Category: success

Why I Do a Year-End Review Every Year

Why I Do a Year-End Review Every Year

Every year, I sit down and do something that has become non-negotiable for a year-end review. It’s not fancy. It’s not complicated. But it’s powerful./

This time of reflection allows me to slow down and really look at the year—what happened, what I learned, what I did well, and where I need to grow. Reflection matters because it helps us make sense of life. It sharpens our thinking and keeps us grounded.

The Bible reminds us of this in Lamentations 3:40:

“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.”

John Maxwell says reflection is looking back and learning to pause so you can catch up. That idea has stayed with me for years—and every time I do this review, I’m reminded why.

The Biggest Lesson 2025 Taught Me

If 2025 taught me anything, it’s this: when you put your mind to something, and stay committed, you can accomplish more than you think.

This year, Creative Feeds won Best of Las Vegas. That wasn’t easy. It’s a tough category, and the competition is real. What made it special is that it came from our customers. They believed in us. They voted for us. And that meant everything.

Scripture says in Galatians 6:9:

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

That verse sums it up perfectly.

Another powerful lesson came from watching my wife’s determination. She stayed focused and committed to helping her son Austin get off the streets, out of a program, and into his own place with his own income. Despite setbacks and emotional challenges, she didn’t quit. That kind of grit is inspiring—and it reminded me what perseverance really looks like.

The Areas That Stretched Me the Most

I’ll be honest—relationships, especially family, stretched me the most this year.

We held a family reunion, spending thousands of dollars to bring everyone together. Family is important, but the connection and fellowship we hoped for just wasn’t there. That was hard.

On top of that, walking alongside a child dealing with mental illness is heartbreaking. It brings frustration, anger, and deep emotional weight. Yet even in that, I’m reminded of Psalm 34:18:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Giving back was another challenge. I sometimes wonder if today’s youth are even ready to receive guidance. This generation faces so much, and it can feel like your efforts don’t make a difference. Still, Isaiah 55:11 reminds me that seeds planted don’t return empty—even if the results come later.

How Reflection Changed My Thinking

One clear example of reflection at work in my life is my growth in studying the Word of God. As I’ve gone deeper into the Bible, my thinking has matured. My perspective has changed. My decision-making has improved.

Proverbs 4:7 says:

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

Reflection has taught me to rely less on myself and more on God. It’s helped me understand that we are just travelers in this life—but we are called to be overcomers.

The People Who Influenced Me Most

I’ve been influenced by many people—some through books, some through teachings, and some who are no longer with us. But one of my greatest influences continues to be my wife. Her strength, discipline, and unwavering commitment to family show me what real leadership and love look like.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As I step into 2026, I’m setting intentional goals:

  • Go deeper in Bible study, including exploring the Ethiopian Bible to better understand Jesus, the prophets, and biblical history.
  • Build wealth with clarity and discipline, using what 2025 taught me as a foundation.
  • Write the book I’ve been carrying for years—2026 is the year it gets done.

Habakkuk 2:2 puts it best:

“Write the vision and make it plain.”

A Call to Action: Your Turn

Now let me ask you—when was the last time you truly reflected on your life?

I encourage you to set aside time to do your own year-end review. It doesn’t have to look like mine, but it should be honest.

Start with these five areas if you’d like:

  1. Spiritual life
  2. Relationships
  3. Physical health
  4. Personal and professional growth
  5. Giving back

Ask yourself:

  • What did I learn this year?
  • Where did I grow?
  • Where do I need to change?
  • What is God calling me to focus on next?

Reflection brings clarity. Clarity brings direction. Direction changes lives.

I’ve been doing this for over 10 years, and it has helped shape who I am today. I believe it can do the same for you.

I wish you a purposeful, prosperous, and powerful 2026.

— Dr. D

Carolyle Destiny Group

   Success is no easy journey

The famous political economist and author Lester Thurow points out that in a competitive world, you have two possibilities: “You can lose, or if you want to win, you can change.” Once you develop a plan and put it into action, you’re not finished; your success lies within the journey. As you begin to walk towards success, you will come across obstacles and showstoppers that can impede your progress. This is expected; don’t be deterred.

In my book, “Enemy in the Bush”, I talk about success as a progressive (steady) realization of a worthy idea or goal.  The key word is progressive, meaning (continuous, daily growth) towards goal attainment. It starts with planning, determination, and consistent daily efforts toward your destination, and along the way, success is realized.  Along the way, mistakes and errors will be made, and setbacks will occur on your path.  However, remember that failures are milestones on the success journey. “Each time you plan risk, fail, reevaluate, and adjust, you have another opportunity to begin again, only better than last.”

