This week, as Hanukkah candles are lit one by one, we’re reminded of something leadership desperately needs right now:
Light doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
The original story of Hanukkah isn’t about abundance.
It’s about scarcity.
A small amount of oil. A long stretch of darkness.
And the decision to light the flame anyway.
That’s a leadership lesson.
Many leaders I work with are feeling stretched thin — emotionally, mentally, and energetically. The pressure is real. Expectations are high. And sometimes it feels like you’re running on fumes.
Yet this is precisely the moment when your light matters most.
Not because you have all the answers.
Not because everything is perfect.
But because your people take their cues from you — your tone, your presence, your steadiness.
Leadership is a form of illumination.
When you show up calm instead of frantic, you create psychological safety.
When you listen fully instead of rushing, people feel seen and heard.
When you acknowledge effort, kindness, and care, you rekindle motivation.
One candle is enough to light the room.
And here’s the part we often forget:
The flame doesn’t burn itself out by shining.
It grows stronger when it’s shared.
This season, I invite you to ask yourself:
Where can I bring a little more warmth?
What would it look like to lead with steadiness instead of strain?
How can I be a beacon — not by doing more, but by being more present?
Because leadership isn’t about carrying the weight alone.
It’s about creating light that others can carry forward.
May your leadership this week be luminous, grounded, and quietly powerful.
May the light you kindle ripple outward — to your people, your customers, and beyond.
Create a powerful Positive Spillover.
Happy Hanukkah. 🕯️🕯️🕯️
With warmth and light,
JoAnna
P.S. You don’t have to carry the weight alone. I’m here to help.
With 35 years of experience supporting leaders, I help my clients shine brighter, show up more powerfully, and master the human side of leadership.
If you’d like to reach out — even just to say hello or let me know you enjoy this Museletter — my personal cell is 561-866-0528.
And if you want to learn more about Positive Spillover and how to create it where you work, visit PositiveEnergizer.com.
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