Hey, it's Rachel Cook, your modern mentor. I'm the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help

leaders activate performance and engagement without burning out. Whether it's boot camps,

keynotes, or pulse checks, we deliver workshops and programs that drive meaningful change.

If your workplace is ready for an activation boost, you know where to find me.

So can we talk about my dad for a second?

So when I was growing up, he was all about watching sports.

Whatever game was on, he was all in.

And now that he's older, he has transferred his affection to, wait for it,

Hallmark movies.

OMG, he loves everything about them. And whenever he's at my house, he puts one on. And I grumble while I get totally sucked in. Are they all basically

the same? Yes, they are. You know, big city career person moves to a small town, usually begrudgingly,

and somewhere between decorating

cookies and saving the local bookstore, they have this life-altering moment of clarity.

They've realized they've been chasing the wrong things, they reprioritize, and everything

falls perfectly into place. I know, gross, but also more, please. And I actually think I'm starting to learn something.

While you are totally welcome to pass on the relocating to a small town and saving the bookstore

part, I do think there is something to be said for the stepping back and reflecting part.

Year end is a great time for this, though frankly it's never a bad time to audit how things are going

when i do this there are four key questions i like to ask myself the four places i love to investigate

and i'd like to walk you through my approach and see what resonates so here we go the first bit i like to

reflect on is clarity.

Like, are you clear on where you're going?

...