2025 Goal Setting: The Power of Choice

HELLO and Happy Tweener Week, My Fellow Leaders!

Self-Awareness is the most powerful characteristic of a leader. It is never ending and you always need more. Starting a new year, a new quarter, a new season provides an incredible opportunity to invest in your self-awareness so you can rise to your next level. This is my favorite week as a coach, between Christmas and Jan 2nd. After all the holiday busy, join us by taking time to reflect on 2024 and then focus on your 2025 vision. We have a great to help you to do just that.

I had one of my CEO friends ask for “that jellyfish/eagle thing” again. It is my favorite chapter from Clarity: Focusing on What Matters. Being that one of my intentions is to revise and republish it this year, I thought I should share this provoking analogy with you

Are you a Jellyfish or an Eagle?

Have you ever found yourself frustrated by others who seem to breeze through life while you’re grinding hard and facing obstacle after obstacle? Early in my career, fresh out of college, I shared this very frustration with a wise mentor. I asked why some lives seemed so smooth and effortless while mine felt like an uphill climb. His response stuck with me: "There are two kinds of people—jellyfish and eagles."

This analogy has become a powerful tool for encouraging leadership and resilience.

The Jellyfish

Think about the jellyfish. It drifts wherever the tide takes it, expending little effort and embracing a life without conflict or adventure. Jellyfish are content to live on whatever floats their way. They don't aspire to more because they aren’t built for more. In their world, this is normal. Jellyfish simply exist, moving with the current until their journey ends.

The Eagle

Now, contrast that with the eagle. Life doesn’t hand an eagle its survival—it has to work for it. An eagle’s dinner doesn’t drift by; it must dive for it, again and again, sometimes failing repeatedly before succeeding. From their first day of life, baby eagles are thrust into adversity—literally dropped from their nests to learn how to fly.

While their view from the mountaintops is breathtaking, it’s often lonely because they choose to live at a higher level. The eagle’s life is not easy, but it’s these challenges that shape the strength, courage, and freedom we admire. Eagles thrive on perseverance and intentionality, and that relentless pursuit defines their greatness.

Leadership Is a Choice

Unlike animals, we have the power to choose how we live and lead. It’s not about your upbringing, job title, or current circumstances. Whether you were raised in a “jellyfish” environment or an “eagle” nest, you have the ability to choose the kind of leader and person you want to become.

Leadership is about attitude, not position. I’ve seen jellyfish CEOs and eagle interns. The difference lies in how you approach life’s challenges. Eagles don’t shy away from the hard work, discipline, or the courage it takes to rise higher.

But here’s the challenge: Many of us want to soar like eagles but live like jellyfish. Jellyfish take what’s given, what’s readily available, what’s easy… eagle’s create opportunities. Many people avoid creating new opportunities, because you have to relentlessly push through resistance in order to commit to tenaciously achieving your goals.  We avoid the discomfort of growth by compromising our values and giving up on our best life, for convenience and ease.

Choose Well

Choose this year to find higher ground. Commit to the relentless pursuit of growth, integrity, and excellence. The life of an eagle isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. Here is the tool we use to do the hard work of reflection and set growth goals for 2025. Or skip this longer tool and just ask yourself a few key questions below..

Reflect and Grow

Reflection Questions

• What’s one challenge that keeps you up at night?
• How can you reframe it to fuel your growth and determination?
• What is one thing you can do to move your mindset from worry to confident action?

Celebrate the Growth

• What’s one accomplishment from last year that makes you proud?

Clarity Questions

• What is one key action step you will take this week to set your 2025 intentions?
• How will you proactively overcome excuses or fears that could hold you back?
• What are you learning about yourself as you grow?

Remember, my fellow eagle leader, the path of an eagle may be difficult, but it leads to heights only the courageous can reach. Choose to soar. AND remember you are not alone, we are always here for you.

Be The Best You Can Be, Today! …and this year!

Your Coach,

P.S. Sutherland Family Update…(aka no holiday cards this year)

On 12-13-24, Scott and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary. It went so fast, I am speechless. There has been so much adventure since 12-13-14. Currently, on top of loving on our Shandel Group clients, we have a little side gig now back in my hometown of Quincy, California. It is a bowling alley of all things called Sierra Bella Lanes. Namesake of our little mini schnauzer Bella who is 14 years old now. We still get to travel together to speak, facilitate and coach you fine people all over the world (thank you zoom) as well as our new clients here in Quincy.

BTW…Please come visit us in this little mountain town (in b/w Chico and Reno) and watch the magic of seeing people smile everyday. Oh and another adventure is starting Alley Church that meets on the approach of the bowling alley. We co-preach each week on barstools, you should giggle just thinking of it. I do want to republish Clarity and make it an audiobook as well as keep sharing our daily quotes and quarterly newsletters. I always love answering your questions and writing about things you ask me about or tell me you want to learn more about.

May this be an amazing year for you. Its a great time to be alive in 2025!!

Keep in touch with us! P.O. Box 1084 Quincy, CA 95971

:)

s3