Merry Christmas – From My Family to Yours

I’m writing this the day after shoulder surgery. (The consequence of overdoing it with healthy living.)

I’ve just regained enough sensation in my hand for it to be useful – and here I am. Typing with one hand T-rex style from a sling.

My coach (all good coaches have a coach too) sends me a weekly list of questions that I respond to. It keeps us in touch and provides accountability.

One of his questions is to comment on business and personal highlights from the last week. I’ve been answering those questions for years now. But recently something dawned on me:

I spend a lot of time thinking about my clients, creating content (books, articles, speeches, workshops) and building my business. This is all important to me. I view serving leaders as my calling. When I’m working with you or creating content that I hope will inspire, equip or encourage someone – I feel like I’m in my zone.

But the highlights I report back to my coach are nearly always relational: A cool moment with one of my kids. Or ditching the kids and sneaking off with my wife. Or connecting with friends. Or an event with clients or colleagues that was particularly meaningful – but even in those cases, it is about the relationship, not the business.

I’m a little slow sometimes. Definitely not the first person to have this observation. But I realized that my ‘highlights’ generally, are very attainable. In fact, more attainable than many of the things I work hard for.

For example, I enjoy authoring books. But they are by no means easy. They require a massive commitment of time and resources. And I feel proud of them, I’m always glad to hear someone has been helped by them. But I find much more joy with my family, or friends or the personal moments that occur with my clients.

What dawned on me is that what I really want – to connect with people I enjoy – is usually right there. And usually pretty easy. As long as I don’t get too busy doing other things – and forget.

As I consider Christmas, I’m reminded that beneath all the lights, and wrapping paper, bustle and parties – there is a simple story. As a Christian, I’m reminded that the ‘meaning of Christmas’ is remembering that God loves us and wants to be connected to us. It’s about relationship.

For something that can get complicated, it’s intended to be simple.

However you celebrate the holidays – I encourage you to reflect on these questions:

• What were your top ten (or more!) highlights of 2024?
• How many of those were about relationships? (They don’t have to be – but it’s interesting to consider it.)
• How many of those highlights might be simple to repeat or continue to enjoy next year?
• What do you need to do to experience more of those in 2025?

However, you answer these questions: I want to wish you and your family a peace and joy filled Christmas!

Take good care,

Christian

P.S. Want to turn your highlights into habits? Let’s strategize—schedule a consultation!