Commit to Starting Again

I used to set New Year's resolutions. I would usually "commit" to a healthier me. I would workout, I would eat cleaner and come February I was bored. So yes, I would usually last at least a month or even two and it just didn't feel sustainable. I am a foodie. I love food. I felt like I was always sacrificing the things I loved, for the things I didn't appreciate as much.

Now this was 20+ years ago when I felt invincible. I could exercise on any given day without even thinking about stretching, crazy, I know. I could lose weight without much effort if I "needed" to. I could do most things I wanted to do with relatively little effort so there was no real "motivation" to keep it going...

Friday past has come to be known as national Quitter's Day. The second Friday of the year - the day when many New Year’s resolutions become yet, another nice idea.

Did you quit? I doubt it. Most people here are building something remarkable and quitting is not on the options menu. However, if you find you're having a hard time keeping on with a new way of doing things, I have a few ideas for you to consider about goal setting, habit formation and being committed to the long haul.

It Doesn't Have to Be All or Nothing

I used to be an all or nothing kind of gal - if I couldn't get to 100% of what I wanted right out of the gate, then I would wait until I was better prepared or better set to reach the 100%. What I have learned over the years is by waiting for 100% I am missing out on so many other opportunities for learning, for growth, for connecting - whatever the end goal I am looking for, there is always so much value in the journey to getting there. When we learn to love the journey, the whole experience is so much more satisfying.

Making a Decision

Real transformation starts with a deliberate decision, one made with true conviction rather than a half-hearted wish of a nice idea. Deciding with conviction means there are no other options. Even if (when) it gets hard, you persevere because you are committed to the outcome. Choose your goals with certainty: “This is what I will achieve, and here’s why it matters.”

1. Clarify your “why”: Tie your goal to a specific purpose, whether it’s expanding your business, fostering a healthier work culture, or refining your leadership. A strong “why” acts as rocket fuel, it will be what you go back to when it gets hard.
2. Set non-negotiables: Identify what it will take you doing (or not doing) everyday to make it inevitable that you will reach your goal. Make them manageable so you are setting yourself up for success.

Reverse-Engineer Your Plan

Goals should be laid out with a clear plan so you know what it is you need to do to reach them. Start with the end in mind and work backward step by step.

1. Map milestones: Identify the key stages you need to hit to reach your goal.
2. Identify risks early: Think about potential challenges you may come up against (time constraints is a big one, budget issues, or resource limitations) so you can account for them and you won't be met with surprises that may throw you off track.
3. Allocate resources: Decide who and what you need. In your professional goals, maybe it’s a coach or an industry network; personally, it might be more time or better health resources.

This method clarifies where you’re going and ensures you understand what it will take to get there. The more prepared you are, the more likely your success will be.

Aim to Be a Little Better Every Day

As much as any of us wishes results could be overnight, they rarely are. Each day, aim for tangible progress, no matter how small.

• Reflect and assess: At the end of the day, ask: “What did I learn? Where did I grow?” Small reflections compound over time.
• Stay kind to yourself: Being kind isn’t complacency. It’s acknowledging you’re in this for the long haul, and sustaining peak performance requires acknowledging your limits and celebrating your wins. It also requires giving yourself grace to be human - we fall, we get back up. Just make sure you keep getting up.

By focusing on daily growth, you create a culture, both within your team and your own mindset, where forward movement is the norm.

Just Keep Going

As leaders in construction, we’re used to dealing with the seemingly impossible on an almost daily basis. We know how to pivot, solve, regroup and start again, even through setbacks. You can start over everyday, if need be. There is no limit to the number of times you can start again.

To go back to the opening story, I stopped doing new year's resolutions many years ago. I still love food. However, now I am committed to balance and ongoing improvement. I prioritize my health (I exercise everyday) and I have learned to give myself grace, knowing it's becoming the person that can reach my goals, that's the real goal.