What Penguins Can Teach Us About Creating A Successful New Year
“Once upon a time, a colony of penguins was living in the frozen Antarctic on an iceberg near what we call today Cape Washington…”
So begins John P. Kotter’s Our Iceberg is Melting, a classic fable about organizational change. Through the story of Emperor penguins Fred, Alice, Louis, Buddy, the Professor, and No-No (we all know that guy, right?), Kotter unpacks how to confront challenges and lead successful change.
Kotter, widely regarded as a global authority on change, is best known for his eight-step process for leading change, first outlined in his book Leading Change. In Our Iceberg is Melting, he brings those principles to life in a simple and memorable story that’s resonated with readers around the world.
Over the years, businesses, organizations, and leaders have used Kotter’s principles to execute change and achieve their goals. As we step into a new year, these same principles can help us create momentum in our personal lives and pursue the goals and changes that matter most. Let’s break it down:
Step 1: Create a Sense of Urgency
The start of a new year naturally brings a sense of urgency—it feels like a fresh slate, a psychological starting line. That “New Year, new me” mindset is powerful, but to sustain it, we need to make it personal.
Ask yourself:
If I don’t make this change or pursue this goal, where will I be at the end of this year? In five years? In ten years?
How will that impact how I feel about myself and my life?
What impact will it have on the people around me?
What opportunities might I miss as a result?
By considering the cost of inaction, you can fuel the urgency to start now.
Action Step: Ask yourself what’s at stake if you never begin making progress toward your goals.
Step 2: Build a Guiding Coalition
Even personal goals benefit from a team. Having the right people around you can provide encouragement, accountability, and wisdom when you hit roadblocks or low points.
Think about who can help you stay focused:
Learn from experts in your area of growth through podcasts, articles, or books.
Share your goals with trusted friends or family members and check in regularly.
Seek advice from someone who’s experienced in the area you’re working on.
Support can make the difference between giving up and pushing through.
Action Step: Identify who can encourage, challenge, or guide you as you pursue your goals.
Step 3: Form Strategic Vision and Initiatives
If you haven’t already, take time to reflect on the past year and map out your goals and strategies for the year ahead. Writing down your goals dramatically increases the likelihood you’ll achieve them, so don’t skip this step.
Not sure where to start? A great tool like Donald Miller’s Hero on a Mission planner can help you align your vision with actionable steps.
Action Step: Write down your goals and the specific actions you’ll take to move toward them.
Step 4: Enlist a Volunteer Army
Who says personal growth has to be a solo venture? Bringing others into the process can generate energy and momentum. This might look like:
Inviting someone in your household to join you in making healthy eating changes.
Starting a gratitude message thread with friends.
Joining a running club, book club, or accountability group.
Collaborating with others to save money or reach financial goals.
When you involve others, their collective action amplifies your motivation and progress.
Action Step: Consider how you can involve others to create energy and momentum toward your goals.
Step 5: Remove Barriers
What’s standing between you and your goals? Barriers might be internal—fear, procrastination, or self-doubt—or external, like limited time, resources, or pushback from others.
To overcome them, try these strategies:
Remove the barrier: Create a schedule or accountability system to combat procrastination.
Consider alternatives: If one method isn’t working, explore others.
Reprioritize: Adjust your commitments or budget to make space for what matters.
Enlist help: Leverage the support of your guiding coalition.
Break it down: Focus on one small, manageable step at a time.
Action Step: Identify your barriers and brainstorm ways to address or remove them.
Step 6: Generate Short-Term Wins
Big goals can feel overwhelming without smaller victories along the way. Celebrate short-term wins to keep your momentum alive. For example, if you’re training for a marathon, celebrate milestones like completing your first 5K or sticking to your training schedule for a month.
Tracking systems can help you measure progress and highlight achievements.
Action Steps:
Identify a mini-goal on your way to the larger goal.
Track your progress.
Celebrate your achievements meaningfully.
Step 7: Sustain Acceleration
Once you’ve built momentum, keep it going by re-evaluating and adapting as needed. Ask yourself:
Are there tasks or commitments I can let go of to free up time and energy?
Have I learned anything that could improve my approach?
Would sharing my journey with others boost my motivation?
Fresh inspiration and regular course corrections can sustain your progress throughout the year.
Action Step: Revisit your goals and make necessary adjustments to maintain momentum.
Step 8: Institute Change
Kotter emphasizes that change isn’t a one-time event—it’s a process. Implementing real, lasting change requires consistent action and adaptability.
As Steven Pressfield says in his book Do the Work:
“Do the work. Make the change. Implement the steps. Get up, and do the thing, and then do it again tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow.”
The key to success? Show up daily, adjust as needed, and keep moving forward.
Action Step: Commit to showing up every day and doing the work.
What Will Your Year Look Like?
Penguins on an iceberg might not seem like the most obvious source of wisdom, but their journey holds a lesson for all of us. Whether you’re tackling personal goals or working toward a larger vision, the principles of change remain the same.
This year, what’s one goal you’re ready to pursue? What steps will you take to create lasting change? Because when you commit to the process, the future you want is closer than you think.