JCV Higher Reach

Every January, we’re encouraged to make New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, get organized, save money, stop a bad habit, start a better one. The underlying message—subtle but powerful—is that there is something wrong with us that needs fixing. That if we can just change this one thing, we’ll finally arrive at the version of ourselves we’re supposed to be.

I’ve never believed in that framing.

Not because change isn’t important. It is. But because we are not broken. We are becoming. We are learning, growing, adjusting, and adapting—constantly. A new year isn’t a reset button. It’s a vantage point. A moment to step back and take stock:

• What did I learn this year?
• Where did I grow—maybe quietly or unexpectedly?
• What opportunities can I step toward next?

This, to me, is the essence of Higher Reach: acknowledging that no matter where you are in your life or career, you are still in motion. You are still evolving. The masterpiece isn’t finished—not at 25, not at 45, and not at 65.

A Growth Frame for Any Stage of Life

I write this with two groups especially in mind—people at opposite ends of the career arc, but who often feel the same sense of uncertainty, possibility, and transition.

If You’re Early in Your Career

You may feel pressure to “figure it all out” right away. You look around and assume everyone else knows exactly what they’re doing. They don’t. Your career is not a test you pass—it’s a landscape you explore. Every year adds new skills, new relationships, and new clarity. You are building the foundation for the leader you’ll become.

If You’re Considering Retirement or a Major Career Shift

You may wonder whether the next chapter will be as meaningful as the one you’ve lived so far. You may feel excitement and nervousness in equal measure. But purpose doesn’t disappear when you leave a title behind. It simply shifts. You still have agency, creativity, wisdom, and curiosity. You are not closing a door—you are opening space.

And in both cases, the same truth applies: You are still capable of growth. You are still capable of contributing. You are still becoming.

Long ago, I read Mindset by Carol Dweck. One of her core ideas has stayed with me ever since: people who view their abilities as expandable—rather than fixed—tend to achieve more, adapt more easily, and find deeper satisfaction in their lives.

She writes about how embracing challenges and seeing effort as a path to mastery opens up possibility. That idea has shaped how I think about leadership, coaching, and personal development.

The spirit of her work aligns with what I believe about the New Year: Your potential is not capped, and your next step is not predetermined.

A Better Question for January

Instead of asking What resolution should I make? Ask yourself:

What part of my life is ready for a little more attention, energy, or imagination?

• Maybe it’s your health.
• Maybe it’s your relationships.
• Maybe it’s your learning.
• Maybe it’s your courage.

You don’t need to overhaul your life—just reach a little higher in one direction that matters.

We Are All a Work in Progress

When I coach leaders—whether they’re just starting out or standing at the edge of retirement—I remind them that they are not static beings. None of us are. We are continually shaping the next version of ourselves. Some years that growth is dramatic; other years it’s subtle. But it is always happening.

So this January, skip the resolutions. Instead, look at the year ahead with curiosity. Take inventory of all the ways you’ve already grown. And choose one opportunity—big or small—to continue your evolution.

Here’s to another year of reaching higher.