Setting resolutions as we look toward a new year - a fresh start - is so tempting. And yet the likelihood of failure is super high. Here’s a fresh approach to setting yourself up for meaningful success in the new year. Zero resolutions required.
Setting resolutions as we look toward a new year - a fresh start - is so tempting. And yet the likelihood of failure is super high. Here’s a fresh approach to setting yourself up for meaningful success in the new year. Zero resolutions required.
Modern Mentor is hosted by Rachel Cooke. A transcript is available at Simplecast.
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Hey, it’s Rachel Cooke, your Modern Mentor. I’m the founder of Lead Above Noise, where we help leaders activate performance and engagement—without burning out. We run Bootcamps that deliver confidence, tools, community. We deliver keynotes that inform and inspire. And we do Pulse Checks to help you build custom blueprints that unlock your team’s best performance. Just let us know what you need.
So, as we start to roll into year-end, this season always makes me think of my experience as a kid. Adults around me were always prattling on about how shocking it was that yet another year was wrapping. Those were the years when about 17 years seemed to pass between each birthday.
And now? Here I am. The elder prattling on. But here are – on the precipice of yet another year closing with a new one looming.
For me – and I know for many – this season triggers an instinct to reflect, to plan, to start something big from a clean slate. And I’m all for it.
But what I’m not for is resolutions. I’ve talked about it before – big promises we make to ourselves in spite of all the data that preaches extraordinary rates of failure.
We deserve better than that. I’d rather set myself up for success. I want something to celebrate.
So today, let’s talk about taking an anti-Resolution approach to kicking off the new year. And hey – even if you’re listening off-season – I promise there’s intel in here whatever the month you’re in!
1. Start with an experiment
Here’s where we flip the script: Instead of setting a giant, intimidating resolution, try committing to a single experiment.
An experiment is short-term, focused, and designed to test one idea at a time. The goal isn’t to overhaul your life or work overnight—it’s to gather insights that help you move forward.
Here’s how to design a workplace experiment:
So maybe you want to get better at public speaking. Instead of a resolution – like “become a confident speaker by the end of the year,” try designing an experiment:
Experiments like this take the pressure off and give you actionable insights to guide your next steps.
2. Focus on systems over goals
Goals are great for setting direction. But not so much for guiding action. You can’t control the outcome, but you can control the system you use to get there.
For example, instead of setting a goal like, “I want to land a promotion,” focus on systems like:
A system is something you can do consistently, regardless of whether the end result happens on your timeline. And when you focus on your systems, the outcomes tend to take care of themselves.
3. Build a personal scorecard
Now, let’s talk about staying on track. Because even the best systems can fizzle out if we don’t check in with them.
This is where a personal scorecard comes in. It’s a simple tool to help you track your consistency and celebrate your progress. Here’s how to set one up:
A scorecard keeps you accountable while giving you space to adapt.
4. See everything as data
Let’s be honest—no system is going to be perfect. You’ll skip a day, miss a target, or have a week where everything goes sideways. That’s normal.
But instead of treating those moments as failures, treat them as data. Ask yourself:
For example, if you’re trying to block time for deep work but keep getting interrupted, maybe the problem isn’t your schedule—it’s the lack of boundaries with your team. Use that insight to experiment with a “focus time” policy or a status update to let colleagues know when you’re unavailable.
Whatever the result you got? It’s just feedback. There to teach you.
5: Check in with yourself
Finally, let’s talk about keeping your systems relevant throughout the year.
I recommend scheduling quarterly check-ins with yourself to reflect and realign. Here’s how to do it:
Think of these check-ins as pit stops—not to change direction entirely, but to refine and refocus so you stay on course.
When your actions reflect your values, the motivation becomes internal—it’s about who you are, not just what you achieve.
Join me next week for another great episode of Modern Mentor. Until then, visit my website at leadabovenoise.com if your workplace could use an Activation boost—whether it’s a bootcamp, a keynote, or a Pulse Check. You can follow Modern Mentor on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.Thanks so much for listening, and have a successful week!
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