There is nothing dramatically different about today than yesterday. The calendar changed from December to January, and the year flipped from 2025 to 2026.
And yet, for some reason, today feels different.
It feels like a new beginning. A chance for a fresh start. And if you’re anything like me, you like the idea of a new year becoming a new you. However, the best way to make that a reality is to focus on both reflection and direction. The reason is that:
Reflection reveals growth. Direction provides purpose.
Last year, I started sharing my Growth and Goals Exercise with executive coaching clients and managers in the Accelerate Leadership Program to help them reflect and set direction for the year ahead. They found it so valuable that I shared it more broadly, and it was downloaded thousands of times.
It’s back and better than last year’s version.
So before you get your first workout in or turn on the college football playoffs, make one intentional decision. Give yourself the gift of reflection and direction. Reserve an hour with no noise and no distractions. Your future self will thank you.
Lastly, Happy New Year’s! I hope this is your best year yet, and that this newsletter will help you become the best version of yourself you can be.
John Eades
Founder of LearnLoft | The Sales Infrastructure
P.S. A genuine thank you to everyone who purchased The Optimistic Outlook Book in 2025. It means more to me than you know. We have copies available if you’re interested in a team purchase.
This Week’s Poll Question
Anyone who answers this poll is entered to win a free copy of the Optimistic Outlook! Congratulations to Dawn Densel for winning this week’s giveaway.
As you start the new year, what do you usually focus on first?
Last week’s results: Where does your team struggle most? (15,428 subscribers)
Getting started with urgency (33%)
Staying focused through execution (37%)
Both (20%)
Neither, we move fast and finish strong (10%)
The Optimistic Outlook (Newsletter)
The Optimistic Outlook is a daily newsletter designed to remind you to focus on the bright side, one day at a time. Join 1300+ leaders who are already improving their Optimistic Outlook.
The Teamwork Advantage (Workshop)
Great organizations become world-class when their executive team is aligned, communicates clearly, and leads from a shared purpose.
Molding a Dynamic Executive Team is a facilitated executive alignment session designed to strengthen how senior leaders lead together, not just within their own functions. This working session helps executives clarify expectations, surface
misalignment, and recalibrate the behaviors that shape culture and performance.
During this session, the executive team will:
Define what “world-class” leadership looks like in clear, observable terms
Identify where alignment is strong and where silos or inconsistencies exist
Strengthen alignment, communication, and shared purpose so leadership messages and behaviors are consistent across the organization.
Clarify the executive team’s role in setting standards, reinforcing priorities, and modeling excellence.
This is not a lecture. It is a focused alignment session designed to unify the executive team and raise the level of leadership across the organization.
Here Are Some Ways We Could Partner:
Proven Programs to Help Employees Develop Leadership Skills: Bring the Accelerate Leadership Program or Catalyst for Growth Program in-house for a customized experience for your team members. Programs include virtual or in-person instructor-led training, a Leadership Growth Plan, and group coaching to ensure real-world mastery.
One-on-One Executive Coaching: Work 1-on-1 with me or one of our certified coaches to achieve your goals, strengthen critical skills, and address your most pressing challenges. This 6-month program focuses on mindset and execution for tangible, lasting outcomes. Show me more
The Engaged and Inspired Audience: John is now booking 2026. John’s new keynote, “The Teamwork Advantage,” has been a hit for organizations. Hit reply on this note, or check out some of our recent talks here.
