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2 Mindsets to Help Make December More Calm & Joy filled - December 1st E-Newsletter

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Welcome to December Once a month I send out an E-Newsletter with leadership insights and resources. Love to have you sign up to receive it!

Hello friends! As December ramps up with its mix of celebration, deadlines, and dizzying to-do lists, I want to offer you two pieces of grounding wisdom for the month ahead.

First, remember that presence is more powerful than productivity—pausing long enough to notice a moment often gives you more energy than racing through ten of them.

Second, choose intentional yeses and guilt-free nos; the quality of your month will be shaped far more by what you protect than by what you pack in.

These are two practices I am seeking to embrace this (and every) month: focusing on being present and saying the right yeses. I hope they help you move through the season with clarity, calm, and a little more joy as we bring 2025 to a close.

 It was a joy to share a recent workshop event with my wife Jeanne on the subject: "Ready, Set, Hired: Navigating Your Job Search in Canada". Jeanne is the Manager of Human Resources at Troika, a Development & Construction company here in Kelowna. She brought so much wisdom and insight to our 2 dozen participants on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and more. The evening was both practical and inspirational, and another example of the great work being done by the local non-profit, OCCA.

Over the years I have benefited greatly from the work of Brene Brown. Her TED Talks, Podcasts, and books have been extremely helpful in the area of vulnerability and organization health. Her latest is another helpful addition to your leadership journey, "Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit." I'm listening to it on Audiobook and reading along in the physical hardcopy to double my retention capacity. If you haven't stumbled across Brene's work before, this is a great entry point.

Congratulations Scott!

Each month I do a random draw from everybody who has subscribed to this Leadership Lab e-newsletter. The winner receives a free 45 minute coaching session with me on a topic that would be most helpful to them. It's my way of saying thank you for your interest in this work, and to add value to your journey. December's winner is Scott. Look forward to our conversation shortly!

Upcoming Dates

City of Pitt Meadows Lunch' n 'Learn - "What Makes a Great Teammate?" Thursday December 11

OCCA - "Speak Up, Stand Out: Building Your Canadian Voice" Tuesday December 16

Kelowna Yacht Club - Senior Leadership Retreat Facilitation - January 19 & 20, 2026

Local Government Compliance & Enforcement Association of BC - "Conflict Management" Wednesday January 21, 2026

In the midst of all your year-end activities and responsibilities, I hope you're able to carve out a little space to reflect on what this past year has taught you. Here's to entering the new year with renewed focus, fresh energy, and a steady confidence in the leader you're becoming. In this together!

Mike Penninga

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About the author

Mike Penninga

Mike Penninga

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Mike considers himself very fortunate to have been born and raised in Kelowna where he lives with his wife and kids.  He has spent 3 decades in leadership in both non-profit and for-profit organizations.   He has supported leadership development alongside numerous organizations, including the City of Kelowna, Predator Ridge Resort, the Kelowna Yacht Club, Okanagan College, Oak Bay Beach Hotel, the City of Pitt Meadows, Westbank First Nations, Refresh Financial, The Web Advisors Marketing Agency, and Compassion Canada.  

He completed his Undergrad and Masters education at Trinity Western University, along with a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from BCIT.  

His passion is helping create environments where people can encounter their "aha" moment that leads to personal growth and development.  A professional speaker and communicator in small and large environments, Mike brings humor and humanity to every space he gets invited into. He has extensive knowledge and experience in one on one coaching and team facilitation, and is excited to build out a customized plan that will add value to your organization.  

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Saturday, 06 December 2025