Finding Your Rhythm Again: A Holiday Lesson from Freddie Ravel
As we creep towards the end of the year, I’ve been thinking about the slightly frantic pace that December brings. There’s always a mix of events, proposals, unfinished bits of admin, and the usual sense that everything needs sorting before the last working day. And on top of all that there’s Christmas to plan. It’s a strange pressure we put on ourselves.
Then I sat down with Freddie Ravel who guested on the Speaking Business Podcast, and the time with him felt like someone gently turning down the noise and reminding me to pay attention to what’s underneath it all.
Freddie is a Grammy-credited pianist, musical director to legends, and the man who somehow convinced NASA, IBM, Google and Apple that music is not just entertainment but a way to solve real business problems. Talking to him always slows you down in the best possible way.
Music as a Reset Button
Freddie talked about how music bypasses the busy brain. When you hear it, your body reacts before your thoughts catch up. You settle. Everything loosens. It’s a shift you can feel.
It made me realise how little space I give myself at this time of year. I go into December with a head full of admin, loose ends, next year’s ideas forming in the background, and a diary that starts to look a little overstuffed. A bit like my turkey. I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but it’s easy to end up running on a kind of autopilot. The trouble is, that’s when my internal rhythm is off, my decisions tend to follow. Music is one of the few things that brings me back into a pace that feels sane.
Listening Properly Again
Freddie also spent time talking about listening, real listening. He showed me on the piano what happens when one hand isn’t paying attention to the other. The music becomes jarring even when the notes are right.
It made perfect sense to me. When I’m in a session with a speaker, I listen fully. It’s a very deliberate kind of listening, paying attention to what they’re saying, their language, the gaps between their sentences, their worries, their ambitions, and the commercial implications behind it all. It’s probably why I often feel totally drained afterwards. Proper listening requires more energy than speaking, and I hadn’t really acknowledged that before. Going forward, I’m planning to leave more space between sessions so I can give myself time to recover without burning through my energy.
Presence Over Perfection
Freddie prepares for every event, big or small, with the same level of care. That’s so important. Presence always has more impact than polish. People feel whether you’re with them or mentally racing ahead to the next thing. And in December, when the tempo of everything around us speeds up, presence becomes harder but even more important.
A Note on Technology and the Human Gap
Freddie touched on the role of AI. He wasn’t dismissive and I can relate to that. I use AI every day, and I find it makes me far more productive. But there’s a gap between information and meaning, and that gap still belongs to us.
The emotional tone of a conversation.
The unspoken bit a client hints at.
The instinct about what a speaker needs next.
That doesn’t come from a tool. It comes from the human part of the work.
A More Considered Pace for December
I’ve learned that I work better when I ease the pace in December rather than push through it. A little more thinking time. A little less rushing. Even the simple act of pausing for a moment before diving into the next task changes the feel of my week.
It’s not about stopping. It’s about shifting into a rhythm that allows you to see clearly again. I suspect many of us make our best decisions for the year ahead when we’re not trying to cram in everything at once.
What I’m Taking into the Holidays
A few things I’m holding onto after talking with Freddie:
- When my mind is calm, my thinking is clearer and everything feels less forced.
- Proper listening changes conversations. Whether it’s with my friends and family or a speaker I’m helping, being fully present leads to better outcomes
- Presence matters more than perfect planning. The energy you bring into a room is what people remember.
- Rest isn’t a luxury. It’s the thing that stops January becoming an uphill climb before it even starts.
And the biggest reminder of all: I don’t need to match anyone else’s pace. My rhythm is allowed to be my own. And these days it’s definitely more of a slow waltz than a merengue (though I did once merengue with Vincent Simone – look him up 😊)
Warmly,
Maria
P.S. If you’d like to hear my full conversation with Freddie — it’s a good one — you’ll find it here: https://speakingbusiness.libsyn.com/finding-the-rhythm-with-freddie-ravel
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