I heard a story about Thomas Edison. While he and his assistant were looking at his laboratory burned to the ground, he said, “Thank goodness all our mistakes were burned up; now we can start again fresh.” This reminds me of a quote from Les Brown, “when life knocks you down, try to land on your back. Because if you can look up, you can get up.”

Give up on the notion of ever arriving at success unscathed or untouchable; success is always an uphill battle. I wish you much success in the New Year 2025!!!

Dr D

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Redefining Success: A Holistic Path to True Happiness

In a world that often measures success by career achievements and financial gains, many find themselves trapped in an endless pursuit of external validation. However, research and personal experiences indicate that genuine success and happiness come from a more holistic approach to life. By shifting our focus to overall well-being and prioritizing balance, we can unlock the secret to lasting contentment.

The Wholeness of Holistic Success:

Holistic success is based on the interconnectedness of mind, body, spirit, and emotions. By nurturing each aspect of our being, we create a harmonious existence that transcends material achievements. Below are key aspects of a holistic approach to success:

  1. Emotional Intelligence: Cultivate self-awareness and empathy to foster meaningful relationships and a deep sense of fulfillment.
  2. Personal Growth: Strive for continuous growth and self-improvement to ensure flexibility and resilience in the face of challenges.
  3. Health and Wellness: Prioritize your physical and mental well-being through balanced nutrition, regular exercise, and effective stress management techniques.
  4. Meaning and Purpose: Align your actions with your core values and pursue work that resonates with your passions and life goals.
  5. Mindfulness and Spirituality: Practice presence, gratitude, and self-reflection to nurture inner peace and a profound sense of connection.

Embracing a holistic definition of success enriches our lives with meaning and purpose while promoting long-lasting happiness. As we learn to value balance, personal growth, and well-being, we embark on a transformative journey toward a more fulfilling existence. Ultimately, holistic success offers a refreshing perspective that transcends conventional norms and nurtures our whole selves in the pursuit of genuine happiness.

In this season of giving joy and happiness, let us reflect on how to implement this new holistic approach to success. How can we apply these principles in our lives to ensure that the next year will be even better?

Visit my newest spiritual site http://soulsearchingfaith.com

Dr. D

References:

Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballantine Books.

Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.

Goleman, D. (2006). Emotional Intelligence. New York: Bantam Books.

Kabat-Zinn, J. (2013). Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. New York: Bantam Books.

World Health Organization. (2014). Mental Health: A State of Well-Being. https://www.who.int/features/factfiles/mental_health/en/

Unlocking Self-Leadership Success: Mastering Discipline and Accountability

  How do you lead the toughest person in the room?

At every leadership webinar, I pose a paradox: Who is the toughest person in the room to lead? The answer, to everyone’s surprise, is ‘You.’ It’s a unique challenge we all face, leading ourselves.  

Yes, you are the toughest person to lead in this room! It’s a struggle we all share. The person I have the most difficult time leading is myself. This is a full-time job. I have to motivate myself. I have to discipline myself. I must protect my integrity. The list is endless. But remember, you’re not alone in this. We’re all in this together.

Why is it this way? According to my mentor, John Maxwell, there are two reasons:

(1) We don’t see ourselves as we see others.

(2) We are harder on others than we are on ourselves.

It’s a common trait of human nature that equips us with the ability to size up everyone in the world except ourselves. It is remarkable how most people, including managers, supervisors, and team leaders, lack self-awareness. They always have the magic bullet for how to fix others, but they lack a realistic perspective of who they are. This is a common struggle, not a personal failing. But with self-awareness, we can overcome this blind spot and lead ourselves more effectively.  

John Maxwell says, “We tend to judge others according to their actions. It’s very cut and dried.”

However, we judge ourselves by our intentions. Therefore, even when we visibly fall short of our team or organizational goals and/or mission, and it was a lack of leadership or judgment, we tend to let ourselves off the hook because our motives were good.

So how do you lead yourself well? That is a great question. Here are a few action steps. 

(1) Self-discipline is the cornerstone of self-leadership. It’s the key to achieving your goals and maintaining your integrity. Develop it, nurture it, and let it guide your actions.

One day, Frederick the Great of Prussia was walking on the outskirts of Berlin when he encountered a very old man walking ramrod straight in the opposite direction. “Who are you?” Frederick asked his subject. “I am a king,” replied the old man.

“A king!” laughed Frederick. “Over what kingdom do you reign?”

“Over myself,” was the proud old man’s reply.

