Build Big Habits. Achieve Big Goals.
By Bruce Wayne Waller
“Reset on lane seven.” When Mabel Carter rolled her bowling ball down the lane, she would walk back and hit the reset button. She bowled in the senior league, and her ball was so light it wouldn’t automatically reset the pins, it required a manual reset every time. She was incredibly sweet, and I find myself thinking about her at the end of each year.
The New Year is a lot like that reset button. It’s a chance to pause, reset, and dream again. It’s a time to think about the goals you want to achieve in the year ahead… and setting goals are important, but achieving them requires the right habits.
Years ago, I wrote down several goals I wanted to accomplish. When I reached that milestone, I had achieved every one of them… except one: writing a book. So, the following year, I wrote my first book, Find Your Lane. What made that possible wasn’t a sudden burst of motivation, it was a habit I had already built by writing a newsletter / blog consistently for more than 10 years.
Consistency is formed through habits. This year, I want to encourage you not only to write down a goal you want to achieve, but also to build a few habits that will support it. Growth happens in the dash between the starting line and the finish line. Some habits will stick, and others won’t. Stay with the ones that do, keep building, and your growth will be transformative.
Below are some of the habits that have elevated both my career and my life. I’m still working on them, but they’ve become key drivers of both success and significance.
1. Waking Up Early. I joined the 5 a.m. club many years ago, and it completely transformed the start of my day.
2. Going to the Gym. Exercise doesn’t just make me feel stronger—it creates mental clarity and sets a positive tone for the morning.
3. Writing in a Journal. In 2019, I published Milemarkers, a five-year journal designed to help people capture a meaningful thought in under five minutes. This year, I completed my sixth straight year and my tenth year overall of journaling. It keeps me in gratitude.
4. Reading Books. I once set a goal to read one book per quarter until it became a habit. This year, I completed 30 books ranging from biographies and business to fiction. I even finished one of my mom’s favorite Danielle Steel novels.
5. Financial Tracking. 25 years ago, we were underwater in debt. Today, we are debt free and in control. If this resonates with you, I recommend The Total Money Makeover. It changed our life.
6. Time Blocking. Planning has been a game changer in my career. I now plan my year starting with what I enjoy most, then map out my months. Each weekend, I plan the week ahead. This habit has brought focus and balance.
7. Prayer. I’m a believer, and prayer keeps me anchored in faith and focused on what matters most. I recently found an app that reminds me to pray with intention—it’s been a helpful tool.
8. Sending Notes. This has been a long-standing practice for me. In my book Life in the Leadership Lane, I shared the 70/30 Challenge: send 70 notes in 30 days. The goal was to encourage others and recognize their impact. What I didn’t anticipate was how powerful it would be for me. Give it a try.
9. Healthy Eating. This is an area I’m still working on—especially avoiding food late at night. My daughter, a registered dietitian and former guest on my podcast (Episode 50), once shared, “It’s not about being perfect, just being better.” That’s my focus this year. It’s a never-ending pursuit.
Today, I have a list of 100 goals I hope to experience over my lifetime. I know accomplishing them will require strong habits, which is why I continue to work on mine. What goals do you want to accomplish? What habits are you committed to building in 2026? I’d enjoy learning from you and am excited about your journey ahead.
Happy New Year! Cheers to a healthy and prosperous year ahead!
Quote of the Day:
“Everyone needs to have a dream. It’s what makes life tolerable.” — Rudy
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