The period between Christmas and New Year is always an interesting time for me.

It’s a time when we hope for something different. That difference might look like losing a few pounds, making more time for the family, or it might feel much bigger: a new role, more money, or a different business direction altogether.

And yet, for many people, things could end up very much the same, not because the desire isn’t there, but because you haven’t fully decided to make a change, and it asks something of us long before the reward shows up.

Often, what’s required to change is far harder than achieving the goal itself.

This year marked the completion of my MBA. It wasn’t easy.

I returned to formal study after more than twenty-five years away. I’ve wanted to do an MBA forever, initially believing I couldn’t achieve it because I wasn’t bright enough.

I finally enrolled and then didn’t start. I told myself I couldn’t afford the time out. There is always a cost, and for me, it was time and money, but I also knew this was my last rodeo. The opportunity wouldn’t come around again.

I still remember sitting in my first lecture—law and governance —and then, during the Operations & supply chain management lecture, realising just how narrow my world had become.

I’d been living and working in a cocoon. I was excited and realised that there was so much more to learn.

I also learned that academic writing and business writing are very different disciplines. I was warned, but that transition was tougher than I expected. The assignments stretched me, frustrated me, and tested my resolve.

The final-year paper, in particular, pushed me to my limits. My thesis was about the impact of the Rent Reform bill and a business having to change their business model. At my lowest ebb, while writing it, I genuinely questioned whether continuing was the right thing to do.

I vividly remember sitting in the library, very distressed, and then catching myself with a simple thought: this is good for me. And then the Tom Brady quote popped into my mind: “I didn’t come this far to only come this far, We’ve still got further to go”

That was the motivation and from that point on, I knuckled down and repeated that affirmation every day.

When the results finally came through, I messaged one of the lecturers—who had also become a good friend and his reply stayed with me: “Congratulations. It’s another accomplishment. At our stage, we don’t need the paper, but it recognises the effort put in.”

I think that sums it up. The effort put in.

To achieve what you want, this year or next, you have to put in the effort. Often the quiet, unseen effort, applied consistently over time. Whether that’s completing a degree, writing a book, changing direction, or simply staying with something longer than feels comfortable.

As the year ends, whatever stage you are in life, focus on what you love doing and keep doing it; and don’t underestimate how far you’ve already come.

Remember, you didn’t get that far to only get this far.

Keep going.

Happy New Year.

Until we meet

Morton
PS: I’m taking six companies through our 2025 Ready: Strategic Architecture Blueprint in January. 2 days. Complete plan with 90 implementation. 6 months of accountability. Email: value@mortonpatterson.com