One month into the new year, the energy of fresh beginnings starts to meet the grit of real effort. The initial excitement fades. The glossy goals scribbled in notebooks or shouted over champagne at midnight start to feel heavier. The truth is, results don’t come from hype - they come from habit. And resilience.
By the end of January, most people fall into one of two camps: those whose goals are gaining traction, and those whose goals are quietly gathering dust. It’s a familiar pattern. The high of a new beginning runs straight into the low of daily discipline. And this is exactly where leadership separates itself.
Real leadership doesn’t depend on how loudly you set your intentions. It’s not about making a splash on day one - it’s about choosing to swim, especially when the waves get rough. At TEN LTD, we believe leadership is revealed not in ease, but in resistance. And how you choose to respond in moments like these - the unglamorous, in-the-trenches moments - will shape your trajectory for the entire year ahead. Here are 10 ways leaders keep swimming, even when the current turns against them:
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Treat goals as non-negotiable commitments. Leaders don’t dabble with goals. They don't "see how it goes." When they set an objective, it becomes a promise — not a preference. They hold themselves to it, even when motivation fades.
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Focus on systems, not just outcomes. A goal is where you're headed. A system is how you get there. Leaders don’t just aim at results — they build daily habits, structures, and routines that move them forward step by step. They engineer success into their schedule.
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Reconnect regularly with your ‘why’. When the journey gets hard, purpose becomes the fuel. Leaders take time weekly to remind themselves why the goal matters. That emotional connection keeps the fire burning when the work feels cold.
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Break big goals into tiny wins. Grand visions can feel overwhelming. So leaders deconstruct them. They identify the next small, doable step — and then the next. Progress compounds through action, not overthinking.
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Schedule goal time into your calendar. If it’s not in the diary, it probably won’t happen. Leaders don’t leave important things to chance. They block out time and fiercely protect it. Priorities aren’t spoken - they’re scheduled.
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Make public declarations. There’s power in accountability. Leaders put their goals out there - to their team, peers, or mentors. They don’t fear being held to their word; they welcome it. It sharpens their resolve.
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Anticipate obstacles - and plan for them. Success isn’t linear. Things will go wrong. Leaders prepare for this. Like strategic chess players, they think a few moves ahead. They ask: what’s likely to challenge me - and how will I respond?
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Celebrate small milestones. Recognition isn’t just for the finish line. Leaders take time to acknowledge progress along the way. Each milestone, however minor, is a signal to the brain: you’re moving forward. Keep going.
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Review and adjust every month. Agility is a superpower. Leaders don’t wait until December to reflect — they check in monthly. What’s working? What’s not? They adjust, refine, and keep momentum alive with honest reflection.
- Visualise success. Clarity drives motivation. Leaders actively picture the end result — not just vaguely, but in vivid detail. They imagine how it will feel, what it will mean, and who it will impact. That vision pulls them through the hard days.
So as January comes to a close, here’s the question: are you still swimming? Or have you started to drift? Leadership isn’t measured by how excited you were on 1 January. It’s measured by what you do when that excitement wears off - when it’s just you, the work, and your willingness to keep showing up. This is where it gets real. Some will quietly step back into old routines, excusing themselves with “life got busy.” But leaders? They choose differently. They expect setbacks. They embrace discomfort. And they move forward anyway. If you’re still on track - double down. Now’s the time to build momentum. If you’ve lost ground - today is the perfect day to reset. The good news is: it’s not too late. It’s never too late. Because in leadership, what matters most isn’t a perfect start. It’s the choice - over and over - to swim when it would be easier to sink.
William Montgomery is the Founder and CEO of TEN LTD, and an experienced keynote speaker and event host. He has spoken to a broad range of audiences on a variety of topics, bringing valuable insights and expertise. In addition, he volunteers with Speakers for Schools and Inspiring the Future. For more information or to request further insights, please contact him on +44 333 666 1010.