Look Up – Your North Star Needs your Attention
Last week we spoke about uncertainty which creates the sense of lost control, unbalanced nervous system and lack of clarity.
When the world feels loud and unpredictable, the most steady thing you can do is return to what is present, what is real, and what you can influence. Staying in the now becomes an antidote to the uncertainty that fuels anxiety. “Staying in the Now” is not just a trending phrase; it is the present where life is happening at this moment and we choose to focus on the present and choose to distance from future or past thinking. When we allow anxiety to release its tight grip in the present, clarity begins to return. From that steadier place, you can look up and realign with your North Star and the direction you want your life and work to take.
Work moves quickly. Too quickly. And if you’re like most professionals navigating complex environments, you spend more time with your head down responding to what is urgent than looking up to see where your North Star is actually pointing.
Clarity doesn’t come from effort. Clarity comes from paying attention.
My goal is to provide some alternative perspectives and structures to think about in the present and with which to address next year’s goals, so that it’s not another “New Year’s resolution” that starts off hopeful and falls flat.
Before you choose a “New Year’s resolution or goal,” I invite you to pause and ask a more meaningful question:
Did last year take you where you intended to go?
Is this the moment to examine what needs to be in place to reach your 2026 goal?
Goal setting only works when it comes from a clear purpose, realistic plan and a lot more “I will” and a lot less “I should or I need to”. Some goals you might continue from past patterns. Others might be completely new, with no history yet from which to evaluate their progress or success.
Realistic reflection is the step many people skip over. Consider this a quick gut check, not a performance review.
Why I Don’t Believe in Resolutions
Resolutions themselves aren’t the issue. Somewhere along the way, “resolution” stopped meaning a goal resolved and started meaning “try something until you fizzle out.”
People in demanding roles don’t need resolutions. They need realistic and timely decisions that match the season they are in. Sometimes those decisions build on what worked. Sometimes they create a completely new path.
The trap is that resolutions often focus on an idealized future while ignoring the reality of the means to get there.
When you skip reflection and jump to action, you end up setting goals from that idealized future, from pressure or from impulsivity – instead of realistic reflection and clarity.
A Five Minute North Star Check-In
Before you decide what’s next, take five minutes and ask yourself:
Did I do what I said I would do this past year?
Where was I aligned and where was I derailed?
How do I really feel about this last year? (That’s your gut check)
Is that feeling how I want to feel at the end of next year?
This emotional layer matters. That gut check will often tell you the truth much faster than metrics will.
Your inner responses might sound like:
It felt like I didn’t follow through.
It felt like I lost momentum after the first quarter.
It started off great and then got derailed due to_______.
It lost its spark.
It felt like the year ran me instead of me running it.
Those feelings aren’t failures. They hold valuable information; they signal you to take notice. They reveal where your energy drifted, where clarity was missing, and where your internal drive was working for you or against you. Whether your next direction is familiar or brand new, these signals help you understand what you want more of, what you might target more seriously and what you’re ready to leave behind.
This isn’t a blame exercise (toward you or anything else). This is a clarity task.
Why Hoping to Avoid Distractions Doesn’t Work
Hoping to avoid distractions is not a plan. In fact, it often backfires. Research in cognitive psychology shows that when people try not to think about something, the brain continues to monitor for it – increasing focus rather than reducing it (Wegner, Harvard University). When you focus on what you don’t want, your attention is inadvertently pulled toward it.
Progress doesn’t come from avoiding roadblocks. It comes from choosing what matters and grounding yourself in it – every day, consistently. That’s where effort turns into momentum. By directing your attention each day toward what you want to build, you keep it important over time. That focus compounds into weeks, then months, until your decisions reinforce steady progress toward your goal. Miss a day, start again the next. Consistency, not perfection, is what carries progress forward.
Look Up Before You Move Forward
Intentional work has a rhythm.
Look up → Check progress → Then move another step forward.
Repeat.
Repeat.
Repeat.
If your inner direction isn’t clear, nothing downstream will feel intentional.
And if you had a great year, this step still matters. It helps you uncover what created that great momentum so you can intentionally replicate it rather than leaving it to chance.
Whether you are continuing a past path or beginning something entirely new, looking up helps you move from an authentic rhythm instead of autopilot.
A Better Alternative to Resolutions: 30-Day Clarity Cycles
Long term resolutions often fade. 30-Day Clarity Cycles work.
They create:
Sustained direction
Shorter targets and stacked wins
Invested momentum
Less overwhelm
Clear focus
Tips for Your 30-Day Clarity Cycle
1. Choose one monthly SMART goal to set up the perfect reality check.
Choose one goal. One. A focused goal brings clarity and more successful focus.
