December Is Not Just an End—It’s Your Greatest Beginning
Anthony President
Founder | Chief Training Officer | Master Level Corporate Trainer
By: CeCe President
December 2020 was supposed to feel like a turning point for all of us. The world was planning its reopening, and I was doing what I had always done—gearing up to get back on the road. As an international speaker and coach, I was used to living in airports and hotels, traveling 175 days a year. My phone was ringing with clients eager to book dates, and the rhythm of my old life was returning. It was exciting, familiar, and a little too comfortable.
But something inside me felt… off.
At the time, I was teaching an online coaching group my annual December Reflection exercise. It’s a simple yet powerful practice where you pause, sit with your year, and identify the three biggest lessons you’ve learned. I had taught it for years but—like so many of us who help others—I rarely gave myself permission to truly sit in the exercise and do the work.
That December, for the first time in a long time, I made a decision to reflect alongside my students.
What I found surprised me.
What Reflection Revealed:
After spending seven months at home in 2020, I was healthier. My mind was clearer. My joy was fuller. And most importantly, I felt even closer to my husband, Anthony (which, if you know us, is hard to imagine!).
It wasn’t that my previous life was bad—I loved my work. I still love the thrill of transforming a room through the power of connection and words. But the relentless pace of airports and event centers had hidden something from me: I had been missing meaningful moments.
That December, I realized that “success” wasn’t about returning to normal. It was about redefining it. I didn’t need to be gone 175 days a year to feel valuable. The joy, health, and connection I had found at home mattered more.
And so I made a decision—a big one. Instead of going back to what I had always done, I chose to join Anthony at Presidential Consultants. It was a leap of faith and a commitment to a new version of success. One that meant:
Impacting 16,000 lives a year.
The power of reflection is that it brings clarity. It helps you see what’s truly working in your life and what you may be missing. And when you honor the lessons you’ve learned—really honor them—they can guide you toward a more intentional, meaningful next step.
Discover how reflection can transform your clarity and purpose. [Claim your free workshop.]
Why December Matters
December holds a unique kind of energy. The days grow shorter, the nights stretch longer, and life begins to slow—if only for a moment. It’s a season of wrapping up projects, wrapping up presents, celebrating wins, and catching our breath. But beneath all of that, December offers something more.
It’s a pause.
Not just any pause, but a rare one—the kind that comes only after a full year of living, learning, and growing. December offers the gift of perspective, allowing you to look back at the road you’ve traveled and see it clearly. It’s a chance to reflect on the milestones you reached, the challenges you faced, and the moments that shaped you.
This pause gives you the space to acknowledge where you’ve been, appreciate what you’ve overcome, and take stock of the lessons you’ve gathered along the way. December invites us to stop moving long enough to ask: Am I heading in the direction I want to go?
This pause matters because reflection is a powerful tool. It gives you clarity, yes—but it also gives you control. It reminds you that you don’t have to carry everything into next year. You can choose to leave some things behind: the habits that drained you, the fears that held you back, or the doubts that kept you playing small.
At the same time, December lets you gather what matters most. It’s a chance to pick up the lessons, the insights, and the wins that will fuel your journey forward. Without that reflection, it’s easy to charge into January with big plans but no clear path. But with it? You start the new year not just ready—but aligned.
That alignment is priceless.
It’s Your Turn
So, as you close out your year, I invite you to take this time for yourself. Reflection is a powerful tool for fueling your personal and professional growth. It helps you see what’s working, where you’ve grown, and what areas still need your attention. By answering these questions honestly, you’ll uncover the lessons that can guide you toward greater clarity, purpose, and success in the year ahead.
Here are three questions to help you begin:
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1. What brought you the most joy this year?
Joy isn’t just happiness—it’s a signal. It points to what matters most to you, what fuels you, and what deserves more space in your life and work.
2. What challenge taught you the most?
Challenges often carry our greatest lessons. What obstacles pushed you to grow? What did they reveal about your resilience, your values, or your goals?
3. How will you carry those lessons into next year?
The real power of reflection is in applying what you’ve learned. How will you use those lessons to create more joy, more growth, and more success in your life and work?
Take a moment to sit with these questions. Write your answers down and give yourself the gift of clarity. Better yet—invite your team to do the same. Because when we reflect together, we grow together.
Take your reflections further—together as a team. [Sign up for your free workshop.]
The Power of Shared Reflection
Teams that pause together, grow together. Shared reflection creates more than just clarity—it builds trust, strengthens relationships, and aligns teams around a shared purpose.
When everyone on your team takes time to reflect, they bring their insights to the table. Together, you can celebrate the wins you’ve achieved, honor the challenges you’ve overcome, and set intentions that align with your collective mission.
Think about it: What happens when every member of your team understands what they’ve learned, where they’re headed, and why it matters? You create a culture of growth. A culture where every voice is heard, every lesson is valued, and every person feels connected to the larger vision.
Strengthen your team’s trust, clarity, and connection. [Claim your free session now.]
A Gift for You and Your Team
In the spirit of this season, we want to offer you a gift—one designed not just for you, but for your entire organization.
Whether you’re a team of three, thirty, or three hundred, this is for you.
Join us for a free one-hour workshop called New Year, New You: Forget the Goal, Create Your Wellness Identity. Together, you and your team will:
We know the heart you put into what you do. This workshop is our way of giving back, so you and your team can start the new year refreshed, renewed, and ready for more.
Your Greatest Beginning Starts Now
It’s easy to rush into January with resolutions and big dreams. But December holds something more powerful: the lessons you’ve already learned.
What will happen if you pause and reflect? What could you see about your life—about you and your team—that you haven’t noticed before?
For me, that pause changed everything. And I hope it does the same for you.
Here’s to joy, health, and success in your next year—grounded in what matters most.