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The start of a new year holds such promise. We’re able to tie off, reflect on, and bask in the glory of the prior year’s successes. We’re also able to begin moving beyond last year’s failings, mistakes, and disappointments. As such, the New Year brings the opportunity for a fresh start.
But it can also come with a sense of pressure, whether professional (“This year, I’m finally going to get that promotion.”) or personal (“This year, I’m determined to learn to a new language.”). By February, for many of us, the wheels are already off the New Year’s Resolution Bus. That can lead to a case of the “blah’s”, amplified by the dreary and cold Northern Hemisphere weather. As a consequence, we all too often surrender to the investable disappointments of the new year while it’s still just in its infancy. It shouldn’t be this way.
So rather than repeat this age-old cycle, here are a few suggestions to change the dynamic in 2023.
1. Give each day equal weight. January 1 is, after all, just another date in the calendar. Rather than putting so much importance on the milestone of New Year, take more of an ongoing approach, without paying so much attention to the construct of the calendar year. Just focus on making the most of each day – carpe diem, as the saying goes. And avoid the temptation to put off starting something until “tomorrow”, “next week”, or “next month”. Again, ignore the calendar and just focus on each day, one-by-one.
2. Seek successive incremental improvements. As James Clear (author of Atomic Habits) and others have made evident, successful incremental change adds up, just like compound interest. If you get 1% better at something every day for a year, you’ll be more than 3700% better by year-end. Build on your prior successes. Learn from your prior failings. Do it today. Do it tomorrow. Do it the day after that. And keep doing it.
3. If you’re going to make a big commitment, don’t do it alone. Share your goal with others. Enlist them in helping you. Ask someone (or multiple people) to serve as an “accountability partner” (a term that does feel it should go with “trust falls”). Getting others invested in your success will strengthen your own sense of commitment to the goal and help prop you up when you inevitably run into roadblocks. As a marathon runner, I can personally attest to the value of taking this approach.
At PathWise, we’re heeding this advice by continuing to add more to our core offerings of career coaching, content, courses, and community. We’re currently working on two online programs (with accompanying 1x1 coaching) for new managers and job / career changers. We’ll be launching a member’s version of our site with more content aimed at helping you live the career you deserve. And we’re continuing with our weekly “Career Sessions, Career Lessons” podcasts and monthly book discussions and office hours. Details are below.
Many of you have told us that you love what we’re doing. One way you can help us broaden our impact is to mention PathWise to your family, friends, and colleagues. Start today by sending them this newsletter and encouraging them to sign up for our mailing list.
Thanks to all of you, and best wishes for each day ahead!
JR Lowry and the PathWise team
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