𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘫𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦.

Every December, I relearn the same lessons.

No matter how many years you’ve spent in leadership, control is mostly an illusion. Plans change. Forecasts break. Markets move. Life does too. You can do everything “right” and still be surprised—and that’s not a failure. It’s reality.

What Christmas gives me, every year, is perspective. And this year, it feels especially meaningful.

Rebecca has always understood something I’ve had to learn the hard way: urgency is rarely the same as importance. She brings a steadiness that doesn’t demand attention but changes the room. When everything feels loud, she reminds me to slow down, to listen, and to notice when I’m physically present but mentally somewhere else. That kind of clarity doesn’t come from experience—it comes from wisdom.

This Christmas is extra special because all three kids are home.

Alex is back from graduate school (UCL) in London, bringing stories, independence, and a reminder of just how quickly “later” becomes “already happened.” The distance makes the moments together feel sharper, more intentional.

Liam is home from Villanova, with one more semester to go before graduation. Watching him step closer to that transition is both exciting and humbling. Growth isn’t linear, and it’s rarely loud—but it’s unmistakable when you pause long enough to see it.

Eliza is home after her first semester at Scripps College, carrying that mix of confidence and curiosity that comes from discovering who you are when you’re no longer defined by where you came from. There’s something powerful about seeing your kids become themselves.

And then there’s Griffin. Same routine. Same expectations. Same enthusiasm—every single day. Completely unimpressed by titles, board decks, or long hours. He just needs a walk, consistency, and attention. In many ways, he’s the best reminder I have that leadership—at work or at home—is built through showing up, not standing out.

What I’m reminded of every Christmas is this: execution matters. Discipline matters. But recalibration matters just as much.

January is for building, fixing, and driving forward. Christmas is for noticing what you’re building for.

As you head into the new year, what are you intentionally recalibrating—and what are you choosing to protect?

#TheAccidentalCFO #inersec #Perspective #Gratitude #Family