As we ring in the new year, I can’t help but notice the undercurrent of tender excitement floating in the air. We remember the fun of past celebrations with family and friends, as we replay the highlights from a whole year gone by. In the final days leading up to this moment, while wrapping up the end of a trip around the sun and awaiting the beginning of the next one, we can take a brief respite of recovery from the hectic magic lingering after the holiday season.

Now is the perfect time for personal reflection. It is a time for us to extend our time horizon, imagine what the future holds for us, and determine how to shape that vision into reality. It is a time for hope by setting a clear goal, determining the path to get there, and acquiring the agency to achieve it1.

When you’re ready, as yourself these questions:

  1. How do I define success?
    What does it look like? How would it feel? How will I know if I achieve it?

  2. What do I need to learn in order to get there?
    What’s the next step I need to take?

  3. What support do I need and from whom?
    Who can help me accomplish my goals? What does support look like from them?

Use three time scales for each response:

Near-term 6-12 months
Medium-term 2-3 years
Long-term >5 years

Review your answers to these questions 2-3 times per year. Make adjustments as you learn and adapt. Ask yourself the following questions to validate, augment, or rethink your approach2:

  1. When did I form the aspirations I’m currently pursuing?
  2. How have I changed since then?
  3. Have I reached a learning plateau, and is it time to consider a pivot?

Review your responses with a critical eye. Imagine yourself as the editor of your life’s narrative. If you find yourself stuck, hesitant, apprehensive, or overwhelmed, then shorten the time-scale and try again. This approach will help clarify your desires and identify your next step.



Works cited

  1. B. Brown, dare to lead, Penguin Random House, 2018.
  2. A. Grant, Think Again, Penguin Books, 2021.