Finishing 2025 Strong - Making December Your Best One yet

December 09, 2025•5 min read

Finishing 2025 Strong - Making December Your Best One Yet

As we enter the final month of 2025, we are reminded that December is more than a conclusion—it is an opportunity. It is a chance to reflect, to reset, and to rise. The work we do in these final weeks of the year sets the tone not just for how we finish, but for how we begin again.
As the author John Maxwell reminds us, “You’ll never change your life until you change something you do daily.” December gives us the perfect runway to do just that.

Here are three key areas of focus that can help each of us make December our strongest month yet:

1. Focus on People

Strong communities are built one connection at a time. December offers natural opportunities to invest deeply in the people around us—students, staff, families, colleagues, and the wider community. A simple act of kindness, a handwritten note, or a moment of meaningful listening can strengthen trust and reinforce the belief that we truly see and value one another. Great leadership begins with relationships, and the more intentional we are, the more impactful our work becomes.

2. Focus on Finishing the Work

Even in a month filled with events and celebrations, meaningful progress is possible. December is an excellent time to close loops, complete lingering projects, organize systems, and set your team up for a confident start in January. Finishing strong builds momentum. Think of it not as a sprint to the finish line, but a purposeful stride that ensures the road ahead is smooth and clear. The legendary coach John Wooden once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” December is a month where the little things matter more than ever.

3. Focus on Personal Renewal

You cannot pour from an empty cup. Amid the busyness of the season, it is essential to find moments of rest, reflection, and gratitude. Whether it’s time with family, quiet early-morning routines, or simply pausing to appreciate where you are, taking care of yourself is not a luxury—it is leadership. Entering the new year with clarity, energy, and purpose benefits every person you serve.

As we move through December and look toward 2026, let’s commit to finishing 2025 with intention, positivity, and strength. When we focus on relationships, complete the work that matters most, and invest in our own well-being, we not only finish well—we start the next chapter even stronger.

Here’s to a December filled with purpose, progress, and pride in all we accomplish together!

Closing Thought

The RLR Team is ramping up for 2026. If you would like us to speak or work with you, your school, or your school district in 2026, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org. We're currently scheduling into 2026 and 2027.

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Are you ready to develop or update your Strategic Plan in 2025-26?

Let RLR Leadership Consulting help you and your school/school district with your Strategic Planning and Goal Setting. We have the capacity to help one more district this year!

Our experts have helped dozens of schools, school districts, and businesses develop their Strategic Plans and Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) through our highly interactive and engaging process which includes all of your stakeholders.

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Contact us today at RLR, if you would like to learn more, or if you would like to talk with a school district or agency who has partnered with us.

Who's In Your Inner Circle?
RLR Leadership Consulting and The CORE Project

Think about the people closest to you. The ones you share ideas with, lean on for support, and let influence your decisions. That group—yourinner circle—shapes how you see yourself, the choices you make, and even the risks you’re willing to take.

Sometimes, those relationships give you energy and push you forward. Other times, they hold you back. That’s whyRLR Leadership ConsultingandThe CORE Projecthave teamed up to createYour Inner Circle—an opportunity to pause, reflect, and intentionally shape the connections that matter most.

In this experience, you’ll:

Identify who truly belongs in your circle
Learn how to set healthy boundaries when needed
Build trust that actually lasts
Choose connections that make you stronger

Because the truth is, leadership isn’t just about strategy or skills—it’s about people. And the people closest to you can either empower your growth or limit your potential.

We’d love for you to join us. As a special opportunity, use code Randy15 for a discounted price—but hurry, this offer won’t last long.
https://thecorepro.com/coregroups/p/your-inner-circle-curriculum

Your circle matters. Choose it wisely.

If you would like me, or someone from our RLR Team, to speak or work with your school and/or school district, please contact us at www.randyrussell.org.