As we welcome 2025, many of us are eager to embrace new goals, make resolutions, and pursue meaningful change. While this enthusiasm is inspiring, it’s crucial to ensure that our investments of time, money, and energy are directed toward the right priorities. Too often, we put in the work but fail to see the desired return because we focus on surface-level actions rather than addressing core issues.
To make 2025 your most impactful year yet, start by answering two powerful questions: What do you love? And what do you hate? By doubling down on what you love and eliminating what you hate, you can achieve exponential results. Let’s break this down with some practical examples.
Double Down on What You Love
When you identify what you love about your life, relationships, or career, you can amplify these areas to create greater fulfillment and success. For instance:
- In Business: If you love the creativity your role allows, find ways to integrate more of it into your work. Delegate repetitive tasks or restructure your day to prioritize innovative projects. If your team thrives on encouragement and recognition, make it a point to double down on these practices by celebrating small wins and fostering an environment of appreciation.
- In Relationships: If your spouse or partner values quality time, make it a priority. Simple acts, like unplugging from devices during meals or scheduling uninterrupted time together, can have a profound impact. Amplify what’s already working, and you’ll see your connections grow stronger.
The key is to recognize what brings joy and energy to your life and to intentionally expand these areas. When you increase what you love, the return will often be more than double.
Address What You Hate
While it’s important to amplify what you love, it’s equally critical to confront the things you hate and take actionable steps to eliminate them. These areas often serve as barriers to your growth and success. Consider these examples:
- Health: Perhaps you hate how your eating habits make you feel or the way excessive drinking impacts your health goals. Instead of merely committing to exercise, address these root issues by creating a sustainable meal plan or seeking support to reduce harmful habits.
- Workplace Culture: If your team resents micromanagement or toxic behavior, take a hard look at these dynamics. A commitment to open communication and removing negative influences, such as an unproductive team member, can transform your organization’s culture.
- Personal Growth: If procrastination or negative self-talk is holding you back, tackle these behaviors head-on by setting clear boundaries, adopting positive affirmations, or seeking accountability from a mentor.
Removing what you hate may require tough conversations, uncomfortable changes, or difficult decisions, but the payoff is worth it. Clearing these obstacles creates space for growth and progress.
Focus on Purposeful Investments
As you set your goals for the year, avoid the temptation to invest in what is simply “nice” or trendy. Instead, prioritize actions that maximize your return. Consider the following steps:
- Reflect on Priorities: Identify areas in your life that bring joy and fulfillment or create frustration and negativity. Use this clarity to set intentional goals.
- Create a Plan: For what you love, develop strategies to nurture and expand it. For what you hate, outline steps to remove or minimize it.
- Track Your Progress: Regularly evaluate whether your actions align with your goals. Make adjustments as needed to stay on course.
By doubling down on love and addressing what you hate, you’ll ensure that your investments in 2025 yield meaningful and lasting results. This focused approach allows you to build stronger relationships, create impactful change, and live a more purposeful life.
Let’s make this year count. Choose to invest wisely, amplify what matters, and remove what holds you back. The returns will speak for themselves.