A couple of weeks ago I attended an event called Elevate 2026 that was produced and hosted by my amazing colleagues at Strata Leadership.

(That’s me at the front table with the reading glasses looking at my notes!)

The speaker was my friend and Strata CEO Dr. Nathan Mellor, who gave us five strategies for how to elevate life in this new year. The entire presentation was excellent, but there are two statements that really resonated with me.

The first was, “Stop being vague about what you want.”

The reality is that we cannot arrive at our desired destination if we don’t have a defined direction. Because, great things, including a fulfilling life, don’t happen by accident.

And what we want changes over time, which means that identifying what we want in life is an ongoing project requiring consistent reflection.

But here’s the thing…

Clarity about what you want brings the action steps needed to accomplish it into sharper focus and increases motivation which, in turn, boosts the probability of success.

So, what do you really want?

The second was, “I’m never out of options if I choose to keep learning.”

This statement is directly tied to a growth mindset.

But look at the statement again.

It reminds us that learning is a choice and that learning expands our opportunities and options.

In other words, learning opens up possibilities, which nurtures hope and builds resilience.

So…

We can make the most of this new year by getting specific about what we want and choosing to embrace a growth mindset.

Let’s go!