From Fantasy to Action: Making Real Change in 2025
Ethan Ashley
Co-CEO & Co-Founder of School Board Partners | Elected School Board Member | Attorney | Husband & Father
Moving Beyond Intentions into Action
The start of the year often feels like a natural time to reset—to set new goals and imagine a better version of ourselves. But too often, we get stuck in the caring phase. We care deeply about our goals, dreams, and the changes we want to see, but care alone doesn’t translate into action. Too much caring without action is a problem.
Why do we get stuck? At least for me, it’s because the fantasy of transformation is often more comfortable than the work of transformation itself. The discomfort isn’t in dreaming—it’s in doing. The real challenge is shifting from wanting change to making it happen.
We also wrestle with the tension between authenticity and complicity. We strive to be our most authentic selves, but does our current way of living truly align with who we want to be? Or are we simply sticking to what feels comfortable? Growth requires us to push beyond the familiar and step into action. To move forward, we must balance staying true to ourselves with pushing for growth. We need to move from fantasy to reality, from care to action, to create the world we want to live in.?
I know this struggle well. Every year, I face it too. But when I’ve been able to push through—whether it was running a half marathon or completing Hard 75 and losing 50 pounds in 75 days—it all came down to three key things.
How to Move from Care to Action
1. ? ? Accountability is Key. Tell people what you want to do. Surround yourself with others who are taking action and who want to take similar action as you. Having an accountability network or partner makes goals feel possible and provides the much needed push to keep going.
2. ? ? Make It Visible. Write it down. Use vision boards, sticky notes, or even a notes app on your phone. Seeing your goal daily keeps it top of mind.
3. ? ? Take It One Day at a Time. The big picture can be overwhelming. Instead, focus on the small, daily actions that build toward the larger goal. Ask yourself: What do I need to do today? Then do just that.
Change isn’t just about caring—it’s about taking action. And in that spirit, I’m taking my own first step.
I’ve been putting off a project for a while, and honestly, sharing this makes it real—because now I know I have to follow through.
I recently joined a genealogical research society to explore my ancestry.
My grandmother moved from Tallulah, Louisiana, to Los Angeles when she was young. She passed away in May 2021, and I’m eager to learn more about her life in Tallulah (Madison Parish) and her journey to California. I also want to uncover more about my great-grandmother’s experiences in Louisiana before their move—and maybe even discover whether I have extended family still in the area.
Digging into family history can be uncomfortable. It can bring up long-buried stories and unexpected truths. But growth doesn’t happen in comfort. Sometimes, you have to take the leap.
And that leap starts today.
What’s one action you can take today toward your goal?
Ethan Ashley is the Co-Founder and CEO of School Board Partners and a former president and current member of the Orleans Parish School Board. Ethan is also an attorney with a law degree from Howard University, a fervent advocate for racial equity, youth justice, and civil rights, and a father and husband. He has held pivotal roles at esteemed institutions such as the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, the Urban League of Louisiana, the ADL, and the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.