2025 Is About Growth, Not Goals
Why Expanding Matters More Than Executing This Year
At the start of 2024, I believed I had the perfect formula for achieving my goals. My vision board displayed carefully chosen images and phrases, and my 12-week planning framework divided the year into neat, strategic sprints. Every milestone was plotted, each quarter mapped with precision. In theory, it felt like a fail-proof system: set a goal, break it down, track progress weekly. The year ahead would be all about steady, measured execution—or so I thought.
Reality did not go according to plan. At least, not my plan. I discovered that my meticulously engineered goals were actually limiting my growth rather than enabling it. As each quarter passed, I spent more energy revising my strategies than implementing them. Everything from a major family fallout to sudden business pivots showed me how quickly even the best-laid plans can become constraints. That’s when I realized—trying to control my path too precisely was only limiting my potential.
I’ve seen this pattern emerge repeatedly—in my own life and among the emerging leaders I coach. We all cling to perfect plans, hoping they’ll grant certainty in a constantly shifting world. Yet we tend to forget two key truths: life is inherently unpredictable, and the human experience is beautifully imperfect. I notice this regularly with my clients: no matter how diligently they follow best practices, they often feel like they’re perpetually behind, especially when something unexpected arises. Maybe it's a reorganization that shifts team dynamics, or perhaps a family situation that redefines priorities. Whatever the disruption, one thing becomes clear: rigid goals don’t bend when reality shifts.
Reimagining Growth Through Expansion
All of this prompted a shift in my perspective. What if, instead of trying to anticipate and control every variable, we focus on broadening our capacity to adapt? This doesn’t mean discarding goals entirely—it means approaching them with more fluidity.
Like the universe itself, which continuously creates new space for possibility, we too can expand our capacity without dismantling what we've already built.
What This Can Look Like in Practice:
Instead of targeting a specific role or title, you might focus on expanding your skill set in ways that create multiple paths for career advancement.
Rather than forcing a structured morning routine, you might create space for both productivity and responsiveness to each day's unique demands.
When facing a challenging workplace dynamic, expansion might mean developing new communication approaches rather than trying to control others' behaviors.
Ultimately, it’s less about perfecting every step and more about fostering the agility to pivot when life demands it. In a fast-paced work environment, that flexibility can be the difference between feeling empowered or overwhelmed.
To translate this mindset into consistent practice, I developed a simple yet powerful approach.
The AAA Framework: Awareness, Adaptation, Action
At its core, this framework involves three interconnected practices that help us build sustainable capacity for growth:
Awareness
Notice the signals that something should shift. These can be physical (tension or anxiety), emotional (frustration or resistance), or practical (repeated obstacles). Rather than dismissing these signals, treat them as important data revealing where you might grow.Adaptation
Once you acknowledge these signals, think about what fresh opportunities emerge when you make room for change. This could mean learning a new skill, developing different relationships, or reevaluating your overall direction. By seeing adjustments as a chance to grow—rather than a detour from the plan—you shift toward greater flexibility.Action
Move forward deliberately, knowing that incremental small steps still count. Instead of waiting for ideal conditions or complete clarity, take purposeful actions that broaden your capacity.
Let me illustrate how one of my clients recently put these steps into motion during a major organizational overhaul:
Awareness: She sensed rising anxiety about her company’s performance—leadership was communicating less, project priorities were shifting, and the general atmosphere felt tense. Instead of brushing these concerns aside, she acknowledged them as valid indicators that something was off.
Adaptation: Acting on these indicators, she formed new cross-department connections, sought out stretch projects, and enrolled in specialized training. Her willingness to open up to fresh possibilities laid the groundwork for change.
Action: When layoffs finally hit, she was prepared to explore different roles instead of feeling trapped by the unexpected. Ultimately, she landed in a position that matched her values and propelled her career forward.
The difference here was more than professional—it was personal. She felt lighter and more self-assured, describing how she now sees change as a chance to grow rather than something that undermines her best-laid plans.
Embracing Expansion in 2025
As we enter 2025, I’m stepping back from elaborate vision boards and complex plans. Instead, I’m asking myself a simple question each day: “Where can I create more room for what really matters?”
Sometimes this means pausing before reacting to a surprise email or phone call. Other times, it means noticing when an old routine is stifling new possibilities. But no matter the scenario, I trust that growth happens in the spaces we create, not the boxes we check.
If you’re ready to experiment with this mindset, start small. Identify one aspect of your life where you feel boxed in—maybe it’s a plateau in your career, a strained relationship, or a passion that’s lost its spark. For the next week, rather than trying to control or fix the situation outright, just make room to observe and experiment.
Ask: Where am I holding too tightly to a specific outcome?
Reflect: Does my current approach still serve me?
Shift: What if I looked at this challenge as a prompt to broaden my capacity instead of forcing a rigid solution?
Remember, this isn't about abandoning your ambitions. It’s about finding adaptable, resilient ways to pursue what genuinely matters to you.
Moving Forward Together
Looking back on 2024, I’m struck by how my most meaningful breakthroughs rarely happened when I followed a perfect plan. Instead, they emerged when I was pushed to adapt, recalibrate, and discover new pathways. The unplanned twists—whether professional or personal—nudged me toward deeper self-awareness and more purposeful action. This subtle shift—from checking off tasks to embracing flexibility—has reshaped how I see both obstacles and opportunities.
As 2025 unfolds, consider where you can create more room for what truly matters—maybe it’s reimagining a daily habit, exploring a career pivot, or simply welcoming new possibilities as they arise. I’d love to hear how you’re entering the new year with openness and flexibility. Because if there’s one lesson we keep learning, it’s that our greatest growth often lies in the spaces between what we plan and what we never see coming.
🏜️ Know someone who's always creating the perfect plan? Share this different take on growth and expansion with them 🌄
