January 12th.
Just like that, we’re two weeks into the new year.

Typically, this is about the time when our goals and drive start to take a hit. The excitement begins to wane. We question ourselves:
Can I actually do this?
Did I choose the right goal?
Does it even matter?

I’m here to tell you—yes, it does.

On January 1st, I had a quick but meaningful conversation with a girlfriend about when we make goals. It’s a valid conversation—an important one. She shared an article about the timing of goal-setting, and it made me pause.

January 1st lands us smack in the middle of winter.
Things are dormant. It’s colder. Darker earlier. Heck—we even manipulate the clock to give ourselves more daylight, as if time itself needs a boost.

The article argued that we see a much higher rate of success when we align goals with the beginning of spring—when life returns. When energy shifts. When we spring the clock forward to give ourselves more time.

And here we are—January 12th—the moment motivation often disappears.

It’s like new car smell. At first, we can’t get enough. We breathe it in—deep. It’s intoxicating. And then one day… it’s gone.

So we start to wonder:
Were my intentions not good enough?
Not valid enough?
Not SMART enough?
Not SMARTER enough?

SMART and SMARTER

I don’t think so.

So let me ask you this—

If we can change the clock to suit our needs, is it really so far-fetched to believe we can change our minds to do the same?

Here’s what I believe: the WHEN is less important than the WHY.

Why did I choose RESULTS as my OLW (One Little Word)?

Because I was tired of getting what I get.
I was consistently giving what I give—and receiving the same outcome.

Then it clicked:

The only way to get a different result is to give something different.

January 1st wasn’t just a new year. It was a clean page. A conscious decision to start giving something different so I get something different.

This year, I decided I need to be SMART—and then be SMARTER.

There are 525,600 minutes in this year. I know I won’t be militantly on task for every one of them.

But I do know this:

I can reset.
As many times as necessary.

I can fall down and get back up—over and over and over again.
Sheesh… I’ve been doing that for 52 years now.

So hang on. Just a little bit longer.

Get SMART. Then get SMARTER.
Change the timeline as much as you need to.

And get the RESULT that actually makes a difference.

So here’s your call to action:

Don’t quit just because January feels heavy.
Don’t abandon the goal just because the motivation faded.
Don’t wait for spring to give yourself permission to begin again.

Revisit your why.
Adjust the timeline—not the commitment.
Make one small, intentional choice today that moves you closer to the result you want.

And if you fell off?

Good. That means you were brave enough to start.

Reset. Recommit. Take the next right step.
The result you’re looking for is still possible—but only if you keep going.