Many of us approach reflection with an all-or-nothing mindset. We look back on the past year and label it a failure or a triumph. Our team was either a complete bust or the greatest of all time. Our relationship is either a dream or a disaster. When evaluating something as vast and complex as an entire year, we tend to rely on a small handful of moments—anchors—that come to define the whole.

What is striking is that these anchors are rarely comprehensive or objective. Depending on whether we fixate on a positive or negative data point, our overall assessment—and often our sense of self—shifts accordingly. A single disappointment can eclipse steady progress; a single success can mask areas still in need of growth.

As we step into a new year, one way to challenge this distorted lens is to rethink how we measure progress. Rather than setting only audacious, long-term goals that feel distant and overwhelming, we can establish smaller, intentional markers along the way. Clear, short-term metrics allow us to experience momentum, assess course corrections early, and build confidence through consistency.

Instead of asking what we want to accomplish by the end of the year, we might ask a simpler question: What can I do in the next two weeks to start the year strong?

Admiral William McRaven famously advised, “Start your day by making your bed.” The act itself is small, but it creates an early sense of accomplishment—a first win that can lead to the next. And if the day unravels, you still return to a bed you made with intention.



As we begin this year, I invite you to consider: What is the bed you are going to make first? What small, deliberate action can serve as your foundation—one that sets the tone for progress, resilience, and growth in the months ahead?