Starting the New Year | Everyday Leader Podcast

Starting the New Year: Leading with Theme, Values, and Intention

Episode 31 · Tools · 11 min  ·  Jan 23, 2026

What does it really mean to start a new year as a leader -- beyond resolutions, goals, and checklists? Shannon and Conrad explore Conrad's practice of choosing a theme for the year -- an umbrella that captures both being and doing -- and how that theme becomes the foundation for action, habits, and meaningful progress throughout the year.


What you’ll take away

A theme for the year -- a word or phrase capturing both who you want to be and what you want to create -- is a more powerful organizing principle than a list of resolutions.

Starting with values-based intentions rather than outcome-based goals keeps you connected to what matters when circumstances change.

Reflection is the bridge between where you've been and where you're going -- reviewing the previous year with curiosity, not judgment, makes your next steps clearer.


Transcript & Show Notes