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New Year’s Resolutions From Business Leaders That We Can All Get Behind
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | 3 Jan 2020
The end of a year is a perfect time to reflect on how things have gone over the past 12 months; choosing your highlights and any low-points and identifying the lessons that can be learned from both.
The dawn of a new year is also a fantastic time to plan ahead and set yourself goals or resolutions for the following year. But if you’re scratching your head struggling to think of a worthwhile New Year’s Resolution, take inspiration from the past resolutions of these 12 extremely successful business leaders.
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Jan Singer, CEO of Spanx:
"Personally, I want to get back to things I learned when I was 8 but didn't continue: tennis and playing the flute. Professionally, my resolution is to continue to inspire and empower women leaders to know they can win without compromising who they are at their core."
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin:
“Get unbelievably fit so I’m ready for a trip into space. I’ll be doing lots of trekking and biking to get me into top shape. When I finished the Virgin Strive Challenge in 2016, I felt like a 25-year-old again – I hadn’t felt that good in 40 years. I’ll also be doing some centrifuge g-force training so I’m as acclimatised as I can be for the journey.”
Katie Beauchamp, CEO, Birchbox:
"I’ll be focusing on slowing down to speed up. I naturally operate with extreme energy, excitement, and ambition; that all tends to translate to speed, and I'm recognising the value of a steadier, more tuned-in pace.
"I know that being with the team, the customer, my family, and with myself every day in a way that really celebrates the now and isn't speeding on to the next mountain to climb will be the best way to seize what's ahead."
Barack Obama, former US President:
"As the year winds down and we look toward 2019, I'm asking you to make a commitment. Find something you want to change in your community and take the first step toward changing it."
Referring to the work of five young leaders he said inspired him in 2018, he added. "Their journeys began with a decision to build the better future they wanted to see. The same is true for you. What matters isn't the size of the step you take; what matters is that you take it."
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Victoria Beckham, Fashion Designer and former Spice Girl:
"I just want to continue to be the best person that I can and try hard to be the best mum that I can and really try to get that balance right between work and life. That is a really difficult thing when you're a working mum."
Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft:
“Although I have never been one for New Year’s resolutions, I have always been committed to setting clear goals and making plans to achieve them. As I get older, these two things look more and more like the same exercise.”
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Rupert Murdoch, Founder of Fox News:
“Try to maintain humility and to stay curious.”
Karen Quintos, CMO, Dell:
“I want to be a vocal champion of women in business. It's both professional and personal for me. As a leader in the technology field, I have a front-row seat to the huge opportunity that exists for women today. And as a mom of two wonderful girls, I'm motivated every day by their dreams and limitless potential.”
Mark Zuckerberg, Co-Founder of Facebook:
“I plan to hold a series of public discussions to discuss the future of technology in society… I’m going to put myself out there more than I’ve been comfortable with and engage more in some of these debates about the future, the trade-offs we face, and where we want to go.”
Simon Cowell, Founder of Syco Entertainment:
“Advise not lecture. Listen more than you talk. Happiness is more fun than anger. Forgive and not fester. Always be kind to kids and animals. Your mum is mostly right. And never dread Mondays. And most people younger than you know more than you.”
Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host, Media Executive and Philanthropist:
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.”
Peter Jones, Entrepreneur, Businessman and Dragon’s Den ‘Dragon’:
“Believe in yourself, never give up and go about your business with passion drive and enthusiasm.”
Glassdoor Team
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