The Gifts That Matter Most

“The Gifts That Don’t Fit Under the Tree”

This episode is one of the most personal ones I’ve recorded all year. As we close out the season, I’ve been reflecting on the gifts that shaped me—not the ones wrapped in bows, but the ones that stretched me, challenged me, softened me, and reminded me what really matters.

Inside this conversation, I’m sharing the intangible gifts this year handed me: the kind that don’t sit under a tree, the kind that require you to look at yourself honestly, and the kind that quietly redefine your priorities as an entrepreneur, parent, leader, and human.

If you’ve been craving more meaning, more presence, or more alignment in a year that asked a lot of you… this episode is going to speak directly to your heart.

In This Episode, I Cover:

1. The Gift of Growth

• Why real growth isn’t loud, glamorous, or Instagram-ready
• The type of growth that forces you to evolve your thinking, leadership, and boundaries
• Why doing less but choosing better is the most powerful shift I made this year

2. The Gift of Relationships

• How every breakthrough in my business came from people—not funnels, strategies, or algorithms
• The importance of being in rooms that challenge, elevate, and stretch you
• Why connection is the true currency of a meaningful life and business

3. The Gift of Family and Presence

• The moments with my boys I’m cherishing more than ever
• How slowing down actually sharpens your vision
• Why being fully present is a strategy—not a sacrifice

4. The Gift You’re Being Called to Give Yourself

• A question that will reframe how you enter the new year
• The intangible gifts that shape your legacy
• What people will remember long after the holidays are over

If you’re ready to slow down just enough to hear your own clarity… To reflect honestly on what mattered this year… And to step into next year more aligned and intentional—this episode is for you.

If this conversation brought you value, helped you breathe a little deeper, or reminded you of something you’ve forgotten, I’d love for you to hit Follow so you never miss an episode.

You can also join our community, get updates, and access upcoming events at letsplaybigger.com.

Wishing you a season filled with clarity, connection, and the moments that matter most.

Let’s continue to Play Bigger—together. ✨

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Transcript

One of the biggest gifts this year was growth and not the kind of growth that feels exciting in the moment. The kind of growth that actually stretches you, that actually challenges you, that forces you to look at yourself honestly. Growth that asks you to evolve your thinking, your leadership, your boundaries. And this year reminded me that growth isn't always loud. Growth isn't about doing more or building just to compete. It was about becoming way more intentional with what and who you say yes to.

Welcome back to the Play Bigger Podcast. I am so happy to have you here and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas or a happy holiday season from my family to yours and wherever this season finds you, whether it's full and joyful or even a little quieter than usual. I just want to thank you for listening today. The holidays have a way of gently bringing us back to what truly matters.

And that's really the heart of today's conversation because this time of the year, everything around us is about presence. What we're buying, what we're wrapping, what's under the tree. And don't get me wrong, I love a thoughtful gift or two. I love seeing people light up, especially when they're opening something you've picked out for them. But this year, I've been thinking a lot about something different. The difference between presence and gifts. And because as I get older, the longer I've been in business, the more I realized the gifts that matter most aren't wrapped. They aren't purchased and they don't come with a receipt. They're the ones you feel, the ones you live and the ones that stay with you long after the season is over. 

And today I want to talk about those gifts. The gifts this year reminded me to cherish the gifts that shaped me. And the gifts I'm being intentional about passing on. We spend so much time chasing as entrepreneurs about the next thing, the next goal, the next deal, the next level, the next milestone that will finally make us feel that we've quote unquote made it. And I'm not talking anti-ambition. You know that about me. I love growth. I love building. love scaling. love momentum. And I love seeing people scale and hit their goals. But something shifted for me this year because even in the middle of big goals and big vision, I kept coming back to the same question. What is all of this actually for?

Not the highlight real answer, not the Instagram caption, not the AI chat GBT answer, but the real answer. And what I kept coming back to was this. We build so that we can enjoy what matters to us. We grow so that we can experience and we work so we can create memories with the people we love. And that's when I realized the most thoughtful and meaningful gifts this year weren't things. They are moments, they are conversations, they are growth seasons, and they are relationships. They're the intangibles and the ones that are truly priceless, my friend. 

And one of the biggest gifts this year was growth. And not the kind of growth that feels exciting in the moment, the kind of growth that actually stretches you, that actually challenges you, that forces you to look at yourself honestly. Growth that asks you to evolve your thinking, your leadership, your boundaries. And this year reminded me that growth isn't always loud. Sometimes it's quiet. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. And sometimes it happens behind the scenes when no one is watching, but it's always shaping you. And here's what I want entrepreneurs to hear. 

Growth is a gift, even when it doesn't feel like one at first. Because the version of you on the other side is way more grounded, way more clear and way more aligned. And this year taught me that growth isn't about doing more or building just to compete. It was about becoming way more intentional with what and who you say yes to. Another gift this year was relationships, friendships, partnerships, conversations that changed my perspective. And I've said this before on this podcast over and over and I'll say it again. Every major breakthrough in my life came from a relationship, not a funnel, not from Instagram, not a tactic, not an algorithm, but a person. 

And this year reminded me of how powerful this is to be in rooms with people who challenge you, who support you, who call you higher. Because relationships aren't transactional. Partnerships are built on trust. Friendships where you can be fully yourself. And that's something I never want to take for granted. Because success without connection feels empty. And it's probably why I'm super selective, even more now, about my private clients that I choose to work with and real fulfillment always comes back to people. 

And then there's family. This part always gets me. Bryce gets to come home for a few days and I cannot wait. Not because we have anything extravagant planned. Not because there's like some big agenda or itinerary, but because we get the time, the time together, the time at the breakfast table, the time on walks, the time of being present with one another and moments like this remind me that this is why we do what we do or why I get to do what I do. Not for more stuff, not for more accolades, not for bigger numbers, but for these special moments, the ones you can't recreate, the ones you don't get back. And when you really let that sink in, it changes on how you actually show up. It changes your priorities. It changes what you're willing to sacrifice and what you're willing not to sacrifice. 

So to all of my fellow entrepreneurs listening, if there was one thing you can give yourself this Christmas, what would it be? Not something you would buy, but something you would actually experience, something that makes you feel fulfilled. And for me, it's simple things. Breakfast together, a family walk, no rushing, no agenda, just being fully present. Because here's the truth, slowing down is not falling behind. Being present does not mean you're losing momentum. And sometimes it's the most strategic thing you can do in life because clarity comes in stillness. Alignment comes from those quiet moments and vision gets sharper when you pause long enough to listen.

And I want to leave you with this thought. What are the intangible gifts you want to pass on this year? Not just to your kids, but to your family, to your team, to your community. Is it patience? Is it presence? Is it encouragement? Is it belief? What do you want people to feel when they're around you this season? Because long after the holidays are over, those are the things they'll remember. Not what you brought them, but how you made them feel. 

And as we close out this year, I hope you take a moment to reflect not just on what you accomplished, but what truly mattered for you. The growth, the relationships, the moments that filled your cup because the gifts that matter most don't always sit under that tree. They live in our memories, they shape our legacy, and they remind us why we are building in the first place. I hope this season brings you lots of clarity, connections, and the moments you will carry on long after Christmas is over. And I want to leave you with this quote. Remember, the gift of being present is the greatest legacy you can leave. 

I wanna thank you for being here and choosing to spend your time with me and of course listening to another quick episode and for choosing to Play Bigger, not only in business, but in life. I'm sending you so much love for this holiday season and I truly am grateful to have you part of this community.