Before You Set Goals, Get Clear

goals leadership professional growth Jan 08, 2026

Before You Set Goals, Get Clear by Laura & Barry McAlister - Fun2GrowOn Consulting

January has a reputation.

It’s supposed to be bold.
Focused.
Productive.

We’re told this is the month to reset everything—to come out strong, set ambitious goals, and prove we’re ready for a brand-new year.

But what if January isn’t about pushing forward at all?
What if it’s about pausing long enough to get clear?

THE PRESSURE TO PERFORM IN A NEW YEAR

Many leaders I work with feel a quiet (and sometimes not-so-quiet) pressure in January. Pressure to have a plan. Pressure to sound confident. Pressure to know exactly where the year is going.

The irony is that this pressure often works against us.

When goals are set out of obligation instead of intention, they rarely last. They look good on paper in January and quietly fade by February—not because of a lack of discipline, but because they weren’t aligned in the first place.

Clarity always comes before sustainable growth.

CLARITY CHANGES EVERYTHING

Before you add anything new to your plate—new goals, new initiatives, new habits—it helps to ask a different set of questions:

What actually gave me energy last year?
What consistently drained it?
Where did I feel most like myself?
Where was I forcing something that no longer fit?

In baking (one of my favorite metaphors for life and leadership), you don’t start by adding ingredients blindly. You take inventory first. You check what you already have, what’s fresh, and what might need to be replaced before you begin.

Growth works the same way.

ONE SIZE DOESN’T FIT ALL

Not everyone enters January with the same energy, motivation, or pace—and that’s not a flaw. It’s human.

Some people feel energized by a clean slate. Others need time to reflect before they act. Some thrive on structure; others need flexibility and space.

Effective leaders recognize this not only in themselves but in their teams. When we honor different styles, rhythms, and motivations, we create environments where people can actually do their best work—rather than perform productivity.

A BETTER JANUARY QUESTION

Instead of asking, “What should I accomplish this year?”
Try asking:

“What deserves my energy this season?”

That question gets closer to something we don’t talk about enough in goal-setting: intrinsic motivation.

Intrinsic motivation comes from the inside—our values, interests, sense of purpose, and what genuinely matters to us. When goals are tied to this kind of motivation, they tend to feel meaningful rather than forced. They energize us instead of draining us.

When goals are driven primarily by external pressure—expectations, timelines, comparison, or the fear of falling behind—they may get our attention for a while, but they rarely sustain momentum.

That’s why so many well-intended January goals fade by February. They weren’t connected to what truly mattered to begin with.

When you start with clarity—about what motivates you internally—you create goals that align with who you are, not just who you think you’re supposed to be.

Sometimes the most meaningful growth comes from continuing what’s already working, refining what’s slightly off, or releasing what no longer serves you.