One of the traditions of a new year is to set resolutions or goals. It is the time of year when we see marketing that says “New Year, New You” or something similar.

Setting goals both professionally and personally is a wonderful thing to do. It creates a map of where you are going and how to get there. Goals can tell us whether our thoughts and actions are aligned.

Setting goals isn’t always where we can find our challenge; it can often be about our biggest opportunity. In November 2025, I was visiting a client at their office. They had to run to another meeting after ours, and I offered to find my way out. My goal was to go shopping in their adorable downtown. As I left their office, I got confused and found myself walking around, unable to find the exit.

I finally found someone and asked for directions. They pointed me back in the direction I had just come from. Earlier, when I walked to the end of the hall, it appeared to be a closet and was dark, so I convinced myself I had gone the wrong way. Had I noticed the exit sign just before the closet and walked just a few more feet, I would have realized the elevator was right off to the left.

In the CHAT methodology, we have a Primary and Secondary communication style that we are most comfortable with. Then our third or tertiary is our pivot communication style. Sometimes we embrace it, and other times we don’t. And finally, we have our last communication style, which is what I call our biggest opportunity. We often avoid this communication style, and it can rob us of meaningful friendships, potential business opportunities, and the ability to achieve our goals.

Let me explain: my communication style is CHAT. The Template communication style is my last and my biggest opportunity. I don’t particularly enjoy doing all the details, and sometimes I downright avoid tasks that require me to engage that communication style. When I was lost in the building, I was so focused on my vision (Creative) of shopping and supporting small businesses (Harmony) that I missed the exit sign (Template) and wasted time walking around until I found someone to ask for help.

This had previously impacted my professional goals because I didn’t want to take the time to create the procedures and policies necessary to build a strong foundation in my business. This left me struggling to build a consistent stream of business until I learned that embracing my opportunities was the key to my success, not just professionally but also personally.

When I work with clients, whether we are creating strategic plans or individual goals, I always look at their communication style so we can also prepare to address their opportunities. For example, if your last communication style is Creative, you may not always grasp the big picture, which could lead to a lack of motivation to see the goal through. If Harmony is your last communication style, it could affect your self-motivation to keep moving toward your goal. If the Action communication style is your opportunity, you might not take the necessary steps to achieve your goal. And if you are like me and Template is your opportunity, we don’t always have the structure or discipline to move forward.

In my example, I was so close to achieving my goal. I literally stepped away from it, and because I missed the details, I turned around and started walking farther away from it.

We all have an opportunity; it is not that we can’t achieve the goals we have set, but rather that, with knowledge of what might get in our way, we can take a proactive approach to create a plan that supports us, which could include reaching out for support, as I did when I asked for assistance finding my way out of the building. Asking for help is not a weakness; it is about getting to our desired destination as quickly and with as few detours as possible.

They say, “Knowledge is power; applied knowledge is wisdom.” How will you take advantage of this knowledge and turn it into wisdom? How will you transform your most significant opportunity to achieve the goals you have created both personally and professionally? And if you need support, will you reach out for help?