I think most people are nervous about what 2026 might hold. The world is changing faster than it ever has before, and we’re all just trying to keep up with everything. But on January 1, 2026, you’ll be the same person you were on December 31, 2025.

I want to give you some encouragement that might make you rethink what it means to have a New Year’s resolution.

I used to create resolutions like everyone else, but I found they didn’t always have the desired impact. Some of the ones I’ve set before include hitting a specific personal lifting record in bench press, squat, and deadlift; reading five books every month; and hitting 10 miles on the treadmill each week (I was trying for 500 miles that year).

I was stressed, anxious, and hyper-focused on achievement every time I set a resolution like this. Not a great recipe for living an enjoyable life. But I did manage to achieve most of those lofty goals I set. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like I had made any significant lifestyle improvements. I got a dopamine hit and felt genuinely proud of my accomplishment, but my life needle wasn’t moving in the direction I wanted it to.

I was focused on the wrong things. I had the discipline, desire, and ability to put in effort, but it wasn’t effort in the right way, at the right time, and in the right place.

So, I stopped with Resolutions two years ago. Instead, I focused on enhancing specific aspects of my life, such as making time to learn a new hobby, being more intentional in my relationships, and creating habits that lead to better outcomes.

Last year was a perfect example. I spent time reading, exploring, and learning. This self-directed learning was a lot of fun throughout the year. Something I looked forward to each week. I didn’t set a goal other than using my free time to learn. I tried Chess & German on Duolingo, read about AI, consciousness, and human history, and explored making pasta and pizza from scratch this past year. I felt much better about how I was spending my time. I was curious and excited a lot more this past year than I was when I focused on my resolutions.

My advice is to focus on a theme, such as learning, exploring, adventuring, spending more time with family/friends, or being more intentional with your actions/emotions. Use your theme to guide your decisions and activities this year. It’s a lot more enjoyable, and you have a better chance at enhancing your life this way!

I also have some exciting news I wanted to share. You may notice a new page on the Perspectives website, The Leadership Audit. I’m passionate about solving problems like an organizational detective, helping executives and senior leaders understand the conditions they’ve created and ensuring those conditions contribute to and enhance the chances of success.

In 2026, I am starting a new endeavor, conducting qualitative research to help organizations make better decisions and set better conditions for their employees.

Until next time,

Rick

P.S. I also wanted to say that this edition marks the 52nd issue of Perspectives on Leadership in 2025!

I’m looking forward to 52 more issues next year!