You are the one who used to boast
That you’d achieve the uttermost, some day.
You merely wished to show,
To demonstrate how much you know
And prove the distance you can go…
Another year we’ve just passed through.
What new ideas came to you?
How many big things did you do?
Time… left twelve fresh months in your care
How many of them did you share
With opportunity and dare
Again where you so often missed?
We do not find you on the list of Makers Good.
Explain the fact!
Ah no ’twas not the chance you lacked!
As usual — you failed to act!

Poem Victory! by Herbert Kauffman

I read this poem years ago, and it still resonates because it’s not about lacking ideas, resources, or opportunities. It’s about the gap between intention and action.

Today is November 25th. In one month, it’s Christmas. In five weeks, we’ll be in 2026. And here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of what you planned for 2025 didn’t happen.

Not because you couldn’t do it. Because you didn’t act. I know this because I’m guilty of it too. I started 2025 with reflective questions, big plans, and clear intentions. And when I look back honestly, 6 months in, I’m firefighting and “deep in the weeds” on some of them, still stuck where I was in January. And that’s because I lost focus.

But here’s what I’ve learned: The companies that actually break through don’t have better ideas than everyone else. They have better execution systems.

They close the gap between strategy and action. Before 2025 slips away completely, I encourage you to do something uncomfortable.

Do not make plans for 2026, set new goals or create another vision board, before you do an honest audit of 2025. Because until you understand WHY you didn’t act this year, you’ll repeat the same pattern next year.

THE 2025 EXECUTION AUDIT
Answer these four questions honestly

1. What would you like to do but still haven’t done—and what keeps you stuck? Be specific. What’s the real barrier? Money? Skills? Fear? Clarity? Be honest.

2. What experiences or moments from 2025 impacted you the most this year—and why? This reveals your values and what actually motivates you (versus what you think should motivate you).

When you were most alive this year, what were you doing? Who were you with? What problem were you solving?

That’s your compass for 2026.

3. What was the hardest thing you overcame this year? What did you learn from it?

This is your proof that you CAN act when it matters. What was different about that situation? How can you replicate those conditions?

4. Do you think you have been a good partner/boss/friend this year? How could you be better? This calls for absolute honesty, and it cuts deep: business success means nothing if you’ve damaged the relationships that matter. And often, the reason we don’t act on our business goals is that we’re compensating for failures elsewhere.

Be honest: Where did you show up? Where did you disappear?

HERE’S WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR ANSWERS:
Don’t file them away.
Don’t wait until January 1st.

Do this instead:

Pick ONE thing from Question 1 (what keeps you stuck). Schedule 2 hours this week to take the first real action on it. Tell someone what you’re doing because accountability kills procrastination.

Not next year. One thing. This week.

Because here’s the truth Kauffman’s poem teaches us: 2026 will be exactly like 2025 unless you change your relationship with action. More ideas, good intentions and planning won’t save you, but execution will.

That’s why I developed the growth map: it’s about implementation, not just strategy. Because your brilliant plan can die by the end of January

Many leaders end another year “deep in the weeds”, wondering where the time went, but if you’re tired of ending years this way, let’s talk.

I’m taking six companies through our 2025 Ready: Strategic Growth Map in December/January. 2 days. Complete Growth Map. 90-day implementation roadmap. 3 months of accountability.

Reply to this email with “AUDIT”, and I’ll send you our complete 2025 Execution Audit framework (free, no strings). Or if you’re ready to make 2026 different, reply “GROWTH” and I’ll send details on our December sessions.

Either way, don’t let another year pass where you “failed to act.”

Until we meet

Morton