You’re Not Unmotivated. You Just Don’t Know Your Why.

It’s only January 6, but are you panicking because you haven’t created The List? Scratch that. You might be right on time.

You know the 6 AM exercise class a friend wants you to join? The social media trend of side-hustling at the crack of dawn before your corporate grind? And the swing for the fences move of going vegan?

You may feel your enthusiasm nose-diving, but that’s ok. In fact, you’ve hit on a key reason why intentions fall apart. Setting goals sounds easy, but there’s plenty that gets in the way. So, in the January series, 4 Power Moves to Jumpstart Your Intentions, we’ll discuss how you can overcome common blocks to success with soft skills.

Block #1 is lack of motivation. But here’s what no one mentions: Lack of motivation is only a symptom. It’s data telling you that your heart isn’t in something that either looked cool on January 1 or someone else wants you to do. Doing something for the wrong reason or no reason always creates problems—it’s why bootstrapping collapses. So, your first power move is to Know your Why.

Think of goals as gateways. Identifying the Why helps you close the wrong doors and consciously choose amazing projects, promotion opportunities, and new alliances with incredible people. And here’s the secret to keep the pressure off: Your Why doesn’t need to be so lofty that it changes the world—it only needs to change your world.

Change Your World with the Right Why

Understanding the Why was the difference-maker for Dook Chase. On paper, he had the perfect dream of working on Wall Street. There was only one problem—he left his heart in New Orleans. It took him a minute to realize the big business he was seeking wasn’t in the Big Apple. It was right in front of him.

Making his dream real required skilling up. Dook studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu and mastered everything else by shadowing his grandmother, the James Beard-award-winning Queen of Creole, Leah Chase.

Now he combines the best of both worlds. With financial skills as sharp as his knife skills, Dook has expanded the Chase family footprint from their flagship restaurant, Dooky Chase, to new eateries for the fourth Chase generation. Life-changing results started with a small bowl of gumbo.

Goals are Gateways

You’re not failing if you feel pressured to have the year planned to a tee. However, the case study shows how jumping in without a Why can quickly take you in the wrong direction. The better alternative is to pause and get clear—that’s how you wind up with a short list worthy of your time, effort, and talents.

Knowing your own voice vs. others’ input can be challenging—it’s one reason people get anxious. The List seems like an instant confidence boost, yet the reality is that goals won’t amount to much if your heart and soul aren’t in them. That’s why the first week of the year is the perfect moment to gain your bearings and get oriented.

So, start your List with the power move of Knowing your Why supported by soft skills. Here are three ways to begin:

1. Flex your clarity muscle and add a Why column to your Goals List. And heads-up: Getting to the real Why may take a minute.
2. Take a creative approach by designing short and long-term priorities. Creating community in a new activity is as valuable a Why as advancing your career.
3. Show superb judgment—think through time commitments before you jump in. Some ideas may merit a “Phase 1” approach instead of a big Yes.

And once you land on an idea or two, use this AI prompt to keep you going: I’m pursuing a goal of <insert goal.> Create an image with fun, uplifting colors and positive statements to keep me inspired and on track.

Stop forcing and rushing and start making solid choices. Set your sights on a destination that’s uplifting, fun, and rewarding. Begin the year with a power move and Know your Why.