I once ran an exercise with a group of about 70 people I was leading. Over a few days in September, after hours, I walked quietly through the floors of our offices and taped up signs with the number “99” in random places. The next evening, I repeated: this time, signs said “98.” And the next night: “97,” and so on.

By day three or four, I could literally hear people whispering: What are those numbers? Who’s putting them up? I timed it so that the last day would coincide with our weekly all-hands gathering.

At the meeting, I revealed that I had been placing the signs, and then I asked: “Who knows what these numbers mean?” These were smart people, and within moments someone offered: “It must be the number of days until the end of the year.” Exactly right.

Then I made my point:

• What goal have you been planning this year but never started?
• What have you begun but procrastinated on and never finished?
• What do you want to begin next year?
• What do you absolutely want to finish this year?

For many of us, the year’s end (and its beginning) is a natural trigger for reflection, an opportunity to look inward at our goals, our progress, the legacy of our time. But the truth is, every day offers that chance. After that meeting, some told me how much it resonated. In one case, it even changed the course of someone’s career in a positive way, and I’m proud of that.

So here’s my challenge to you, the same one I issued to that team: Where do you want to be in 100 days? What do you hope to have started, ended, or moved forward?

Don’t wait until the calendar flips. Start thinking about it now. Commit to something that matters. Let’s make the last stretch of 2025 strong and begin 2026 even stronger. The numbers may have been simple, but the reminder was powerful: time is always ticking, and what we do with it matters.

#Leadership #Reflection #GoalSetting #PersonalGrowth #Mindset #YearEndReflection #LeadershipDevelopment #Motivation #GrowthMindset #IntentionalLiving