The candles flicker as your friends sing and you lean in to blow them out. 

In years past, this moment has felt bittersweet. Instead of celebrating, your mind drifted to everything that hadn’t happened yet—the career move still on hold, the dream project still unwritten, the balance you swore you’d find but never seemed to reach. 

A quiet voice whispering: I should be further along by now.

But this year feels different. This year, you’re smiling—not just for the pictures, but because you’ve surprised yourself. The promotion that once felt out of reach? It’s yours. The side business you were scared to start? It’s launched and growing. The book idea that’s lived in your head for years? You’ve finally put words on the page. You’ve drawn boundaries, said no to what drains you, and said yes to the things that light you up.

This year as you exhale over those candles First name / friend,  you realize—you’ve moved faster than you thought possible. Yet, those leaps forward didn’t happen by accident. They weren’t just lucky breaks or good timing.

Those who find themselves smiling at their birthdays instead of regretting what could have been almost always have one thing in common: they’ve written their vision down and aligned their daily actions with it.

That simple shift changes everything—and the research backs it up.

Why Writing It Down Works

Here’s the catch: most people don’t write their goals down. Even though it’s advice we’ve all heard countless times, less than 20% of people actually do it. Why? Because it feels too simple to matter. We convince ourselves that the big results must come from big, complicated strategies—when in reality, the simplest step is often the one that creates the biggest shift.

The data is clear: writing down your goals works!

• A Dominican University of California study found that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them–and those who share their goals with a friend and send regular updates are 76% more likely to achieve them.
• A Harvard Business School study revealed that graduates with written goals earned up to 10 times more than their peers who didn’t write down any goals.

Writing creates clarity. It forces you to define what you want and signals to your brain: this matters.

Neuroscience explains why—when you capture your vision in writing, your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS) begins filtering opportunities that match it. What once looked like a long-term dream can start unfolding much sooner than expected.

A Personal Discovery

I’ve seen this play out firsthand. A little over two years ago, I wrote down a bold long term vision for Fulfilled & Limitless. At the time, it felt audacious—almost out of reach. I figured it would take years of building, testing, and slowly layering each piece.

But when I pulled out that vision this week, in preparation for my upcoming birthday, I was stunned. I had already accomplished half of what was on that list: launching the book, creating the workbook, hosting the retreat, starting this newsletter, and deepening my coaching work with powerhouse women. What was supposed to take five or more years happened in two.

That discovery wasn’t about luck—it was about alignment.

By writing it down and anchoring my daily actions to the vision, I moved faster than I imagined possible. This isn’t unique to me–when you put the process into practice, it works!

In fact, Fulfilled & Limitless even includes the exact process I use to set and achieve my goals—a fun bonus you’ll find woven into the bigger message of the book.

Action Step: 3 Steps to make your vision a reality

1. Clarify Your Vision
People often overlook this step, but it’s amazing how few truly know what they want. Take time to define it clearly. What does the next season of your life look like? How do you want to feel? What impact do you want to make?

Clarity is the first domino—once you see it, everything else can line up behind it.

If you already have a copy of Fulfilled & Limitless, you’ll find an exclusive audio visualization exercise at LimitlessBookResources.com that will guide you through this process step by step. It’s one of my favorite ways to help women go deeper into their vision and really bring it to life.

2. Write Down Your Goals
Once your vision is clear, don’t just keep it in your head—capture it on paper. Be specific about what you want and by when. Writing it down creates focus and accountability, turning vague ideas into a concrete direction.

Keep your goals where you can see them often and let them remind you daily of what you’re working toward.

3. Build Your Habit System
Big visions don’t come to life overnight—they’re built through consistent, intentional action.

Create habits and rhythms that support your goals, whether that’s blocking time on your calendar, building accountability with a peer, or anchoring new behaviors to daily routines.

When your systems support your vision, progress becomes inevitable!

How I Can Help

If you’re ready to stop leaving your vision to chance and start turning it into reality with clarity, focus, and aligned habits, here are three ways we can go deeper:

1. Purchase my International Bestselling Book that goes through the framework that has helped 1,000+ coaching and executive clients. You can find more information HERE.
2. Join our upcoming retreat in 2026. Find more information HERE.
3. Build a custom strategy to reach your goals without burning out or compromising your purpose. Find out more information on this FREE complimentary call.

Your turn to reflect a step further:

What’s one goal you’ve been carrying in your head that you haven’t written down yet—and what daily habit could you create to start moving toward it this week?

– Christi Cossette