Discipline is simply giving ourselves a command and following it through. Self-discipline is the highest form of leadership. You are the captain of your ship, the master of your soul. Leading yourself is a challenge, and one of the places where your character shows up is how you lead yourself. Honestly, there are days when I want to take a break from keeping myself under control. The problem is it is not wise to take any day off.

This leads me to the second action you can take to lead yourself well.

(2) Seek accountability. Personal and professional accountability is imperative because we all have a human nature that will lead us astray.

It was once said, “People who lead themselves well know a secret: they can’t trust themselves.” The problem comes when you selfishly think you are untouchable and learn how quickly poor choices can touch you. Unfortunately, we see this behavior now in our society; people don’t want to take responsibility or accountability.

As a young leader in the military, from time to time, my peers and I would get emails sent out by our commander for mandatory training “immediately.”  Well, your whole day is interrupted. I would say to myself, “What happened now?” Later, as all my peers would learn, another one of the men or women we worked with had to be removed from their leadership duties because they failed to lead themselves and others. They resulted in hurting others as well as themselves. 

(3) Do you have an accountability partner or peer group? Empowering others to keep you accountable keeps you in line.  

I know for myself that just being aware of an upcoming session with my peer group allowed me to avoid making poor decisions. At each session, we had a list of agreed-upon questions that others could ask. Only you knew if those answers to the questions were true or not. Taking responsibility for our own actions was paramount to our success.

We are responsible for others’ and our own actions. Leading people is earned, not a given right!

(4) Lastly, Be Patient—with yourself.

Thomas Watson said it aptly: “Nothing so conclusively proves a man’s ability to lead others as what he does from day to day to lead himself.” People who cut corners are often categorized as impatient and lacking in self-discipline. However, if you follow through, you can achieve a breakthrough.

If you want to gain influence with people, solve problems. How you act or fail to act in those moments reveals to others just what our leadership competencies are.

Facing a personal failure. Taking a stand on an issue. Experiencing suffering or making an unpleasant choice—all these and more, when handled rightly, will either catapult us forward or eliminate our effectiveness. 

So, when asked, “How do you lead the toughest person in the room?”  You will have no problem answering that question.

Interested in mastering the art of self-leadership? Share your journey with us! What strategies have you implemented to overcome self-discipline challenges, and how has accountability impacted your personal and professional growth? Join the conversation using #SelfLeadershipJourney and inspire others by sharing your success stories, challenges, and insights on leading the toughest person in the room – yourself.

Dr. D

http://dcdardentalk.com

#LeadByExample #SelfLeadership #AccountabilityMatters #DisciplineIsFreedom #MasteringSelf #LeadershipChallenge #PersonalGrowthJourney #EmpowermentThroughAccountability #LeadershipSkills #BeYourOwnLeader #InfluenceThroughAction #LeadershipMindset

“Finding Balance and Reflection: Lessons from December for Business Professionals”

The holiday season can be an overwhelming and demanding time for leaders. With numerous expectations and competing demands, it’s crucial for them to prioritize their time and resources efficiently. One effective way of doing this is by delegating tasks to others when necessary and setting clear boundaries to prevent burnout. By doing so, business professionals can successfully navigate through this season. Personally, the ability to set clear boundaries brings peace into my life. It’s like giving yourself a gift. I know in my profession, being a go-getter is highly praised, but it can lead to feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. What I do is resist the urge to go full throttle without acknowledging the already present stress. I put the brakes on those desires to move forward. Currently, I practice healthy habits, which may sound redundant, but it works. You only have one body, so take care of it.

Personally, December is a month of reflection for me. I take the last week of December, usually after Christmas, to reflect on a myriad of things. I ask myself some of the following questions reflecting on the current year:

1. What am I grateful for?

2. What were my accomplishments?

3. What were my proudest moments?

4. What were my milestones?

5. How did I increase in personal growth?

6. What were my significant spiritual moments?

7. Did I meet my financial goals, etc.?

It’s important to take some time to reflect on our achievements and lessons learned throughout the year. This will help us set ourselves up for continued growth and success in the coming year. We should also prioritize our own well-being during this time, whether through self-care activities or by spending quality time with loved ones.

In December, we can take the opportunity to learn from leadership and personal development lessons, which can help us approach the new year with renewed energy and a clear vision for the future. We should reflect on our progress, set new goals, and objectives for the upcoming year, and improve our self-awareness. Remember, you have the power to create positive change in your life. Take action now and pave the way for a successful and fulfilling year ahead!” Happy Holidays!

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” – Aristotle

Thank you for reading my post

Dr.D

The Carolyle Destiny Group
https://linktr.ee/TheCarolyleDestinyGroup
#growthmindset #growthanddevelopment #personalgrowthanddevelopment #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #thecarolyledestinygroup