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Falling Behind on New Year’s Goals? Here’s How to Bounce Back
Did you know that most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past spring? According to a Forbes Health/OnePoll survey, the average resolution lasts just 3.74 months, with 65% of people abandoning their goals within four months. To make matters worse, unofficial holidays like “Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day” (January 17) and “Quitter’s Day” (the second Friday in January) highlight how quickly motivation can fade. If you’ve already started wavering on your resolutions, don’t worry—you’re not alone. More importantly, you’re not doomed to fail. Understanding the root causes behind these setbacks allows you to adjust your approach and set yourself up for success. Here are the three key reasons resolutions often…
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My Holiday Knitting Project and The Threads of Life
Crochet and knitting have become my cherished hobbies, a comforting ritual during the holiday season. Growing up, I often watched my mom knit cozy sweaters for us and other family members. Her steady hands and creative spirit inspired me, and now I find joy in carrying on that tradition. This year, I picked on a special project: knitting a scarf for my college-going daughter, who is home for the Holidays. She excitedly chose a yarn from my collection—two beautifully contrasting shades that perfectly reflected her vibrant personality. I started the project knowing I would need to buy more to complete the scarf. So I went to the local craft store,…
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Feeling Anxious Setting Goals for The Year? Try These 3 Techniques
A typical “water cooler” conversation around this time of the year is the New Year’s resolution. Of course, my standard answer used to be “be more organized,” which hardly happened! I was not lying, though; I felt I needed better control of my life, but honestly, I didn’t know how to do it. So I forgot about it even before I finished that cup of coffee I had brought from the kitchen. I know many of you are in the same boat as I was. A Resolution sometimes gives us more anxiety and guilt than any meaningful outcome. Here are a few creative ways you may try this year: 1. Start…
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Emotional Intelligence, EQ, Happiness, Leadership, productivity, Stress Management, Success Strategy
Why High Achievers Overextend—and How to Break the Cycle
Julia was a director of engineering at a Fortune 500 company, a mother of two, and a caregiver for her aging mother. Her life was a whirlwind of work deadlines, doctor appointments, and organizing elaborate birthday parties and other social commitments. Despite her accomplishments, Julia felt perpetually behind and emotionally drained. Many of us could relate to Julia’s story. Why We Overextend Ourselves While growing up, we are taught to share our resources, care for others, attend to our responsibilities, and delay gratification. These values shaped us into productive, reliable individuals. But eventually, as successful adults, when we double down on putting external expectations ahead of personal well-being, we push…
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Reflect and Rejoice: Celebrate Your Year Through Reflection
As the year winds down, many of us find ourselves juggling last-minute deadlines, holiday preparations, and the anticipation of spending quality time with loved ones. Amid this busy season, carving out moments for a year-end reflection can be a transformative practice. It offers a chance to celebrate your journey, gain clarity on your growth, and lay the foundation for intentional goals in the new year. Taking the time to pause and ask, “How did the year unfold for me?” can lead to valuable insights. However, relying solely on memory might not provide a comprehensive view. A structured approach can help uncover hidden patterns, achievements, and lessons from the past year.…
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Why Goals Often Fails—and How to Build Habits That Stick
Have you ever worked on a leadership goal like improving your executive presence or a personal goal such as eating healthy? The usual advice on achieving goals is to “break your goals into smaller steps,” which sounds wise but may not work in such cases. It assumes the task is linear, such as climbing stairs, where each step is identical, and you make linear progress with each step. We often assume it can be achieved through sheer willpower or pushing harder. But if we treat a habit such as an exercise regimen as linear, like putting on exercise clothes, going to the gym, and performing the exercise, we oversimplify the problem.…
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5 Misconceptions That Get In The Way Of Sustainable Success
Over the years, through my coaching work with tech leaders and executives, I’ve helped them uncover hidden misconceptions and limiting behaviors that often hold them back. Many of these leaders were already highly successful, yet by identifying and addressing these patterns, they found new ways to accelerate their growth more sustainably and more fulfilling. Recognizing these blind spots allowed them to approach challenges with greater clarity, adaptability, and confidence. Based on these experiences, I’ve summarized the five most common limiting patterns that, when overcome, can elevate leadership impact and personal fulfillment, i.e, success without burnout. Misconception 1: Starting with Others’ Expectations Many of us begin by focusing on what’s expected…
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Navigating the AI Disruption: Embracing Uncertainty and Leading with Agility
A middle schooler in Bangladesh has been using ChatGPT as a study aid. A senior leader at a top-tier organization in the U.S. has been investing in AI integration across his teams, revolutionizing their workflows. In my own work, AI has become an essential partner, transforming how I gather insights, streamline data, and create compelling narratives. As AI technology permeates every corner of our world, we’re all facing the challenge—and the opportunity—to navigate this uncharted terrain with clarity and purpose. Navigating the AI disruption is a complex problem where the causes and effects are unknown. AI has fundamentally transformed how we conduct business, leaving many of us in awe of…
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Facing Results vs. Relationships Tension? The Answer is to Integrate, Not Choose
Soren was recently promoted to a new leadership role, managing some of his former peers. One of them had also been a contender for the same position. Determined to excel, Soren committed to giving his best effort. He relied on his tried-and-true method of thorough preparation, getting straight to the point without wasting time, hoping to appear competent and in control. However, he quickly noticed that his team members were reluctant to engage, leaving him feeling disconnected and frustrated. This tension between achieving results and nurturing relationships is a common challenge for leaders. Many believe you can’t be kind if you hold people accountable for results. This false dichotomy often…
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Overcome Setbacks Using 3As : Acknowledge, Analyze and Act
Peter has been feeling down for the past few days after learning he didn’t get the promotion he was counting on. The disappointment hit him hard, leaving him with a sense of defeat, like a profound loss or betrayal. This emotional weight has made it difficult for him to be fully present with his family despite their understanding. Peter’s situation is one many of us can relate to. As adults, we all face setbacks from time to time. Our ability to navigate these challenges often hinges on our resilience. However, moving forward can be more manageable when we break it down into three key steps: Acknowledge, Analyze, and Act –…
