And 2026 is already asking who you are becoming.
You’ve made it this far.
Now let’s prepare you for what comes next.
A Little Risk Rebel Christmas Mischief…
And if you feel like joining the Christmas mischief — Risk Rebel style — here’s my gift to you:
🎄 I’m giving away 100 signed copies of my book, Risk Starts and Ends With People.
Yes… Free.
One per person.
You just cover the elves’ postage. 😉
Why?
Because leaders don’t need another corporate hamper, candle, or a generic “season’s greetings” email clogging their inbox.
They need truth.
They need tools.
They need courage.
They need clarity.
They need something real.
They need leadership that protects people — not just KPIs.
And if this book helps one leader protect one more person… that’s the truest gift there is.
If you feel the nudge — or want to gift it forward — here’s your moment:
What a great way to get ready for a Merry Riskmas! 🎄😉
Risk Rebels – What Say You?!
