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My last personal note for 2025...

I'm in Scottsdale for five days as the chair of the Certified Speaking Professionals Summit. About 140 speakers will gather in groups of nine to mastermind for two full days. All of my Speakers With Impact Mastermind will be there, and we'll stay longer and have our end-of-year meeting.

What’s a mastermind? A small group that meets regularly to share intel, give feedback, and hold each other accountable. I’ve been in mine since 2017 and would not be as successful without them. If you’re stuck in your career, lonely in your business, or just want to accelerate your awesomeness, start or join one.

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I’m out of the inbox starting today through January 5. I’ll still work until December 18, but on the business, not in it. I've blocked time to do my annual reflections for myself, RaderCo, and with my husband using the Powered Path Playbook®. I'll share these reflections with my mastermind, friends Wendy, Lilly, and Lisa, and my husband. Four lenses = better overall insights.

I developed the playbook because it's too easy to get wrapped up in the planning and not enough time for reflection (which is equally important) and prioritization (how can you plan if you haven't prioritized?). My husband and I have an annual tradition of reflections on New Year's Eve and prioritization and planning on New Year's Day.

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ChatGPT fun:

Three wild moments this year.

A Boston Scientific marketing manager asked ChatGPT, “Who’s the #1 speaker on Ruthless Prioritization?” Apparently…me. I got hired for their virtual summit.

A former client asked if he should read Cal Newport’s latest book, and sent me the screenshot below, where “Reclaim Your Workday” was listed alongside other worthy options. I screamed because (a) I’m the only self-published author and (b) everyone else is a New York Times bestseller. 🥹

Another community member asked who should be on his personal board of advisors. Answers? His dad, Thich Nhat Hanh, Tim Cook (Apple), and ME, among others.

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We rebranded from productivity to high-performance in 2025 and streamlined several systems and processes. Huge thanks to everyone who completed the Weekender Snapshot survey. I read every single comment, and a meeting is scheduled to discuss the feedback.

Congrats to our Grand Prize winner and 5 Runner-ups —check your inbox!

High Fives and Fist Bumps to:

Grand Prize: 45-minute laser coaching session

Name: Linda Harrell

Runner-Ups: Powered Path Goal-Achievement course + playbook ($100 value)

• Betsy Simmons
• Andrea Levy
• Michael Steer

Runner-Ups (Lite): Reclaim Your Workday book.

• David Pretty
• Lynnanne Bocchi

My thank you gift to everyone who completed the survey: Special access to our bonus Couple's Reflection template from the Powered Path Playbook®! Check your inbox for your email.

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Eyes glazed over at the cost of insurance? RaderCo paused to applause this rural medicine doctor making an impactful change in direct primary care.

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On the giving front: as a board member of the Work Meaningful Foundation​, we helped build a school in Akyremade, Ghana, and are currently fundraising for the tech lab. Millicent, a tiny dancer we met in 2022, captured our hearts.

This year, we sponsored her schooling - uniform, supplies, everything. Her letter, first backpack, and thank you video were pure joy. Next year we’ll focus more of our giving like this, where we can see a direct impact.

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On a fun musical note, my husband's band, Jack the Radio, snagged a regional Emmy nomination for the video Tell Everyone Around. We're in the same region as Nashville, so the competition is steep! You can also hear them right now on Will Trent and NASCAR: Full Speed.

When you get this, I'll be out of the office and out of the inbox to recharge for the new year.

On with the Weekender!

PERFORMANCE POWER TIP Attention Anchor: Energy In part three of the series, I tackle your energy. It's not woo-woo, and it's not burpees. It's movement snacks, focused breaths, and timed caffeine. LISTEN: (18-min) READ THE SUMMARY ​Part One: Environment ​Part Two: Mindset​

RADER-WORTHY LISTEN Doing CX Right’s 200th episode highlights A rapid-fire roundup of the best leadership advice (I’m one of the guests highlighted alongside Seth Godin, Shep Hyken, and Daniel Pink - Holy Cow!). Why it matters: Practical moves you can use to elevate your game, even if you aren't a leader (yet). LISTEN or READ

P.S. Want to hit your goals next year or ensure your direct reports hit theirs? Invest in the Powered Path Goal-Achievement course and playbook!​