5 Quotes to Propel You Into 2026
Jan 04, 2026
I’ve come to believe something that goes against most goal-setting advice: if your goals feel comfortable, they’re probably too small.
And that's because the real purpose of goals isn’t to keep us safe, polished, or perpetually competent. It’s to help us grow, expand, and feel fully alive in our work and lives.
The right way to set a goal
That’s why I love this reminder from Bob Proctor:
“Set a goal to achieve something that is so big, so exhilarating that it excites you and scares you at the same time.”
Most of the high-achieving leaders I work with are already successful by every external measure. Their challenge isn’t ambition. Their challenge is to give themselves permission to want more, to be different and to pursue something that might not be neatly explained on a performance review.
Listen to the pull of a vision
When I look at leaders many of us admire, people like Eleanor Roosevelt, Steve Jobs, Gary Keller, and Sara Blakely, a clear pattern emerges. They didn’t build extraordinary careers by playing small or choosing what felt safest. Instead, they listened to the pull of a vision from inside of themselves, even when it felt uncertain or unconventional.
As Eleanor Roosevelt so beautifully put it:
“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
She emphasised the beauty of their dreams, not the practicality of their dreams nor having other’s approval of their dreams. And that’s a powerful distinction for leaders - and especially women - who’ve been rewarded for being reliable and responsible.
Steve Jobs captured this dynamic when he explained:
“If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.”
This is what aligned ambition feels like. It’s being pulled forward by something meaningful. And that kind of vision requires real focus.
As Gary Keller reminds us:
“Success demands singleness of purpose.”
Every meaningful goal asks something of us: attention, energy, and often the courage to say no to what no longer fits.
What's the dream tugging at your heart?
And fiinally, there’s the reminder I think many high-achievers - especially women - need to hear most from Sara Blakely:
“Never give up on your day dream. What’s yours?”
What are you dreaming about? This isn’t the dream that looks good on LinkedIn or the one that keeps everyone else comfortable. This is the dream that’s tugging at your heart.
As the new year unfolds, here’s the question I invite you to sit with:
What goal is tugging at your heart, the one that feels both thrilling and a little terrifying?
For leaders who are successful on paper but craving what’s next, I offer a complimentary strategy consultation to explore your 2026 priorities with focus and intention. Book your call today.
Stephanie Hessler is a High Performance Coach. She helps successful, high-achieving leaders who know they can be doing better. Therefore, Stephanie guides her clients through a transformational coaching journey called the BLISS Accelerator to turn their goals into reality. Previously, she worked in the investment business, including on Wall Street, for sixteen years. She earned her MBA at The Wharton School and her BA at Wellesley College.
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