SMART goals create structure and measurability, which support consistency.
If you meet all 5 criteria of a SMART goal, there is higher likelihood that your goal will succeed.
Research suggests that structured written goals paired with weekly accountability dramatically increase follow-through, with one study showing a 76% success rate for those who used both.
(Matthews, Goal-Setting and Accountability Study, Dominican University of California)
2. Schedule backward
Start with Day 30 and work in reverse. This brings clarity quickly!
• What needs to be true by Day 25 to get to day 30?
• What steps are needed by Day 15 to get to day 20?
• What must happen by Day 5 to get to day 10?
Reverse engineering makes your goal realistic and actionable.
3. Aim for four weekly wins
Most people feel capable of meeting a seven day target.
Weekly wins build motivation and keep energy steady across the month.
What can you accomplish in seven days? Most likely a win!
4. Do 10 minute tasks immediately
If something takes 10 to 15 minutes, don’t put it on the to-do list. STOP. Just complete it and notice how great it feels to be done.
When you put a 10 minute task on your list, your working memory carries a heavier load each time you revisit it as a “should”. Completing it releases your working memory to focus on the next task instead.
If counting that quick task as a check mark, brings you satisfaction, add it to your list after its completion, and then check it off.
Consider this:
Your North Star Doesn’t Need Perfection. It Needs Focus.
Most people don’t struggle with discipline as much as they struggle with consistent focus.
Your North Star is always there. You just have to look up and keep it visible – daily. Right now, let’s do a check.
Is your goal noted somewhere will you see it every day? Even if it’s not an action item every day – see it, say it, DAILY. This is what focus looks like.
As you enter a new year, whether your direction continues from the last year or completely shifts, remember:
This isn’t about resolutions. It’s about SMART goals, clarity, consistency and intention – from start to finish.
Look up! Your North Star has been waiting for you.
Leading forward,
Michelle
Bridging The Gap - where insight leads to impact.
Giving Thanks To Colleagues, Partners and Employees
The holiday season and the approaching end of a year offers a natural moment to slow down, recognize the people who move the work forward, and honor the relationships that make success possible. As technology accelerates and organizations push for greater efficiency, it’s easy for human connection to slip into the background. Yet, as I often reflect with the leaders –connection, engagement, and the emotional experiences that make us human, remain at the heart of every great organization.
Here are a few ways to keep that human connection present this season:
A personal touch with a note or card
When you’re recognizing someone, keep it sincere and timely. A handwritten note shows you took the time to acknowledge someone personally; in a business setting, it still carries extraordinary weight.
With so many ways to communicate electronically, personal gestures often get lost. A simple thank you card can make a lasting impression and strengthen relationships with colleagues, contractors, and employees alike.
Social media shout-outs
Public recognition matters. A thoughtful post on your organization’s social platforms can highlight individuals, teams, or departments in meaningful ways.
This might look like:
a gratitude list
a group photo with a message of thanks
a company-wide gratitude campaign
Public appreciation amplifies connection and reminds people how their contributions matter.
WIT Certificates
“Whatever It Takes” Certificates are a simple, creative way to acknowledge extra effort. These can be printed in-house and given to employees or teams who step up to complete a project, meet a deadline, or support a colleague.
You may be surprised at how proudly people display them. Recognition doesn’t need to be complicated to be meaningful.
Meaningful meals
A memorable gathering doesn’t require a large budget. Low-cost options can still show genuine care and create moments of connection.
Here are two easy approaches:
Potluck party: Invite your team to bring a dish from their culture or a family tradition. It celebrates the person behind the role and brings authenticity into the workplace.
Post-holiday gathering: Holiday décor and venues often go on sale after the holidays. A post-season celebration can stand apart from the busy December rush and offer a refreshing way to reconnect.
Because The Heart Of Every Great Organization Still Beats Human.™
-Michelle Ogle, Bridge Executive Coaching
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Culture Conversations
Through the end of 2025, Michelle is offering a courtesy in-person talk to organizations within San Luis Obispo County.
Drawing on her human-centered approach to leadership and workplace culture, Michelle brings awareness to:
Meaning of connection
Team synergy
Navigating AI in a human world
Realignment around purpose
Motivation defined
Michelle brings enthusiasm and fresh perspectives and opens the door to renewed possibility.
Can your people use a fresh spark?
Claim your courtesy in-person Culture Conversation and discover how to reignite purpose, momentum, and meaningful energy in your workplace.
Michelle C. Ogle, M.A., Executive Coach, Organizational Consultant
Michelle blends human-centered insight with psychology-informed leadership and behavioral strategies to help executives lead with clarity, composure, and grounded confidence. Her work consistently opens new pathways for possibility, performance, and connection.