Big Dreams Come Alive in Small Actions

Ah, New Year’s resolutions: a time-honored tradition of overpromising and underdelivering.

By now, you’ve probably decided that 2025 is YOUR YEAR. You’re going to lose 50 pounds, write a bestseller, launch a side hustle, and still have time to train for that triathlon. Right?

Not to ruin the ending, but … by March, most of those resolutions will have quietly slunk off into the abyss.

Don’t lose hope, though. If this has been your story before, 2025 can be the year you rewrite it.

Let’s focus on how tiny, barely noticeable changes can transform your life, your leadership, and yes, even that snooze button addiction. Ready to stop setting yourself up for failure and start setting yourself up for wins? Let’s do this.

Emotion Highlight: Excitement

The Emotion:

Excitement is like that friend who convinces you to take tequila shots at a party—great in the moment, but potentially disastrous without a plan. It’s powerful but needs to be harnessed.

The Message:

Excitement is your body saying, “Hey, this could be amazing!” But to make it work for you, pair it with a dose of patience. Think marathon, not sprint.

Use It to Grow:

When excitement strikes, take a breath and channel that energy into one actionable step. You’ll avoid burnout and keep the good vibes going all year long.

One step forward beats 20 steps you envision but never take.

Leadership Insight: Stop Leading Like It’s a Crash Diet

Leaders, does this sound familiar?

January rolls in, and you’re ready to whip your team into shape with big, bold initiatives. The energy is high, the intentions are noble, yet the results are often short-lived.

Leading with an “all or nothing” approach feels energizing but it’s about as effective as trying to lose weight by eating only celery.

Instead, take a page from the slow and steady playbook:

1. Shrink the Goals: Big organizational goals can overwhelm teams. Instead, segment them into quarterly milestones with weekly focuses. Perhaps instead of saying, “We’re going to revolutionize customer service by February!” focus on one small improvement, like responding to emails 10% faster.
2. Clarify the Why: Ensure every team member understands how their contributions align with the organization’s mission. Why does this goal matter? When your team sees the purpose behind the change, they’re more likely to stick with it.
3. Celebrate Baby Steps: Acknowledge incremental progress to keep morale high and build momentum. If someone improves by even 1%, throw a party (or at least an enthusiastic Slack emoji). Small wins add up.

Actionable Tip: Host a "Goals That Stick" workshop this January.

Encourage your team to create micro-goals and pair them with personal accountability partners. By leading with intention, you’ll foster a culture of sustained growth.

Career Empowerment: The Snooze Button Chronicles

It’s exciting to set lofty goals at the start of a new year: lose 50 pounds, land that dream promotion, or finally stick to a workout routine. But big goals often falter without a strong foundation. That’s where the power of small, intentional habits comes in.

Here’s how to start small and still think big:

1. Micro-Steps Win the Race: If waking up two hours earlier feels daunting, set your alarm back by one minute each day. Dream of waking up at 5 a.m.? Start with 6:59. Then 6:58. It sounds ridiculous, but your brain loves gradual shifts. (Plus, you’ll avoid morning zombie mode.)
2. Find Your Real Why: Don’t wake up early because someone on Instagram told you it’s the secret to success. Do it because you want to reclaim 30 minutes to work on your side hustle—or binge TikTok guilt-free. Your call.
3. Get a Wingman: Accountability is key. Find someone who will cheer you on—or lovingly roast you when you start slacking.

Success Story: Jessica, a project manager, wanted to enhance her productivity. Instead of overhauling her schedule, she started with 5-minute daily reflections. Within months, this small practice blossomed into a robust time-management system that transformed her workday.

Shared Wisdom: Your Secret Weapon? Tiny Wins

"How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

(Disclaimer: No actual elephants were harmed in the making of this metaphor.)

Small steps may feel insignificant, but they’re the secret to accomplishing the seemingly impossible.

Take Action Now

Tiny Habits, Big Wins: Start Laughably Small 😂

Pick one habit you want to start in 2025 and make it laughably easy. Want to journal? Start with one sentence a day. Thinking about drinking more water? Take one sip right now. Boom—you’re already winning.

Let's Spark a Conversation

What’s one small step you’re taking to crush your 2025 goals? Tell me. I’ll cheer you on, offer tips, or just send you a virtual high-five.

The more laughable the step, the better; because tiny moves lead to giant leaps.

Let’s make this the year of progress that sticks!