Finish 2025 Strong: Leadership Lessons from Thanksgiving

Recalibrate… Finish Strong

Thanksgiving may have passed, but the spirit of gratitude is one of the most powerful leadership tools we carry into the rest of the year.

This is the season where leaders shift from reflection to readiness. While many people slow down mentally, high-impact leaders use this window to recalibrate. It’s not about rushing to finish tasks. It’s about finishing the year with clarity and intention.

Gratitude sharpens our focus.
It grounds our decisions.
And it reminds us that leadership is not measured only by what we achieve, but by who we become along the way.

As we move toward the close of 2025, here’s a question I encourage leaders to sit with:

What is ONE decision you can make right now that will set you up for meaningful growth in 2026?

This may be a decision to:
• Delegate more intentionally
• Step into a new direction
• Release what no longer aligns
• Seek clarity before making your next move
• Invest in development (your own or someone else’s)

The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year are the most underestimated leadership window, and yet one of the most powerful. Small shifts made now create profound momentum in the new year.

If you are a leader navigating transition, stepping into a new role, launching something new, or simply needing clarity for 2026, support is available.

And if you know someone in your organization, circle, or family who needs that guidance… this season is the perfect time to gift it.

Let’s finish strong, lead with intention, and walk boldly into the year ahead.

Elevate Your 2024: Join Our Exclusive Goal Setting Retreat!

Grab a Friend and Get ready to level up 2024 at the Goal Setting Retreat, where we’ll dive deep into setting & crushing your goals while enjoying fun.

Get ready to level up 2024 at the Goal Setting Retreat, where we’ll dive deep into setting & crushing your goals while enjoying fun.

2024 Goal Setting Retreat for Empowered Leadership

Buy One Bring a Friend 50 Percent off and join us for the 2024 Goal Setting Retreat for Empowered Leadership! This intimate small group in-person event will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2023, starting at 9:30 AM (EDT), at the lovely Hutchinson Island.

Are you a seasoned corporate Leader, professional, entrepreneur or desiring a change to take your career to the next level? This retreat is designed to empower and inspire you to set ambitious goals and achieve extraordinary results. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just starting out, this event is for you!

OBJECTIVES include reflection & assessment; defining your vision; goal planning & strategy; overcoming challenges and staying motivated; tracking progress and adjusting.

During this retreat, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, learn from experienced mentors, get clarity and valuable insights into effective goal setting strategies. Gain insights from shared personal experiences and get practical tips to help you unlock your full leadership potential.

Get ready for a day filled with interactive, engaging discussions, personal reflections, learning stories from the field, networking opportunities, and rejuvenating fun on Florida’s sun, sea, and sand. You’ll leave feeling motivated, energized, and equipped with the tools to create a clear roadmap for success.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to invest in your leadership journey. Reserve your spot today and get ready to set yourself up for a successful 2024!

PS: Does not include Hotel Accommodation

An NYU Student Who Studied Abroad In Florence Hated Every Aspect Of Her Semester Abroad…

three-day weekends are the standard for NYU’s study-abroad programs, almost everyone chose to take $20 Ryanair flights to places like Croatia and Munich for Oktoberfest. To me, this seemed like an exhausting form of escapism

We have always heard about college study abroad programs. Many have experienced and squealed about their tales of travel, new experiences and memories of lasting thrills. But not so for one college student. As the Insider’s article flashed across the screen, I was compelled to find it and dig deeper. I was curious to know why? Here’s an excerpt.

Since three-day weekends are the standard for NYU’s study-abroad programs, almost everyone chose to take $20 Ryanair flights to places like Croatia and Munich for Oktoberfest. To me, this seemed like an exhausting form of escapism. I was convinced my peers were doing it only to freshen up their social-media profiles and make their friends back home jealous.

I, on the other hand, wanted to travel to learn more about myself and explore ways to shape my life after graduation. Since most of my classmates were looking to go to sex shows in Amsterdam and getting wasted in Ibiza, I traveled alone. I went to Nice, France; Lugano, Switzerland; London; Malta; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. But most weekends I stayed at home in Florence.

Read more from the Insider here

Tales of her experience included:

  • Living with 7 people was not easy
  • The pressure to travel on weekends was not easy.
  • Italian people were hostile towards her
  • Her life in New York went on without her

Caused me to think how tales of dreams and travel experiences differ among people. As we experience life, it looks different from person to person. One can only imagine an essay from her roommates and what that would look like. Hmmm…

What are your thoughts? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Solo Retreat Rome Itinerary…

Solo Retreat is designed for withdrawal. To take a step back. To plan to revive, refresh, renew, restore. Many take it when they are at a crossroads, or after they have experienced a significant life change. It can last a day, a weekend, week, month or a year as in a sabbatical

Here I share the itinerary for my Solo Retreat that developed along the way. My plan was simple. To get away to a place I didn’t know. To get lost in a strange place and find my way through divine obedience. As I progressed, here’s how it shaped out.

Just Rome

  • Florida
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • Florence
  • Sienna
  • San Gimignano
  • Pisa
  • Venice
  • Rome
  • London
  • Charlotte, North Carolina
  • Florida

Not For the Faint Hearted

Solo travel and it’s purpose is not for the faint of heart. You have to be bold, brave and willing to make mistakes. It was different for me because I’m a planner but being led spiritually, I simply obeyed and experienced something new something different.

What about you? Ever thought about or did a solo retreat thousands of miles away? Do share, we would love to hear.

Cheers!

Discover the Benefits of Traveling: 5 Reasons to Embrace Adventure

To travel is to live

I was addicted to work. Call it a workaholic or whatever. I worked in the global pharmaceutical industry for a decade and more where I traveled extensively throughout the world. Travel included commutes across Central, Latin America and the Caribbean. Those areas that I did not travel, I organized and sent teams to sales conventions. When I traveled, I would go into the countries on the first flight. Attended meetings for a few days to a week, then left on the last or first flight out. The goal was to be back in the office the next day. Whew!

The Travel Bug

As Palin coined, once the travel bug bites, there’s no known antidote. So now there’s the tug at the heart that says hey–it’s time to go!

Once the travel bug bites, there’s no known antidote. ~Michael Palin

So yes… I have now decided to step out, travel to all these countries again–but this time for pleasure.

Benefits Of Travel

So what can traveling do for you? Are there benefits? Here I share 5 reasons:

  1. Traveling helps us learn and experience different cultures.
  2. It helps to expand our view of how other people live.
  3. It opens our minds to different food.
  4. It allows us to expand our horizon.
  5. It’s uncomfortable. I’m talking delayed flights, lost luggage and more. This often comes with frustration, discomfort and more. But that’s what comes with travel. But once you arrive at your destination, you gain the exhilarating discoveries, joys and comfort!

Today I urge you to make the decision. Follow your dreams. Travel–and while you’re at it, plan other goals. It’s totally exciting!

Cheers!

View Post

Travel with Intent

A photographer's view of the world - words and images to inspire your travels and your dreams

Answering daily prompts

In this blog I'm attempting to answer wordpress daily prompts

Alex Tafur

Property Maintenance

Poesy Perspectives

embrace the magic

GREENLiGHT

When God Says Go

HEALTH | INSPIRATION

Mind • Body • Life

My Sister My Friend

Family. Youth. Parenting

Kamileon Photography

Your Focus. Our Lens.