Many people/pundits like to poo-poo the tradition of goal-setting and resolutions in the new year. I am not one of those people. I embrace this concept fully, year after year, and its annual timeliness matters to me. Any opportunity to collectively take a look at ourselves, our communities and our lives and make some moves to improve them should be celebrated, full stop. Imagine the alternative.
I start every year by making a list. I don’t treat this list like a religion, but I try to make progress against it and I check in with it often to see how I’m doing. There are two quotes that I reference to help me on my way. This first one is from tennis (and life) great Arthur Ashe: “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” I love this one because it’s portable and action-biased, with no fewer than three verbs. It works in any situation, but specifically in your situation. It refers to you three times as well. Maybe, most importantly, it doesn’t get you off the hook. It basically eliminates all excuses for not doing something.
The other quote I use the most (and, in this case, attributed to Sam Harris's meditation teachings) is “Start again.” This one is so short and sweet, but it’s also action-biased (half-verb) and timely. The only improvement I might make (although it may make it more complicated than it needs to be) is adding a “now” at the end.
If you have started where you are, are using what you have, and are doing what you can, and it’s still not working, you simply “begin again” (like: right now). That simple “rinse and repeat” formula will keep you moving forward in almost any situation.
The most important part of both of these quotes is that they compel you to do something, and they compel you to do it now. The wrong action is a thousand times more valuable than the right intention. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (still). If you moved in the wrong direction, you've at least learned something. Great. Now, start again. And repeat.
James is an action-biased brand. Our call to action is to “Be James”—to be the person you want to be, doing the things you want to do in the best way you can. We encourage you to do things in the real world and experience the benefits of a less digital existence, having real interactions and experiences with the people, places, and things you care about.
This year, we invite you to “start where you are” on your journey to wherever you’d like to go, to be whomever you’d like to be. We invite you to “Be James,” in which James is you at your very best. Welcome to 2025, and we hope to run into you out there along the journey.
You can read more about the life and legacy of Arthur Ashe here.
Ryan Coulter, Founder