328: Year-End Energy: Are You Spending or Investing It?

“90% of success is not getting distracted” 

Today’s episode is a special one — we’re looking back, not to reminisce, but to understand what actually moved the needle this year.Because 2025 wasn’t shaped by big dramatic changes.It was shaped by the small things—tiny, ordinary habits that didn’t feel impressive in the moment, but quietly transformed my energy, my confidence, my mindset, and the way I show up every day.I realized something powerful: lasting change comes from simple, sustainable habits, not overhauls.In this episode, I’m sharing the seven small habits that made the biggest difference in my life this year—habits that don’t require extra time or money, just intention and awareness.My hope is that one or two speak to you and spark your own shift.

“The relationship you have with yourself decides the quality of every relationship you enter.”

Can you believe we're in the final stretch of the year?The last month always feel complicated. There's excitement, but also exhaustion. Gratitude, but also overwhelm.And if you're anything like me, your evenings can start to look like this: Dinner. Maybe a glass of wine. A scroll through social media. One episode of something, okay maybe two, and then suddenly it's 10:30 and you're too tired to do anything meaningful before bed.Sound familiar?For years, that was me. I told myself I was unwinding. But in reality, I was numbing out, not recharging.And as I started reflecting on what it means to end the year strong, I realized: it's not just about what we do during the day. It's about how we spend our evenings.Because your evenings set the tone for your mornings. And your mornings set the tone for everything else.So today, I want to talk about how to reclaim your evenings, not just to rest, but to reconnect with yourself, so you can finish the year not drained, but deeply fulfilled

“When you are grateful for what you have, you receive more to be grateful for.”

This week I am seating with Susan M Barber to discuss the importance of visibility in career development.Susan shares her journey from a long corporate career to becoming a coach, emphasizing the need for individuals to take charge of their careers and be intentional about their visibility. We explore various frameworks and exercises from Susan's books, including the five-step framework for visibility and the career clarity framework, and also talk about common visibility mistakes, the difference between bragging and authentic visibility, and the impact of cultural expectations on personal visibility.Grab a Copy of Susan's New Book here: https://amzn.to/4o0stnr

“Time is the only currency you spend without knowing your balance.”

Real talk:We’re in the final stretch of the year.And this is the season when your energy can either feel focused and intentional — or completely scattered and drained.Between holiday plans, wrapping up work projects, social gatherings, and trying to finish the year “strong,” it’s so easy to end up spending your energy everywhere — but not really investing it anywhere that truly matters.So today, I want to pause with you and ask a powerful question:👉 Are you spending your energy… or are you investing it?Because how you manage your energy in these last few weeks of the year — not your time, not your to-do list, but your energy — is what determines how you’ll step into the new year.So grab your coffee, take a deep breath, and let’s talk about what it really means to invest your energy in what gives you life — instead of draining it away.

“A year from now you’ll wish you had started today.”

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Storch to explore the power of personal branding in today’s workplace. We talk about how self-awareness, reputation, and intentional branding can shape your career—especially in a world where AI is changing the way we work. Andy reminds us that everyone already has a personal brand, whether we realize it or not, and that being intentional about how we show up can make all the difference. We also dive into how to highlight your work confidently (without feeling boastful) and why developing the human skills AI can’t replicate is more important than ever.Some key takeaways from this episode: Personal branding is essential for career success.Self-awareness is the foundation for growth.Reputation is crucial in today's job market.Intentional branding can influence how others perceive you.Human skills will become more valuable as AI evolves.Feedback from others can help clarify your brand.Building relationships is key to career advancement.You should actively manage your personal brand.Social media, especially LinkedIn, is important for visibility.Investing in your brand is like saving for retirement.Grab a copy of Andy's book Own your Brand, Own your Career here: https://amzn.to/4hLEKKNGrab a copy of Own your Career, Own your Life here: https://amzn.to/47tx3FJConnect with Andy in LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andystorch/