The holiday season is here, and you are looking forward to time with the friends and family, as well as some well-deserved rest and relaxation.

Every day we face a myriad of choices. Some are routine; others have life-altering impacts. My father, who recently passed away after 91 rich, vibrant years, faced such a choice five years ago.

Leadership comes naturally to few people. For the rest of us, effective leadership is a skill we acquire through training, trial and error, and experience.

Think about success. How do you define success? What does it mean to you? Each person has a unique definition, guided by his or her purpose and values.