The Gift You’re Not Putting Under The Tree (But Absolutely Should)

Look, I’m gonna shoot straight with you because that’s what we do around here!!

This morning I woke up in Nashville, poured myself some coffee that’s probably too strong for polite company, and just sat there for a minute. Just… sat. And I realized something that hit me right in the chest – we’ve gotten so damn good at the hustle that we’ve forgotten how to just BE.

And here’s the thing that’s been rattling around in my head as we roll into Christmas…

This season isn’t another deadline to hit. It’s not another milestone to crush. It’s an actual invitation to remember what all this striving and grinding is supposed to be FOR in the first place!!

I’ve spent the better part of two decades helping executives chase bigger titles and better comp packages and more equity and all that jazz. And I love what I do – building those connections, finding people their purpose-driven next chapter, watching careers transform. But you know what I’ve learned? The people who actually WIN at this game, who build something that matters, who sleep well at night? They’re the ones who know when to put the sword down and just… exist for a minute.

They know how to be PRESENT.

See, here’s what nobody tells you when you’re climbing that ladder – the view from the top doesn’t mean much if you’re too exhausted to enjoy it. If you’ve spent so much time grinding that you forgot why you started grinding in the first place.

Christmas is trying to tell you something if you’ll just slow down enough to listen!!

It’s saying: Hey, remember that family you’re providing for? Maybe actually SPEND time with them instead of just depositing money in their accounts. Remember those friendships you’ve been nurturing through LinkedIn messages at 11pm? Maybe have an actual conversation that doesn’t end with “let’s circle back after Q1.”

I’m serious as a heart attack about this because I’ve watched too many brilliant people burn themselves out chasing the next thing, the bigger thing, the MORE thing… when the best things they already had were sitting right there in front of them the whole time.

You are BLESSED. And I don’t care if that sounds too spiritual or too woo-woo or whatever – you ARE!!

You’ve got people who love you. You’ve got skills that companies pay you real money for. You’ve got a brain that solves problems and a heart that still gives a damn about things. You’ve made it through every single hard day you’ve ever had – and that streak is 100% so far! You’ve got breath in your lungs and another Christmas to celebrate and that alone is worth slowing down for.

The deals will be there January 2nd. I promise you. The inbox will refill. The Slack messages will multiply like rabbits. That “urgent” project? Still gonna be urgent in three weeks. The world of work has this beautiful terrible quality – it never stops moving, which means taking a break doesn’t put you behind because the starting line keeps moving anyway!!

So here’s what I’m giving you permission to do, right here, right now:

STOP.

Not forever. Not even for that long. But for these next few days? STOP.

Sleep in without feeling guilty about it. Have that second cup of coffee while it’s still hot instead of reheating it three times while you’re on calls. Watch whatever ridiculous movie your kids or your partner or your friends want to watch, even if you think it’s gonna be terrible. Laugh until your stomach hurts. Eat the good food. Drink the good wine. Tell the stories you’ve told a hundred times because the people you love want to hear them again.

Be INTENTIONAL about your presence instead of just being present in body while your mind’s doing mental gymnastics about Q1 planning.

I’m talking to the executives who think taking time off makes them look weak. I’m talking to the individual contributors who are afraid if they unplug for 72 hours they’ll lose their edge. I’m talking to the founders who’ve convinced themselves their company will implode if they’re not available 24/7.

None of that is true!! It’s fear dressed up as dedication, and you’re too smart to fall for it!!

You know what actually makes you better at your job? RESTING. You know what makes you a better leader? Showing your team it’s okay to be human. You know what makes you more creative and strategic and effective? Giving your brain actual time to process instead of just constantly DOING.

Self-care isn’t selfish – it’s the foundation everything else is built on. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and brother, if you’ve been running at this pace all year, your cup’s been running on fumes since October.

So here’s my Christmas challenge to you, and I’m throwing down this gauntlet with all the big energy and emotional authenticity I can muster:

Make THIS the Christmas you actually remember.

Not because of the gifts you bought or the perfect family photos you staged or the impressive holiday party you hosted. Make it memorable because you were THERE. Fully there. Present with the people who matter. Grateful for what you’ve built. At peace with what you haven’t. Rested in a way that fills you back up instead of just getting you to Monday.

Reflect on the good stuff. And I mean really reflect – not that surface-level gratitude journal BS where you write “I’m grateful for my health” while simultaneously running yourself into the ground. Actually FEEL the blessing of having another year, another season, another chance to get it right.

The beautiful thing about the work we do, the careers we build, the companies we help grow? They’re marathons, not sprints. And you know what marathon runners do? They REST between races. They recover. They let their muscles rebuild stronger than before.

You’ve earned this break!! Take it like you mean it!!

Come January, I’ll be right here ready to help you crush whatever’s next. Ready to find you that role that lights you up or help you build that team that changes everything. Ready to go to war alongside you in pursuit of whatever mountain you’re trying to climb.

But right now?

Right now, I want you to sit down. Take a breath. Look around at the life you’ve built with all that hustling. And just be grateful you’re here to see it.

The work will wait.

Your life won’t.

Merry Christmas, friends!! Now go be present with the people you love and I’ll see you on the other side of this beautiful season!!

Much love and respect from Nashville,

Spinny

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P.S. – If you’re reading this on your phone while you’re supposed to be spending time with family… PUT THE PHONE DOWN!! I’m serious!! This blog will still be here later. The people in front of you won’t be there forever. Choose wisely.