The Power of New Years

With a career in fitness, personal development, and leadership development, I used to get annoyed that people would wait until the new year to create a resolution to change.

“Why can’t people just resolve to change now? Why wait until the new year?” my younger and less-experienced self would ask.

As I have grown, my opinions have evolved.

Whether it is a new week, new month, new year, or new anything, there is power in ending one cycle of time and starting a new one.

I have come to appreciate the symbolism of the new year.

It is still true that you do not need to wait to make a change in your life or leadership.

But leveraging the new year can help you reflect, set goals, and begin the year with momentum.

In this article, we will talk about how to begin the new year with purpose and energy, and how to blast through the March hump, where everyone else is quitting their resolutions.

Let’s make this year an awesome one.

A New Year, a New Direction

Have you ever set a resolution and took action, only to quit a couple months in? If so, you are not alone.

I have done this as well. Whether it was a health goal, business goal, or something else, every time I have set a resolution and failed, it is because I missed at least 1 of 4 necessary goal-setting steps:

• Reflection
• Setting big goals
• Connecting to purpose
• Creating systems

These steps apply to ANY goal-setting endeavor, and not just the new year. But, since we are here, you can leverage them to create your resolution.

Let’s dig into each.

Reflection

Goals are not created in a vacuum.

We do not effectively set goals without knowing what we want. And we cannot know what we want if we avoid reflecting on what we don’t want.

Reflection is all about looking to the past and creating clarity about what we want (and don’t want) in the future.

For your reflections, I recommend starting with these questions:

• What went well over the last year? What do you want more of?
• What could have gone better? What do you want less of?
• List out each role and priority you have in your life, and rate your performance / satisfaction in that area.
  • For example, I list out that I am a parent, spouse, brother, friend, leader, employee, I am healthy, I learn, etc. Then I rate myself on a scale of 1-10.
  • the 1-10 scale is relative. Do not rate yourself in comparison with others. Do rate yourself in comparison with your desired outcomes.
  • For anything that is not a 10, just consider what outcomes you would like to see (this serves as a starting place for our goals).
  • Also consider what behaviors and routines contributed to your current rating. If your relationship with your spouse is a 6 out of 10, consider what actions you took (or didn’t) to contribute to that score.

With these reflections in hand, we have ample goal-setting content on which to draw upon.

Consider which area resonates with you most and use it for the next step: setting a big goal.

Setting Big Goals

Our goal here is to set 1 big goal. That’s it.

Do not set a ton of big goals as they will distract from each other. Remember that anything you do with your time comes at the expense of every other thing you could be doing with that time.

Set 1 big goal.

What does a big goal look like?

I cannot tell you what it looks like, but I can tell you what it should feel like.

It should be uncomfortable.

A great goal is one that stretches our abilities and forces us to grow. It pushes us out of our comfort zone. It therefore makes us feel uncomfortable.

When we complete a goal, we should be a new person. I mean, it takes new behaviors repeated over time to reach a goal. To get results we’ve never had, we need to be a person we’ve never been. Goals force personal evolution.

Write down your goal and simmer on it.

Does it make you a little uncomfortable?

If so, GREAT!

If not, push yourself.

When reading a goal, your brain should react with, “hmmm…. I’m not sure how I am going to do that.”

Also, to make your goal more effective, be sure it fits the SMART framework. It should be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

SMART goals ensure you can track progress and have a way to measure your success.

While SMART goals are helpful, they lack heart. They lack purpose and meaning. We are much more likely to take action through challenges when there is purpose and meaning behind our goals.

So, let’s take a moment to find our why.

Connecting to Purpose

Purpose matters.

Nietzche said that a person with a why can bear almost any how.

Simon Sinek shared the impact of “Why” on business.

A “why” is emotional, and we are emotional animals.

Goals with purpose are much more likely to fuel commitment, discipline, and motivation.

Goals without purpose are just “nice to have.” And anything that “would be nice” does not spark drive and commitment.

Are your goals a “nice to have?” Or are they a MUST?

Consider your why.

• Why does your goal matter?
• What will happen if you do not achieve your goal? What will happen if you don’t change?
• What does life look like if you do make it happen? Who else will it impact?

Your why goes beyond superficial needs or desires. It strikes at something deeper and more meaningful.

Find it.

Go deep.

Write it down.

Make it clear.

Remember it.

There will be challenges along the way. Clarity of purpose will keep you going. This is what will push you past the hump when you want to quit.

But there is something else you need to find success.

Systems.

Creating Systems

SMART goals are great, but they are unachievable without actions.

I know this sounds obvious but go with me.

Most people set goals, note the actions they should take, and then go! But they do not create systems and this leads to failure.

For example, when I was working as a personal trainer, I saw a number of people set health related resolutions.

People would set a resolution to lose 30 pounds and then start exercising for an hour every day. They also go on an extreme diet requiring them to meal prep and cut out an entire food group.

This works for about 3-4 weeks, but then something happens at work where they need to skip a couple workouts, or go off their meal plan, and then all hell-breaks loose. One thing throws a wrench in the routine, and they lose momentum.

This loss in momentum leads to stopping all efforts.

Then they think, “that diet and workout routine just didn’t work.”

Instead of one massive overhaul to your routines, create systems you can adopt.

This is where small systems and consistent wins lead to long term success.

Let’s continue with the health example:

Instead of starting a 60-min exercise routine every day, create a system where you go to the gym before work. And THAT’S IT. Once you get there, you can do anything.

Or, go on a 10-minute walk before breakfast each day.

The smaller the action, the more likely you are to be successful.

Add this action to your calendar.

If something comes up and throws a wrench in your calendar, just look to the next opportunity to stick to execute your system.

You can also create a system for when a wrench is thrown into your day.

The main point is to create a system or process where you can execute small tasks consistently over time.

It is not a diet that you are either on or off. You choose a set of dietary actions you are willing to take over time.

If you follow your systems over time, you WILL get to your goals.

Keep an eye on your goal but follow your systems.

The Wrap Up

The new year is a great opportunity to reflect on the past and set new goals. While any timeframe will work, the calendar year is a convenient period to frame your actions and aspirations.

When setting goals or resolutions, be sure to hit these steps:

• Reflect on what you want and don’t want.
• Set clear goals
• Determine your “why”
• Create systems and processes

2025 is your year.

Well, every year is your year.

If you want to make it so.

I believe in you and am here if you need help.

Go out and crush it!

Thanks for reading.

Clark